BW Confidential highlights the key innovations, trends and talking points from the LuxePack Monaco trade show, which took place from September 29 – October 1, 2025
The atmosphere at LuxePack Monaco was subdued this year and packagers are vigilant about what’s to come in the market. Rising costs, weakness in China, a lack of visibility in terms of inventory, along with US tariffs remain top concerns for the industry. In the fragrance segment, Bormioli Luigi’s VP Prestige Fragrance Simone Baratta describes a slowdown in major launches, but a growth in demand for flankers. He also points to a lack of confidence and more caution in the market, with a lot of projects on standby.
However, uncertain market conditions have also urged manufacturers to optimize their processes or invest in regional developments. Albea for example has streamlined its French operations, phasing out silver-plating services to concentrate on strengthening its core activities including injection, assembly and decoration. Silgan has recently made investments in its beauty business aimed at strengthening its regional footprint in a bid to boost speed-to-market and have a more sustainable supply chain. Bormioli Luigi and Coverpla are leveraging their decoration technologies, while glassmakers are transitioning to electric ovens. Many suppliers also observe promising opportunities in smaller segments, like the niche fragrance and home fragrance categories.
Another key issue is the work to meet the requirements of the European Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR). This means manufacturers are focusing more on product pipelines with lightweight packaging, or fully recyclable all-plastic and mono-material packs. Players are also adding smaller formats to existing lines in response to demand, as well as items with sustainable claims with reduced packaging.
This year, the show highlighted areas, such as The Portal spotlighting tech solutions and smart technologies, and The Col’Lab, a collaborative laboratory, and new space Luxe Home, as well as the expansion of Luxe Formulation for cosmetics and fragrance packaging.
Seen in show
In preparation for the European PPWR (Packaging & Packaging Waste Regulation), dispensing packaging company Silgan Dispensing presented its latest sustainable pump innovations boasting all-plastic and fully recyclable designs. Described as its biggest launch for the beauty category in recent years, it showcased the ERA Pump-On-Tube innovation, which is a fully recyclable, airless all-plastic pump on a tube pack. The ERA line is to also serve as a platform to extend to other formats like airless bottle dispensers, reveals Sophie Thiolas, Global Marketing Director Beauty at Silgan.
The company also showed the recyclable all-plastic Pearl 2 airless system featuring a pump with patented plastic spring now in more sizes, and the DNA 35 airless pump in PCR plastic, for launch in 2026.
Hybrid packaging supplier Berlin Packaging unveiled its new StickLab collection (pictured above), which is a refillable, mono-material nomadic design for make-up, skincare or hybrid formulas.
The company also presented the FUTURefill, which features a connector system designed for a more seamless and secure refilling. Among the existing products, the AirLight Refill packaging sees the addition of the Refill & Go format designed for subscription, travel and gift set sizes, while boasting a reduction in material consumption. Meanwhile, the company has been expanding into new categories, including a recent move into personal care. At the show, it presented a home offering comprising a candle container and room spray bottle which join the Aux personal care collection. The company also aims to ramp up its activity in the make-up sector with the acquisition of Italian packaging company Cosmei.
French company Cosmogen continues to pursue a robust product roll-out and presented innovations that notably use metal. This is due to a strong demand from brands, and the trend towards premiumization and expert-inspired applications, says Maud Lelièvre, Marketing & Communication Director at Cosmogen. Products include the company’s flagship tubes with an aluminum skirt designed to protect the contents and convey a premium look and expert positioning, as well as deliver product efficacy. The applicators, which are available in aluminum, stainless steel or zamak, can be removed and reused on another tube. Examples include a premium version of the Dropper Tube with an aluminum tube and tip with dropper system, and ‘expert’ version of the popular Needle Tube, dubbed Expert Needle Tube with fine aluminum tips for targeted treatments. The Tense Tube product is also now available with a removeable stainless-steel tip designed also to impart a cooling effect.
Aluminum is also used in its make-up offering for the patented Smooth & Fresh aluminum applicator, which is combined with soft flocking to provide both a cooling and soft effect.
Rubicell is another innovation used in the Blender range and for its Bouncy Cushion Puff products. It is a super soft, microporous urethane non-absorbing material, which is said to provide high and even coverage with reduced absorption, while offering a sensorial experience.
Coverpla showed examples of the array of standard cap and bottle designs (pictured) available as part of its mix and match offer. In the current context, this solution offers the advantage of coming out with fast and small-to-medium series, says Coverpla Managing Director Sébastien Saussereau. He attributes the company’s performance in part to the growth in the niche fragrance market, as well as the recent redesign of its process and tools. The company has also seen good growth in the home fragrance segment. Following the acquisition of a hot stamping machine last year, Coverpla is also concentrating on deploying this decorating service as a more sustainable alternative to other decoration technologies.
