Producing more ecologically

With a dedicated team and a CSR director, Arcade Beauty is involved in a major environmental program, encompassing everything from the purchase of raw materials to the final product, including its manufacturing processes. Since recyclability is a key priority, the company has set the goal of offering 100% ready-to-recycle products by 2025. Arcade Beauty sets an example for other companies, how sustainability can be integrated into a company’s processes. To achieve their goal, the company intends to act on the entire product life cycle: raw materials, production, consumer use, transportation and, of course, end of life. Priority is given to plastic-based products, through a reengineering of technical specifications aiming jointly at the use of recycled material (PCR), the reduction of plastic weights and the recyclability of the products.

Focus on the life cycle

In order to control its global environmental impact, a special life cycle analyse tool helps to measure precisely the improvement for the environment by providing several indicators. The first stage of this approach is to focus on the sourcing of the components and materials. Here, the focus is on mainly recycled and FSC PEFC certified papers, natural, organic and biodegradable non-wovens for masks and recycled and recyclable plastics. In addition, an eco-design

approach is pursued, based on the reduction of materials used. After the recent launch of an aluminium- free laminate that reduces the carbon footprint by 22%, the company has modified its technical specifications and developed a single-material laminate, ready-to-recycle.

Less impact of the production

Developing a more respectful manufacturing process requires actions in

multiple areas with the reduction of energy consumption as a priority.

Practical examples:

• The group has saved 79 tonnes of CO2 over one year by equipping one of its Polish sites with LED lighting.
• Since 2015, Arcade Beauty has implemented a continuous improvement policy, reducing waste from production. The quality indicator “First Pass Yield” achieved over 98% in the year 2019 for most of its facilities.
• The priority is also given to the waste recovery, by increasing the recyclability of waste generated by its manufacturing processes. Finally, actions are being taken to reduce water consumption and improve the quality of water discharged. 

Cleaner printing

Printing is an important step in the production chain. Digital printing with its lower ecological impact (less VOC emissions), is a good alternative to rotogravure printing. According to the Life Cycle Assessment method, digital printing emerges as the winner: climate change -56%; photochemical ozone creation -43%; respiratory problems linked to fine particles -63%; ink used -65%; solvent used: -88%; water used - 98% (compared to rotagravure). For rotogravure printing, biofilters can systematically reduce the solvents in the waste water. This technique, which uses micro-organisms to destroy solvent emissions (VOCs), has

made it possible to reduce the carbon footprint by approximately 350 tonnes of carbon equivalent per year.

Short supply chain

Buying raw materials and producing in Europe to serve European customers

also helps optimize the carbon footprint. Keeping this in mind, most

of the group’s technologies which were produced in the U.S., have been

transferred to one of the French sites; this has resulted in a reduction of

more than 200 tonnes of CO2 in 2019. Of course, a constant optimisation of

logistics flows and reduction of delivery packaging is the goal.

Towards ultra-green products

Samples and mini-products are one way to offer an economical use of products, due to their size,. Another method is to optimise the restitution rate of the formula or packs allowing the consumer to dispense “the right dose”, also saving resources. Arcade Beauty proposes a 3D pouch or the pillow which are great examples; they use less material than most other types of packaging with equivalent dosages. There are also thermoforms made of the same type of aluminium-free plastic for the shell and the lid. These are printable, ready-to-recycle and print again.

End of life or new life?

In that case, recycling is a very important and efficient activity. Especially from the base of plastick packs there can be developed new packagings that are suitable for recycling. The priority is also given to the use of recycled materials in

Arcade Beauty’s packaging used. Starting in 2020, the PET material used for the printing of sachets and thermoforms comes from recycled material, containing at least 50% of PCR (Post Consumer Recycled).

AUTHOR:

Isabelle Louis, Marketing Director,

Arcade Beauty, Paris, France,

www.arcadebeauty.com