Using recycled aluminium and a lighter design, Beiersdorf was able to reduce the CO2 emissions of the deodorant aerosol cans it produces in Leipzig, Germany. From 2023/24, all deodorant cans in the European assortment of the Nivea, 8X4, Hidrofugal, and Hansaplast brands will contain at least 50 percent recycled aluminium and will weigh 11.6 percent less thanks to material reduction. This will reduce CO2 emissions in the aerosol can value chain by around 58 percent. This corresponds to a reduction of around 30 tons of CO2, said the German manufacturer of personal care products in a statement.
“Beiersdorf is already an industry pioneer in the use of recycled aluminium for aerosol cans,” explained Isabell Niggemann, Global Procurement Manager Sustainable Packaging. “Now we are extending this more sustainable packaging solution to the entire deodorant aerosol assortment. This brings us closer to reaching our ambitious climate target: the absolute reduction of our CO2 emissions across scope 1, 2 and 3 by 30 percent by 2025.“
The recycled material used is sourced from the European market. Beiersdorf, together with its packaging suppliers, plans to expand the use of recycled aluminium on a global scale and beyond the deodorant assortment, with the group’s entire portfolio of aluminium packaging to be converted in the coming years to achieve its sustainability targets.
A state of the art plant
Beiersdorf’s new plant in Leipzig-Seehausen, where the production of a wide range of cosmetic products for the European market is currently being ramped up, is making a key contribution to implementing the group’s “Climate Care” strategy. Thanks to the exclusive use of renewable energies and the use of biogas for heat generation, the plant operates on a virtually CO2-neutral basis. There are plans to expand the plant into an “Energy+” site, meaning it would generate more energy than consumed. Furthermore, the production centre can recover and recycle valuable resources such as heat, wastewater and ethanol to a high degree.
“Our new, state-of-the-art production centre in Leipzig has the technology to process lighter cans,” added Stephan Roelen, plant manager of Beiersdorf Manufacturing Leipzig. “In addition, the facility meets the highest environmental standards and was built with a modular, flexible design to be able to adapt to new technologies, consumer demands and market developments.“
In the near future, the Leipzig facility will not only produce Nivea brand deodorants, hair sprays and shaving foams, but also aerosol products of the 8X4, Hidrofugal, and Hansaplast brands for the European market.
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