Beiersdorf introduces “climate-friendlier” aerosolve valve in Nivea Ecodeo and 100% recycled aluminium for Nivea Men

03 Dec 2021 --- Beiersdorf is rolling out an aerosol valve system positioned as “climate-friendlier” for its Nivea Ecodeo product line, while introducing 100% recycled aluminum cans across its Nivea Men line. Part of this range of deodorants and shaving gels will be made available in environmentally sustainable packaging for the European market.

To support this shift toward more sustainable aerosol packaging, the personal care giant has partnered with UK-based spray technology specialist Salford Valve Company (Salvalco) and Swiss aluminium packaging supplier Nussbaum Matzingen.

“We are delighted to work with such incredible partners to accelerate the transformation of our company toward a climate-positive future. With these kinds of partnerships, we can take serious steps on our sustainability journey,” remarks Jean-François Pascal, vice president of corporate sustainability at Beiersdorf.

The shift toward eco-centric packaging systems is in line with Beiersdorf’s Care Beyond Skin Sustainability Agenda.

Peter Shaw, managing director of Salvalco, adds: “Our Eco-Valve technology allows brands, such as Nivea, to meet increasing consumer demand for more sustainable aerosol solutions supporting a climate-friendlier lifestyle.”

Aerosol cans are generally regarded as environmentally harmful as they can facilitate the release of volatile organic compounds into the atmosphere.Shifting to climate-friendly aerosol technology
Nivea has just started to put the first deodorants on shelf featuring Salvalco’s Eco-Valve technology. The patented system utilizes eco-friendlier, inert gases, such as nitrogen as propellant in aerosol sprays.

This brings about a higher yield per can, resulting in a significant reduction of greenhouse gas emissions – while delivering an excellent spray quality, Beiersdorf notes.

Eco-Valve is said to offer a more climate-friendly alternative to aerosols with conventional hydrocarbon propellants.

As a result of a strong collaboration following the venture capital investment by OSCAR&PAUL Beiersdorf Venture Capital in 2020, Nivea is the first global brand to use this patented aerosol valve.

Driving a circular economy with 100% recycled aluminum
Since last May, Beiersdorf and Nussbaum Matzingen have been scaling aerosol cans made entirely from recycled aluminum.

Both Nivea Men deodorant sprays and Nivea Men Shaving Gels come in aluminum cans. Compared to the former deodorant aluminum cans, the new ones deliver a 28% decrease in CO2 emissions, without any losses in quality.

For the shaving gel aluminum cans, the CO2 emissions could be reduced by even 35%, Beiersdorf notes. Recycled aluminum requires about 95% less energy in the production process.

“We have achieved a 100% replacement of the primary aluminum by using drink can scrap as starting material for the aerosol cans. Tool and process innovation were the key to being able to process the high alloy content in the post-consumer-recycled material.”

Nussbaum Matzingen’s 100% recycled aluminum cans are currently available in Germany. They will be rolled out to other European markets in 2022.

Sustaining climate goals 
As the parent company of Eucerin, Labello and Coppertone, Beiersdorf’s climate target of reducing greenhouse gas emissions along the entire value chain by 30% until 2025 (compared to 2018) is among its most ambitious.

Approved by the Science Based Target Initiative (SBTi), the climate target includes not only scope 1 and 2 emissions, but also scope 3 emissions that are caused in the value chain, such as those emitted by suppliers of formula ingredients and packaging materials.

Besides its Nivea Ecodeo launch and the implementation of 100% recycled aluminum cans, more products with a reduced CO2-footprint have been launched to market during 2021, contributing to Beiersdorf’s sustainability progress.

Beiersdorf’s Nivea brand recently launched a reusable hand soap dispenser made entirely from recycled and recyclable PET.

By Benjamin Ferrer