Packaging for Cosmetic Active Ingredients
Pigments, clays, talcs, starches, waxes and powdered extracts spend weeks or months in the warehouse before going into production. The conditions during that period, and the packaging they are stored in, determine whether they reach the weighing stage with the same specifications they had on receipt.
What a cosmetic raw material demands from its packaging
Any deviation in the storage of a cosmetic raw material results in non-conforming batches, reprocessing or rejections. The packaging must meet four requirements:
- Moisture barrier: many cosmetic powders are hygroscopic. Water absorption causes caking, loss of flowability and dosing problems. The combination of the fibreboard drum and the plastic liner bag acts as a moisture barrier.
- Light barrier: certain extracts and actives are photosensitive and lose effectiveness through photodegradation or oxidation.
- No cross-contamination: a single poorly isolated pigment is enough to compromise an entire batch.
- Traceability: Regulation (EC) No 1223/2009 requires manufacturing in line with good manufacturing practice, and ISO 22716 is the harmonised reference standard. Each raw material must be identified, with its batch and status, and stored under controlled conditions.
What ISO 22716 says about storing raw materials
The standard does not specify types of packaging, but it does set out criteria that shape how it is chosen:
- Unambiguous identification of each container: name, batch and status (quarantined, approved or rejected).
- Storage conditions suited to the nature of each raw material.
- Stock rotation, usually on a FIFO or FEFO basis.
- Packaging integrity: keep containers closed and in good condition to prevent contamination.
Un envase que facilite el etiquetado, el cierre seguro y la inspección visual simplifica el cumplimiento de estos requisitos en el día a día y en las auditorías.
Why choose a fibre drum for cosmetic raw materials
The kraft fibre drum meets these requirements without compromising on the sustainability criteria that the cosmetics industry increasingly applies to its supply chain.
| Advantage | What it offers |
| Opacity | The kraft board protects the contents from light. |
| Tight seal | The inner liner and the lid with lever-lock closure form an effective barrier against moisture and dust. |
| Full-open top | Makes sampling on receipt, dispensing and complete emptying of the contents easier. |
| Lightweight and stackable | Optimises warehouse space and reduces weight in transit. |
| Customisation | Screen printing with your logo, colour coding by raw material, or batch labels that streamline warehouse management. |
| Brand consistency | If the brand promotes sustainability, its supply chain needs to live up to that. The kraft drum is recyclable once its components have been separated. |
Which capacity to choose
It depends on the rate of use and the density of the raw material:
- Pigments and low-dose actives: smaller sizes, so the same container isn’t opened and closed for weeks on end, limiting exposure to moisture and air.
- High-use fillers and bases: larger sizes, which reduce the number of containers to handle and the cost per kilo stored.
Our ECO Kraft drums, from 20 to 70 litres, are particularly well suited to the cosmetics industry. Find out how to choose the right capacity for your sector. If you need a different size, we manufacture drums from 5 to 200 litres.
Best practices when using the drum
- A new inner liner for each fill, sealed before fitting the lid.
- A status label visible from the warehouse aisle, without needing to move the container.
- Close immediately after each dispensing, to limit moisture uptake in hygroscopic powders.
To find out more about organising your warehouse, read our article on storing raw materials.
See you at Cosmetorium 2026
The industry comes together on 21 and 22 October at La Farga (L’Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona) for the cosmetics sector’s leading trade show. It’s a good opportunity to review the packaging of your raw materials too. Find out what to expect in our article on Cosmetorium 2026.
Looking to optimise the storage and transport of your cosmetic raw materials? Get in touch, and we’ll help you choose the most suitable drum.