What is PMMA Packaging?
The quest for low-impact materials with premium functionality is never-ending for product designers. One material that has become an increasingly popular option is PMMA or polymethyl methacrylate.
PMMA is a transparent, rigid, thermoplastic that is gaining popularity as a glass-like alternative
PMMA is being widely adopted in the beauty industry for jars, airless bottles, tubes, and closure components.
Impacked Packaging has a wide range of PMMA suppliers including APC Packaging, APG, Precise Cosmetics, and more.
What is PMMA
Polymethyl Methacrylate or PMMA is a transparent, rigid, thermoplastic that is more popularly known as acrylic or “Acrylic Glass”. PMMA is a favorite of ours because it exhibits many glass-like qualities without the drawbacks commonly associated with glass. PMMA has a high light transmittance while also maintaining high resistance to UV Light, is quite durable (and scratch resistant), and has very strong dimensional stability.
The origins of PMMA can be traced back to Otto Rohm, a German chemist who first developed the material in 1901. But it wasn't until the 1940s that PMMA began to gain widespread attention for its potential health applications. Specifically, it was orthopedic surgeons who began to explore the possibilities of the material. Thanks to the work of companies like Kulzer and Degussa, PMMA was refined into a dough-like, workable form that could harden at room temperature. This breakthrough eventually led to the formation of cold-cured PMMA, which could be used in various applications.
Applications for PMMA in Primary Packaging
This durable and versatile material is used in a variety of packaging applications across numerous industries, including food and beverage, health & personal care, and electronics. With its transparency, strength, and impact resistance, PMMA has proven to be a reliable and cost-effective solution for many needs. PMMA is used widely in the cosmetics and beauty industry for jars, airless bottles, and tubes, among other applications. It functions as the primary material and also in the design of caps, pumps, and other components. At Impacked, we’ve seen many brands transition their packaging from glass to PMMA to prevent products from shattering during transportation or consumer use.
One of the most common PMMA applications we see on the marketplace is the outer jar for cosmetic and makeup products. The transparency and stability of the PMMA outer jar allows for the inner jar to be visible without sacrificing on strength.
The Sustainability of PMMA
PMMA is 100% recyclable. PMMA can be reprocessed at dedicated plastic recycling facilities before being melted and extruded into new items, creating closed-loop supply chains and building a circular economy. When fabricated correctly, PMMA releases no pollutant substances into the environment. At the end of its life, PMMA can be carefully separated from other materials and recycled for energy recovery or mechanical and chemical recycling. PMMA scrap is not considered hazardous waste, meaning it can be repurposed safely and responsibly.
Work with PMMA Suppliers
There are a plethora of trusted PMMA suppliers on Impacked with varying specializations and minimum order quantities.
- APC Packaging: Based in China, APC Packaging has a wide range of small PMMA cosmetic jars and airless bottles at a 10,000 unit MOQ. APC also offers a .5oz stock PMMA jar for a low MOQ which is warehoused in the US
- APG: APG has an extensive set of PMMA jars which are manufactured and shipped out of California. Averaging a 10,000 unit MOQ, we love the variety of eye-catching jars and finishes offered by APG.
- Precise Cosmetics: In addition to having a solid collection of cosmetic jars and bottles, Precise Cosmetics uniquely offers a range of PMMA compact makeup packaging. Precise Concepts is also located in California and has over 200 products listed on Impacked featuring PMMA
For your sustainable packaging needs, consult Impacked Packaging, the largest primary packaging marketplace on the planet, built for the planet.
