Glass in cosmetic packaging

            Glass - a material with quite an extensive history - is a raw material with universal and diverse uses. Not only in the cosmetics industry, but also in the food, construction, optical and even automotive industries. Every sector of modern industry uses glass as an important material not only for the production of packaging, but also various everyday items. However, we will focus on the extremely important role that glass plays in the cosmetic packaging industry.

            It is worth mentioning that glass has come a long way over the centuries, evolving to the form we find on the market today, and this was largely due to the development of subsequent technologies for its production and the invention of machinery that supports this process. Originally glass produced spontaneously in volcanic processes, over time it became a luxury material that only few people could afford. Today, although glass is a common raw material and its production no longer requires special skills and craftsmanship as in the past, it can still be considered a "top shelf" material.

            The use of this raw material in cosmetic packaging has many advantages that are worth knowing when planning the final design of the products we produce.

VERSATILITY

            Any type of product can be stored in glass. Regardless of its consistency, composition or purpose. It is a chemically inert material, so it does not in any way affect the contents of the packaging made of it. Glass does not react with the substances contained in the product stored in it, thus perfectly protecting it against the loss of smell or microelements, and because it does not contain any harmful chemicals, we do not have to worry that the product will be contaminated with undesirable compounds, as is the case with some other packaging. . Modern technologies also allow you to form glass into any shape, so it can be used both as a material for a shampoo bottle and a cream jar.

DIVERSITY

            And here we smoothly move on to another advantage, which is diversity. A bottle or jar of any shape can contribute to brand recognition. And this is an extremely important element in packaging design. Every company wants their product, visible from a distance, not only due to the label or logo, to be associated with the brand and its assumptions. If this can be achieved by giving the packaging specific, sophisticated shapes, we can take our product to a higher level of originality. There are almost no limits in glass formation, so whether we want to create a square, rectangular, cylindrical, hourglass-shaped package or whatever our imagination suggests, it is probably possible.

COLOR

            In the longer term, an inherent element that provides glass with diversity is its various colors. Today, glass can be tinted in many colors or left colorless, depending on your needs. Dark glass - black, brown, green or blue - not only provides the product with protection against UV rays, but also gives the whole a prestigious look. Just like white glass with a frost effect or crystal clear packaging that allows you to look inside without opening it. Product visibility is brand visibility, so it's no wonder that as manufacturers we want our goods to stand out on store shelves.

ECOLOGY

            Although glass itself is not biodegradable, glass packaging is definitely an ecological choice. Mainly due to the possibility of their multiple use. Glass is also perfectly recyclable, without losing its properties after melting, so glass packaging can be successfully recovered in the recycling process. In today's world, this is an extremely important aspect in the context of the need to take care of the natural environment. After all, we do not want to generate more waste, and a company whose one of the priorities is caring for the planet gains a friendly and admirable image. Glass can be easily cleaned of dirt and reused - even if the packaging has a non-standard shape, it can often be cleaned with a regular brush or dishwasher, which allows the glass packaging to remain in constant use.

SAFETY

            As we mentioned above, glass does not contain harmful chemicals and glass packaging does not react with its contents. Its structure and smoothness prevent the growth of bacteria on its surface, thus protecting the product contained within it and extending its shelf life. Being a completely neutral material, it does not affect the smell or consistency of the cosmetic. This raw material also does not produce hazardous substances during the decomposition process.

POTENTIAL

            Glass is a material with almost limitless possibilities, making it an excellent marketing tool. It is not only the possibility of forming it into various shapes or dyeing it in various colors that makes it unique. Glass packaging is a great background for decorations that can distinguish a brand from others. Various forms of decoration can be used on glass - from painted, through printed, metalized, to laser methods. Glass packaging can be decorated directly by screen printing, i.e. embedding paint into the raw material during the thermal treatment process. Painting is the overall decoration of products using spraying with paints that allow you to achieve a matte or glossy effect. You can also paint the glass by hand or use decals. However, the hot-stamping method allows you to obtain metallic prints that can be felt to the touch. All these measures come down to one thing: the product becomes recognizable and somehow identifies the brand among many others.

            Of the above-mentioned properties and advantages of glass in cosmetic packaging, do any of them seem more or less important? We believe that all these features create a coherent whole and it is impossible to separate them. After all, when choosing solutions, we are guided by not one, but many factors. Undoubtedly, glass is one of the best solutions in packaging cosmetic products, not only guaranteeing the safety and quality of the product, but also its visual superiority over those in plastic packaging.