● SK chemicals` Eco-Friendly PETG Favored in Luxury Cosmetics Packages

- Ranked 1st in the Chinese Copyester Market for Eco-Friendliness and Chemical Resistance



SK chemicals` eco-friendly material is gaining ground in the cosmetics package market.
SK chemicals (Cheol Kim, President) recently announced that the company had introduced 20 new cosmetics packages made of their eco-friendly copolyester PETG during Luxe Pack Shanghai 2017 held at the Shanghai Exhibition Centre in China from 12th to 13th of this month.
This environmentally-friendly PETG is a safe material without bisphenol A (BPA), and SK chemicals is the second company in the world to successfully commercialize such material. Offering superior clarity and chemical resistance, the material is currently being applied to cosmetics packages from 18 of the top 20 cosmetics companies in the world.
China has been in the forefront of the global cosmetics industry in recent years. According to the 2016 Korea Cosmetics Industry Analysis Report, the Chinese cosmetics market, which was worth $44 billion USD (₩50 trillion) in 2015, is expected to grow over 8% per year until 2020. Both global and local Chinese cosmetics companies are increasingly competing for luxury and differentiation in their branding. As a result, there is growing interest in the local industry for premium cosmetics packaging materials.
Premium Chinese cosmetics packages have primarily been made of glass, PMMA, and SAN. Glass is heavy and fragile, however, making it difficult to transport and store. On the other hand, PMMA and SAN have weak chemical resistance, and with concerns of styrene detection, the materials have been criticized for being unsuitable for use in premium cosmetics packages.
SK chemicals` PETG has been receiving attention from local Chinese companies due to its strengths that overcome the shortcomings of existing materials as well as the halo effect applied to global luxury cosmetics brands. As of last year, four out of the top ten Chinese cosmetics companies are using cosmetics packages made from SK chemicals` PETG. Due to the strength of the cosmetics package market, SK chemicals` PETG was ranked number one in the Chinese copolyester market in the previous year.
The number of companies considering the material for their new brands is also increasing. Jun-won Park, Manager of SK chemicals` Export Team 2, stated, "Last year`s sales volume for PETG in the Chinese cosmetics package market increased by more than 80% from the year prior." He added, "Thanks to the growing use of cosmetics in China and the upscaling trend of local Korean companies, we expect PETG sales to continue to increase."
At this year`s Luxe Pack exhibition, now in its tenth year, SK chemicals also held the Cosmetics Roadshow, a marketing program designed specifically for the Chinese market. Targeting the local cosmetics industry professionals, Cosmetics Roadshow is a promotional event that introduces eco-friendly materials that are best suited for each brand-specific cosmetics package as well as provide technical support.
To better penetrate the Chinese market, SK chemicals plans to market their products by attending other major cosmetics exhibitions such as Cosmoprof Asia and China Beauty Expo in addition to Luxe Pack Shanghai. SK chemicals plans to promote PETG as a core material for premium cosmetics packages through the development of various other applications.









[용어 설명]
* Copolyester
A highly-transparent thermoplastic amorphous resin with excellent chemical resistance that`s safe to use without concern of bisphenol A (BPA), a type of environmental hormone.
* PMMA(PPolymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)
An acrylic resin offering excellent transparency, weatherability, and colorability, PMMA is widely used in applications such as automotive, electrical, and electronic components, as well as building materials.
* Styrene-acrylonitrile copolymer (SAN)
Due to its excellent transparency, thermal resistance, and high gloss, SAN is used in home appliances, office equipment, and other miscellaneous products.
* Styrene
: As a well-known air pollutant, exposure to high concentrations of styrene can lead to nervous system abnormalities, muscle relaxation, fatigue, and nausea.
* Cosmoprof Asia (Hong Kong)
Cosmoprof Asia (Hong Kong), celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year, is Asia`s largest beauty fair and considered to be one of the top three cosmetics exhibitions in the world along with Cosmoprof Worldwide (Bologna) and Cosmoprof North America (Las Vegas). As a cosmetics exhibition leading the Asia region beauty markets, Cosmoprof Asia is scheduled to be held in Hong Kong this November.
* China Beauty Expo (CBE)
Starting in 1997 and celebrating its 22nd anniversary this year, China Beauty Expo is the largest cosmetics and beauty exhibition in Asia held annually in Shanghai. The event will be held from May 23 to 25 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center.
* KHIDI 2016 Korea Cosmetics Industry Analysis Report
According to the 2016 Korea Cosmetics Industry Analysis Report published by the Korea Health Industry Development Institute (KHIDI), the global cosmetics market reached $351.6 billion USD (₩387 trillion) in 2015. By country, the U.S. accounted for 18.7 percent of the total market at $65.8 billion, followed by China ($44 billion), Japan ($28.6 billion) and Brazil ($23.6 billion). South Korea is ranked eighth in the world at $10.7 billion.