US-headquartered chemical company Dow has announced the launch of two new sustainable ionomer grades, called SURLYN REN and SURLYN CIR, for use in perfume and cosmetic packaging.

Made using renewable and circular feedstocks, the new ionomer grades will allow brands and manufacturers in the beauty and cosmetic industry to create sustainable packaging solutions for their products.

Dow said SURLYN CIR is an ionomer grade made from mixed plastic waste while its SURLYN REN grade is made using biowaste such as used cooking oil.

The new grades will be used first by French luxury goods company LVMH Beauty, of parent company LVMH.

This collaboration between LVMH and Dow was announced earlier this year.

Dow said it has already started supplying its sustainable ionomer grades to LVMH.

Dow Circular & Renewable Solutions global business director Daniella Souza Miranda said: “SURLYN REN and SURLYN CIR are a major step forward in creating sustainable packaging for the cosmetic industry.

“We are incredibly proud alongside LVMH Beauty to pioneer using renewable and circular materials to manufacture premium cosmetic packaging.

“These products will not only support LVMH towards their sustainability goals but will also contribute to Dow’s bold ambition to transform waste and deliver three million metric tons per year of circular and renewable solutions by 2030.”

Dow claimed that the production processes of its SURLYN REN and SURLYN CIR grades have already been certified by International Sustainability Carbon Certification Plus on a mass balance basis.

The methodology of producing SURLYN REN ionomers leverages waste residues or byproducts from alternative product processes, mainly from other industries to ensure that raw feedstock materials do not consume additional land resources.

Meanwhile, SURLYN CIR’s manufacturing process involves the use of chemical recycling technologies to break down mixed-waste plastics into basic chemical elements to give a second life to plastic waste.

Both of the alternative feedstock-made SURLYN grades, according to Dow, will continue to deliver the properties that provide a ‘unique look, feel and performance’ for the company's packaging.