Kolmar Korea develops eco-friendly paper stick for cosmetic

Kolmar Korea, a supplier to global cosmetics brands such as Estee Lauder, has unveiled a new paper stick container made from mineral paper that is capable of replacing plastic in cosmetics packaging.

According to the company's announcement on Thursday, the mineral paper is produced using leftover rock from quarries or mines and decomposes naturally when exposed to light, turning back into rock powder. Moreover, the container is moisture-resistant and requires less water and wood in the production process.

The eco-friendly container is sealed with a stopper cap made of an environmentally friendly material that contains 51% paper, thereby reducing plastic usage. Kolmar Korea is set to launch lip balm and sun stick products that will use paper stick containers in the second half of this year.

Kolmar Korea has been focused on developing eco-friendly packaging solutions for cosmetics since commercializing paper tubes in 2020, with a view to reducing plastic usage. The introduction of the new paper stick container is the latest step toward achieving this goal.

Write to Ji-Hyun Lee at bluesky@hankyung.com