Airless packaging spotlight: an answer to preservation challenges?

Lumson​ and Silgan​ with Neopac are two packaging players who have been innovating in this space recently.

In this guest post, packaging expert Rachel Morgan form Adelphi Manufacturing gives an overview of the current state of play with airless packaging.

Market overview​

The global airless packaging market is expected to expand and reach $6.34 billion by the end of 2024, according to a report by Transparency Market Research.

Airless packaging is being chosen more and more frequently for creams, lotions and serums.

“There is now a larger number of oil-based products on the market, and these benefit from an airless container,”​ says Elise Kim, account executive at Nest-Filler.

“More brands are switching to airless components as there is minimal oxidation…and maximum potency​.”

One for more sensitive formulations: naturals focus​

Natural products, which tend to avoid synthetic preservatives, depend on novel solutions to guarantee their stability. Airless packaging offers one such option.

Bryce Peacher, marketing manager at APC Packaging explains: “airless packaging is important for products with a short shelf life or more sensitive formulas, especially natural products, which tend to be more affected by exposure to air and UV light, causing the products to change colour, accelerate decay, and overall become less effective​.”

Pharma applications too​

Airless packaging is a trend not limited to cosmetics, and is being taken up across industries; Adelphi Manufacturing​ (West Sussex, UK) have designed and created the OC Ampoule Sealing Machine, already widely used in the pharmaceutical industry, which enables healthcare products held in vials and ampoules to be sealed in an airless environment.

The flame-sealing technique draws air out before the container is sealed over. Most commonly used in laboratory and small batch production environments, the OC machine boasts a very quick sealing process, sealed ampoules which are regular in height, and a perfect rounded finish which is achieved with very little practice.

Working alongside the Peristaltic Pump and Filling Jig, Adelphi offers a complete range of machinery to help clients achieve the desired airless finish.