Emballator Tectubes

Emballator Tectubes / Source: Emballator

AluminiumBeautyEmballator TectubesEuropeFood & BeverageFood GradeOxygen Barrier PackagingRecyclableRecycledSealable

WHAT WE SAY:

Too often, ‘sustainable’ solutions are let down by small elements – plastic caps, blended materials – that have a big impact on a product’s holistic recyclability.

Emballator’s Tectubes are made entirely from aluminium, including the caps. We especially like the fact that they are made from 100% recycled materials – a small example of how we can inch towards true circularity. Currently at the prototype stage but with a clear route to scale, they are looking for commercial partners. Are you interested?

Emballator Tectubes

WHAT IS EMBALLATOR TECTUBES?

In September 2021, Emballator launched a prototype tube made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) Aluminium, designed for the chemical, beauty and personal care, pharmaceutical and food industries.
The mono-material tubes are notable for featuring aluminium caps rather than the typical plastic ones. This increases the probability of the tubes being successfully recycled.
The product is currently looking for commercial partners to take to market.

KEY PROPERTIES:

Food Grade
Oxygen Barrier
Recyclable
Recycled
Sealable

INDUSTRY:

Beauty
Food & Beverage
Packaging

AVAILABILITY:

Partner Trials

DIVE DEEPER:

Emballator works with a mixture of plastics, metals and alternative materials, and is looking to create a more sustainable footprint for the company.
The company is investing in aluminium to move away from single-use plastics – it has contributed SEK eight million (approximately USD 710,925) to the project.
Emballator Tectubes – the tubing department of Emballator – produces close to 200 million plastic tubes per year with the machinery that will be used for its aluminium product, highlighting its potential scale.
The company claims its production processes are fully powered by renewable energy.

Tectube production line / Source: Emballator

Emballator Tectubes / Source: Emballator

KEY FACTS:

100%

Emballator Tectubes are made from 100% post-consumer recycled (PCR) aluminium

200mn

Emballator currently produces close to 200 million plastic tubes per year with the machinery that will be used for its aluminium product

$710,925

The company has contributed SEK eight million (approximately USD 710,925) to its aluminium project

Key Questions to Ask:

Recyclable vs recycled?

As with any material, just because it can be recycled doesn’t mean it actually will be. Consider where the product will be consumed and what the local infrastructure and recycling rates are; what you are putting inside the packaging and whether this will cause issues during the recycling process; and how you might mitigate these issues. For example, could you provide a tube roller key to ensure minimal product is left in the packaging (and help save consumers money)?

Is it ready to scale?

While Emballator has extensive metals production experience, given that this is a prototype you should enquire as to the scalability and lead times required for these tubes.

What about the wider impact?

As this product reaches the market, there will be more scope to explore its end-to-end impacts. We’re no blind evangelists for LCAs, but having some data regarding the footprint of these tubes, where the recycled aluminium is sourced from, and more will give brand partners better insights into whether they are a viable alternative.