Supply chain reorganization was a central theme of the discussions in the aisles of this year’s edition of the Luxe Pack New York trade show. Amid the ongoing trade war, many exhibitors seized the opportunity of the trade show to emphasize their manufacturing capabilities in North America or in regions outside China. Indeed, had they remained at 145%, customs tariffs on Chinese imports could have severely disrupted the business models of many American players. For numerous suppliers, agility thus became the key word during the show.
“Our business model is making more and more sense. We manufacture on several continents and have partners in the United States and Europe,” Meiyume’s Executive Vice President EMEA & Americas, François Camilli, told Premium Beauty News.
“As a supplier, our mission is to stay agile and responsive to our customers’ evolving needs. Our global manufacturing footprint is a key strength,” emphasized Marc Prieur, Global President of Aptar Beauty.
However, for companies more reliant on Chinese manufacturing, reorganizing production was significantly more challenging: specialized expertise is difficult to transfer, and relocating molds and machinery adds further challenges.
The announcement on Monday, May 12, that Sino-American negotiations in Geneva have resulted in a temporary return to more moderate tariffs of 30% thus offers some relief to affected players. However, the situation remains characterized by a lack of visibility and preparing for different scenarios remains essential.
Beyond trade policy concerns, the spotlight at this edition of Luxe Pack New York was firmly on sustainable packaging.
Faced with a record number of submissions, the Luxe Pack in Green Award jury ultimately selected Arcade Beauty’s 80% Paper Packette sample as the winner.
Among the many strong contenders, Knoll Printing & Packaging’s Ecoform Compact Refill with Tab Closure stood out. Fully recyclable and biodegradable, it offers unlimited refill potential.
The Mist Tube, presented by the Chinese company UDN, is a 100% plastic (PP and PE) spray tube, easy to recycle. It complements other sustainable solutions such as the One-Piece Tube (100% PE) also showcased at the show.
Libo Cosmetics highlighted its single-material PET solutions: a lipstick case as well as refillable and 100% recyclable compacts, all being made in Taiwan.
Also shortlisted for the Luxe Pack in Green award, Meiyume’s Iris Refillable Jar (200ml) is made of aluminum and uses a lightweight design for a lower environmental impact.
Albéa Cosmetics & Fragrance for its part unveiled a new version of its Bim Family – range of compacts. Initially made with 30% recycled PET (r-PET) and 70% PET, the Bim compacts have now a 100% PET version. They can be produced in Albéa’s Matamoros plant, Mexico.
Pochet Group introduced three new standard designs for 100% aluminum caps, along with its Halo Lightweight concept—an innovative cap made from lightweight glass (available in polished or frosted finishes). Utilizing blow-and-blow manufacturing, this design reduces material weight by 25%.
In the end, the edition demonstrated that packaging sustainability is gaining traction in the North American market as well!