Hydro and CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty signed a strategic partnership to accelerate the development of low-carbon aluminum for the beauty and fragrance industry. The agreement sets out a shared roadmap between 2026 and 2030 to develop low-carbon aluminum for fragrance, makeup, and skincare packaging.
“Our most ambitious customers often drive innovation by setting clear and demanding goals,” said Hanne Simensen, Executive Vice President of Hydro Aluminium Metal. “”By combining Hydro’s broad product portfolio, quality, and service with our low-carbon and circular aluminum solutions, we can develop materials with a lower carbon footprint for fragrance and beauty packaging.”
Cosmetics Sector
As global demand for aluminum continues to grow and the material takes on increasing strategic importance, the cosmetics sector is emerging as a powerful driver of innovation in responsible sourcing. Although it accounts for only a limited share of global aluminum volumes, the luxury beauty sector sets high standards for quality, design, and traceability, standards that will help raise the bar across the entire value chain and encourage innovation.
Under the agreement, Hydro and CHANEL will work together to develop aluminum packaging solutions whose carbon footprint will approach 3.0 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of aluminum by 2030, while meeting the highest requirements for quality, performance, and design.
The work will initially be based on Hydro REDUXA primary aluminum sheet ingot, which will subsequently be rolled into aluminum sheet used for packaging. Produced in Norway using renewable energy, this low-carbon aluminum is certified with a carbon footprint of no more than 4.0 kilograms of CO₂ equivalent per kilogram of aluminum, less than one third of the global average.
The companies also plan to work to explore various ways to further reduce the carbon footprint of the products, including the development and testing of aluminum produced in specific batches, enhanced traceability, and the use of aluminum recovered from end-of-life products. This will be achieved while preserving the quality, creativity, and excellence expected in fragrance and beauty packaging.
In addition, Hydro and CHANEL plan to study the possibility of incorporating more recycled aluminum in cosmetics, as part of a more circular approach.
“Aluminum is a strategic material, and making its production and processing more responsible requires action across the value chain,” said Julien Garry, chief operations officer, CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty. “At CHANEL Fragrance and Beauty, we believe that creating exceptional products and sustainability must go hand in hand. This partnership reflects our conviction that lasting progress depends on working with partners who share the same long-term ambition. Together, we can go further in developing materials that make our products both more sustainable and desirable.”