Unique PET with UV Guard Protects Delicate Ingredients in Personal Care Products
March 03, 2006
KINGSPORT, Tenn. -- Beauty and personal care products are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light at many points in the supply chain. UV exposure can degrade the delicate dyes, and aroma compounds commonly formulated into shampoo, body wash and facial astringent. To protect against these harmful rays, Eastman Chemical Company, the world's largest supplier of PET resins for packaging, offers Vitiva PET for clear packaging of cosmetic and personal care products.
"We're offering brand owners and managers peace of mind," says Lavonna Buehrig, North American market manager of Eastman's Voridian Division. "Vitiva PET ensures that products' signature colors and ingredients stay as bright and effective as the day they were manufactured."
Vitiva PET combines solid UV light protection with the crystal optical clarity of PET. Vitiva's FDA-approved UV absorber protects some of the most popular ingredients used today, including external D&C Violet #2, D&C Red #33 and FD&C Blue #1 as well as vitamins A, C and E. Vitiva PET has the UV absorber bound directly to the polymer chain, offering significant production benefits that deliver consistent, quality packaging. Because Vitiva's UV guard is not an additive, manufacturers do not have to worry about leaching, further ensuring product integrity.
Product Integrity and Brand Protection
Containers made from Vitiva PET block virtually all UV light up to 370 nanometers, ensuring extended shelf-life and product integrity. In-depth studies at Eastman on popular personal care products show that colorants such as external D&C Violet #2, D&C Red #33 and FD&C Blue #1 begin to degrade after only a few hours of UV exposure. Products with 370nm protection, however, remained undamaged even after 20 plus hours of exposure to direct sunlight.
"Any change in the product color or performance can have a detrimental effect on sales and lessen customer loyalty," says Buehrig. "The 370nm protection offered by Vitiva is more than sufficient for most applications to safeguard contents in clear containers."
Unique Production Benefits
A drop-in replacement for standard PET, Vitiva PET requires no extra capital investment in machinery or tooling. The resin is capable of efficient blow-molding output rates and can accommodate 1-, 1.5- and 2-stage bottle production. The resin's UV inhibitor produces no plateout on molds or dryers. "The fact that Vitiva's UV guard is integrated directly into the polymer differentiates it from similar products on the market," adds Buehrig. "It makes safeguarding personal care products a one-step manufacturing process, significantly reducing overall costs and assuring product integrity."
About Eastman Chemical Company
Eastman Chemical Company (NYSE:EMN) manufactures and markets chemicals, fibers and plastics worldwide. It provides key differentiated coatings, adhesives and specialty plastics products; is the world's largest producer of PET polymers for packaging; and is a major supplier of cellulose acetate fibers. Founded in 1920 and headquartered in Kingsport, Tenn., Eastman is a FORTUNE 500 company with 2005 sales of $7 billion and approximately 12,000 employees.
