Berlin Packaging Beauty and Italian startup Krill Design presented XOCO — an innovative polypropylene made from upcycled hazelnut shells for cosmetic packaging.
Berlin Packaging Beauty and Italian startup Krill Design presented XOCO — an innovative packaging material for the beauty industry, created from upcycled hazelnut shells. The premiere took place at Paris Packaging Week 2026 in February, followed by a showcase at Cosmoprof Worldwide Bologna 2026, where it attracted attention from over 255,000 visitors.
XOCO is a polypropylene (PP) compound in which 10% of the composition comes from hazelnut shells — a by-product of confectionery manufacturing. Visible organic particles give the material a unique tactile and visual texture, turning the packaging itself into a brand storytelling element.
The material is designed for precision-molded cosmetic packaging components, including bottle and jar caps, pump covers, collars, droppers, and fragrance caps.
Key advantages of XOCO:
- 10% organic filler — hazelnut shells from confectionery waste
- Full recyclability — compatible with existing polypropylene recycling streams
- Mechanical reliability — torque, snap-fit and chemical compatibility at standard PP levels
- Unique aesthetics — visible organic particles create a distinctive surface texture
- Compatibility with industrial decoration techniques
Krill Design, founded in Milan, specializes in transforming food industry organic waste into functional fillers for polymers. The company has previously presented ReKrill® technology — a line of materials based on nut shells, coffee grounds, bran and grape pomace.
"XOCO is an example of how materials, design and industry can converge to address the evolving needs of the market," Krill Design noted.
In addition to XOCO, Berlin Packaging Beauty also presented at 2026 trade shows a line of metal-free dispensing systems for skincare and fragrance, available in atmospheric and airless versions. These systems completely eliminate metallic components inside the dispensing chamber, simplifying packaging recycling and aligning with upcoming European PPWR regulations.
The metal-free pumps are available in volumes from 30 to 500 ml, including two new models with multi-dose control via a rotating actuator. The atmospheric version is designed for low-to-medium viscosity formulas — serums, lotions, primers and fluid foundations. The airless version is intended for creams, gel-creams and dermo-cosmetic treatments.
The company also expanded its Pockii platform with new formats: a 50 ml monomaterial PP bottle with a 200 mcl dosing pump for serums and concentrates, and a 100 ml PET 20/400 bottle for sprays — face and body mists, hair mists and sun-care products.
The emergence of XOCO marks an important shift in the industry: packaging ceases to be just a container and becomes a full-fledged tool for communicating brand sustainability, allowing consumers to literally "see" and "feel" a manufacturer's environmental responsibility.
Source: Premium Beauty News
