Plastic Tubes Materials Uses and Sustainability Trends

Imagine walking through supermarket aisles filled with colorful personal care products, food items, and cosmetics. Have you ever considered their silent guardians – the packaging? These are not just containers; they're storytellers of brand philosophy and shapers of user experience. Among them, plastic tubes have emerged as indispensable players in the fast-moving consumer goods sector, thanks to their unique advantages and versatile applications.

Plastic tubes have transcended their basic container function to become comprehensive solutions combining functionality, aesthetics, and sustainability. Their material diversity and flexible production processes have made them increasingly popular across industries, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods.

Compared to traditional aluminum and laminate tubes, plastic tubes offer distinct advantages in cost, performance, and environmental impact. They effectively protect products, extend shelf life, and enhance visual appeal through high-quality printing and design. According to data from the European Tube Manufacturers Association, plastic tubes hold significant market share in Europe, demonstrating their market acceptance and competitiveness.

Made from a single extruded material, these tubes offer straightforward structure and lower costs while still providing adequate product protection. Ideal for basic personal care products like lotions and creams where high barrier properties aren't critical.

Combining multiple materials through coextrusion, these tubes deliver superior barrier and physical properties. Different layers can be customized for specific needs – chemical stability, high barriers, or excellent printability – making them perfect for cosmetics, food, and pharmaceuticals.

Constructed from multiple material layers (including aluminum foil), these tubes offer exceptional barrier properties and printing quality. Though more expensive, they're the packaging of choice for high-end products where maximum protection and premium appearance are required.

• Cost efficiency: Lower production costs, especially at scale, with reduced transportation weight
• Adjustable barriers: Customizable protection against oxygen, moisture, and light
• Material versatility: Options like PE and PP accommodate different product requirements
• Consumer convenience: Lightweight, portable, and easy-to-use designs
• Precise dispensing: Excellent elasticity and optional specialized nozzles/caps
• Recyclability: Supports environmental sustainability initiatives
• Printing excellence: Smooth surfaces ideal for high-quality branding

Plastic tubes serve diverse sectors:

• Food: Toothpaste, condiments, honey – using food-grade materials
• Cosmetics: Skincare, suncare – combining protection with aesthetic appeal
• Personal care: Shampoos, toothpaste – offering convenience and durability
• Pharmaceuticals: Ointments, gels – meeting strict safety standards
• Industrial: Lubricants, adhesives – providing chemical resistance

Primary production methods include:

• Extrusion: Melting plastic pellets through a die to form single-layer tubes
• Coextrusion: Simultaneously extruding multiple materials for multilayer structures

The process continues with cutting, shoulder molding, printing, surface treatment, and cap application.

The industry is responding to environmental concerns through:

• Single-material tubes: Simplifying recycling processes
• Bio-based/degradable plastics: Reducing fossil fuel dependence

Plastic tubes have evolved into strategic brand partners that combine practical benefits with marketing potential. As technology advances and environmental awareness grows, their role in packaging will continue to expand, offering brands effective tools to communicate values while meeting consumer needs.