Nuon Medical showcased its growing range of tech-based applications for beauty, including devices using pulsed electromagnetic frequencies for skin rejuvenation, enhancing blood flow and for anti-inflammatory effects, or electrical therapies like the Adjustable Skin Ion tool (pictured), which is said to promote muscle contraction, firmness and irritation relief. The company stresses the clinical backing of the products, thanks to its longstanding partnerships in the medical field.
According to the company, these technologies are already being integrated in the product pipelines among top brands. Enhancing the packaging with this technology is inevitable, says Alain Dijkstra, CEO at Nuon Medical Technologies. Beauty tech pushes the boundaries of product efficacy and means that fewer actives are needed in the formula, as the claims will also be in the device, explains Dijkstra.
Highlights at Italian glassmaker Bormioli Luigi’s stand included a refillable lightweight glass bottle for the Spoturno fragrance brand. The bottle is said to combine both the fineness of a lightweight glass with sturdiness, and is decorated with gold metal screen-printing and topped with a glass cap with fine walls engraved with laurel leaves. The company also showcased a technically challenging asymmetric refillable bottle design for the Ferragamo Fiamma fragrance, which is decorated with a masked metallization and double screen-printing in two tones.
Dispensing and packaging specialist Aptar showed a range of products aligning with current trends in the areas of airless packaging, customization and new packaging gestures. It also showcased products for the trending dermo-cosmetics, personal care and mist categories. Products include the Astrea Airless and recyclable glass bottle in 50ml, 30ml and 15ml versions, which target the luxury and dermo cosmetics markets. The Nomad Refill spray in a 10ml format is described as an industry first for fragrance and meets the travel size trend. Toujours Lipstick (pictured) is a refillable lipstick design using a patented slider replacing the twist mechanism. Other highlights included an expansion of the mist collections with the new inserts offering a fine, continuous wide angle spray lasting three times longer than a standard spray, and fragrance pumps using low carbon aluminium.
The company also spotlighted its customization capabilities with a display of products designed at a dedicated site in France’s ‘Plastic Valley’ in Oyonnax, in the Ain region, which opened in 2023.
Albéa unveiled a range of new generation sustainable packaging solutions that include the EcoSlim Top, which is a lightweight and eco-conscious dispensing tube boasting up to 62% weight reduction and a lower carbon footprint, while maintaining premium aesthetics and user experience.
It also showcased mono-material, refillable Skinstick 2.0 (pictured), which is a solid skincare stick with a refillable system boasting precise and hygienic application. Guardian is a new compact made entirely of PET, designed to protect sensitive cosmetic formulas through an airtight system.
Glassmaker Stoelzle Glass Group continues to put the focus on lightweight glass innovation. At its stand, it presented the Elixir glass product, which it describes as the lightest 30ml dropper bottle. Weighing 53g, it is 32% lighter than its standard 30ml glass bottle, but is still said to be strong and maintains its aesthetic appeal.
TNT Group, a leader in zamak, is expanding its range with a new patent-pending technology of injected aluminum with anodized glossy finish. The technology is said to offer a lighter and recyclable alternative, which also imparts a premium aspect. The new technology also allows a more flexible design than cold-compressed aluminum parts.
Among its latest launches, HCT showed its Eco Tube, which is a light and economical design in a polyethylene material. The company also showcased its popular range of stick products boasting different mechanisms such as a twist base and dial actuator, which offer brands a point of differentiation. The company is seeing strong demand for niche beauty, doctor’s or specialist positionings, as well as for pet care, which it plans to expand it, comments Kerem Oueini, Senior Director of Engineering & Innovation at HCT by kdc/one. Other categories on the rise include men’s grooming, home care and on-the-go formats.
Key trends from the show
- All plastic: There was a big focus on all-plastic innovation, which includes plastic pump springs and products using PCR. Demands for premiumization using plastic have also been trending.
- Aluminum: Suppliers are integrating more aluminum as a light, flexible and recyclable option, which also enhances a premium or expert positioning.
- Small-formats: Products with a convenient, portable positioning and travel size formats continue to trend. Smaller sizes are also used to offer affordable product options and sustainable claims.
- Sustainable lipstick designs: The lipstick has been a focus for sustainable design, with products featuring new mechanisms for refilling, or removable aluminum cases for recycling. HCP showcased its refillable zamak lipstick design for the Lisa Eldridge brand, which features removable caps at both ends.
- Dermo-cosmetics: Manufacturers observe a demand for conveying an expert or almost medical-like positioning through packs, especially in the dermo-cosmetics category.
- Niche brands and home fragrance: Packagers observe that these two categories continue to see strong growth.