In today's increasingly competitive global cosmetics market, packaging materials are not only the "outerwear" of products but also a crucial guarantee for brand image and product safety. With the frequent cross-border trade, cosmetic packaging materials such as glass bottles, plastic bottles, cream jars, and spray pumps need to comply with a number of international standards to successfully enter the target markets.
International standards for cosmetic packaging materials mainly focus on three aspects: safety, environmental protection, and functionality.
Both the EU Cosmetics Regulation (EC No. 1223/2009) and the U.S. FDA standards emphasize that packaging materials must have good chemical inertness to avoid reactions with contents such as lotions, serums, and perfumes. For instance, glass bottles are widely used in the high-end skincare market due to their stability and chemical resistance.
The ISO 14001 Environmental Management System, EU RoHS, and REACH regulations require enterprises to reduce the use of hazardous substances and improve the recyclability of materials. In recent years, frosted glass bottles, reusable PET bottles, and PCR (Post-Consumer Recycled) eco-friendly plastics have become international trends.
Standards such as ISO 8317 (Child-Resistant Packaging Standard) and ASTM pressure resistance and sealing tests are used to evaluate the stability of packaging materials during transportation and use. For example, air cushion pumps, vacuum bottles, and screw-cap glass jars need to pass strict sealing tests to ensure that the contents are not contaminated.
For enterprises engaged in the foreign trade of cosmetic glass packaging materials, obtaining corresponding international certifications is a "passport" to enter the market. Common certifications include:
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ISO 9001 Quality Management System: Reflects the standardization and traceability of the production process;
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Third-party testing by SGS and TÜV: Verifies whether the bottle thickness, pressure resistance, drop performance, etc., meet the standards of the importing country;
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Environmental certifications (e.g., LFGB, FDA food-grade certification): Enhance the acceptance of products in the European and American markets.
As the global cosmetics market moves towards a green and sustainable direction, packaging material manufacturers not only need to comply with existing regulations but also need to lay out eco-friendly materials and innovative designs in advance. Frosted glass, UV spraying, ice-crack craftsmanship, and customizable OEM/ODM solutions will become important tools for enterprises to stand out in the international market.
For cosmetic packaging material enterprises looking to expand into the European, American, Middle Eastern, and Southeast Asian markets, closely following international standards, improving product compliance, and developing differentiated designs will be the key to winning customer trust and enhancing export competitiveness.
