Luonkos was one of the first companies to introduce bar-form and plastic-free products to the Finnish market in 2018. Luonkos creates hope for the future and solutions to current problems. The company's mission is to help people reduce their consumption of skincare products. Less is more when a product is versatile and effective. Luonkos inspires change.
Innovative pioneer
Natural cosmetics are cosmetics whose ingredients originate from nature. Ingredients gathered from nature or organically cultivated are favored, and synthetic ingredients are mostly prohibited. Product packaging is recyclable.
Luonkos's carbon footprint is minimally small and compensated, and the water footprint of production and products is also very small. The products are waterless and preservative-free. No animal testing has been used in the ingredients or testing of the products.
Over 95% of Luonkos products are vegan. The beeswax in the balm products is locally sourced wax from an old native breed, the black bees. By using black bee wax, you support the conservation efforts of the breed. Some Luonkos products use mica. We have chosen synthetic mica because there are a huge number of unethical aspects to mica mining.
We are a member of the Finnish Pro Luonnonkosmetiikka ry (Pro Natural Cosmetics) association, whose aim is to help understand what natural cosmetics means as a concept, and to promote the use of environmentally friendly and safe cosmetic products.
The majority of Luonkos' products are FI-Natura certified. This certificate indicates authentic Finnish natural cosmetics. It makes it easy to identify genuine Finnish products and greenwashing. Greenwashing is visible as the marketing of synthetic and non-ecological products, which creates a false impression of a natural product. The use of animal testing is strictly prohibited.
Luonkos is a company founded and led by women. As a value-based company, Luonkos is committed to making ethical and ecological choices and acting responsibly. Consumers can enjoy their product knowing that every decision made regarding its raw materials, packaging, and production is transparent, honest, and withstands critical scrutiny throughout the entire value chain.
Responsible packaging for innovative products
Luonkos is a natural cosmetics company from Naantali, whose founders were frustrated by the abundance of industrial cosmetic products, plastic waste, and the confusing ingredient lists of various cosmetic products. The desire to create better, more nourishing, and circular economy-respecting products led the women to seek an alternative solution for products and packaging.
The Philosophy of Packaging
Typically, cosmetic products are packaged in plastic, which is difficult or impossible to recycle. Since responsibility, quality, and ecological sustainability were integral to Luonkos' values from the outset, the same ideology was extended to the packaging.
"From the very beginning, it was essential for us that the packaging be responsibly produced and environmentally friendly," summarizes Piritta Fors.
Responsibility is evident in everything: from the products' raw materials, production, and packaging, to even the packaging labels. Consumers can trust that by choosing a Luonkos product, they are making an ecologically and ethically sound choice. Compromises are not part of Luonkos' values; the aim was to create comprehensively correct solutions.
This is how the idea for responsible packaging and solid cosmetics products was born.
Luonkos' ambition was to create solid and powdered products so that packaging could be made without plastics. The products were also not intended to contain water or preservatives. Luonkos' solid products for skin cleansing and moisturizing are oil-based, which presented its own challenges for recyclable, plastic-free packaging.
"We wanted to find a solution for packaging that is foldable, glue-free, plastic-free, and easily recyclable. We are a value-driven company, and we want that to be reflected in every choice we make," says Fors.
The idea for innovative, hexagonal packaging was born. The desire was also to serve the user experience, how the solid products and packaging would work in everyday use. The product's packaging was also intended to be suitable for storing the product – thus, the idea of a completely new kind of "lift mechanism" developed. The solid product can be lifted out of its packaging with the help of a flap, a practical detail.
Attention was also paid to the carbon footprint of the packaging material. A suitable material and producer were sought for a long time. The criteria for the packaging material included the packaging being leak-proof; oil-based products and powder products require their own kind of durable and functional packaging. At the same time, MM Kotkamills launched new, easily recyclable, oil-resistant cardboards. Collaboration ensued, resulting in packaging that could implement a value-appropriate and beautiful functional solution.
In 2019, the first innovative biodegradable, zero-waste packages were completed, which, typically for Luonkos, are unique. The design language of the packaging, colorful shades, and materials used are exceptional among cosmetic packaging. They stand out on store shelves, and users have given a lot of positive feedback. Cardboard packages are usually square or round. The hexagonal shape stands out well on the shelf; it is stackable and easy to arrange.
Where and how are innovative packages made
MM Kotkamills is a Finnish, innovative company that met Luonkos's strict criteria regarding the ecological aspects and usability of packaging.
The lid material for the packaging, ALASKA® BARRIER fiber, is sourced from certified and sustainably managed northern forests. The material is durable, and print results on it are particularly good. The deliciously colored packaging is printed with food-grade inks.
The base material of the packaging, ISLA® Duo, ensures grease and moisture resistance for the packaging, as the product to be packaged is oil-based. Luonkos's oil cleansing cakes are the world's first cosmetic products to be packaged in this amazing innovative material.
The packaging is entirely glueless and fully recyclable. The labels used on the packaging are pine oil-based and 100% biodegradable.
Award-winning packaging
Luonkos' hexagonal packaging was awarded third place in the international 2020 FSEA Gold Leaf competition in the USA for the unique folding effect of the packaging. The competition's evaluation criteria were product design, execution, and difficulty of execution.
Luonkos was a finalist in the 2022 Most Sustainable Product in Finland competition with its Refresh dry shampoo product. This dry shampoo, manufactured according to circular economy principles, is a domestic, powdered product that refreshes hair without water or chemicals. As usual, the product is packaged in Luonkos' recyclable cardboard box, without plastics.
Draft
Luonkos manufactures innovative and ingenious skincare products. Made from natural ingredients, our products help your skin feel better, while respecting nature.
All Luonkos products are made in Finland without water, preservatives, plastics or animal testing.
Goodbye sea of plastic jars and complicated skincare routines!
By choosing a Luonkos product, you are making an ecologically and responsibly good choice - saving your skin, nature and your wallet.
MM Kotkamills
The Finnish forest industry company MM Kotkamills is an experienced, responsible, and globally operating partner that manufactures innovative products developed from a renewable natural resource, wood. Responsibly manufactured products include consumer packaging boards suitable for food use. Fully recyclable ALASKA® and ISLA® carton products have been manufactured since 2016, and in 2018, the production of carton grades utilizing water-based dispersion, replacing plastic, began for food and other packaging materials and serving dishes. All products are environmentally friendly, recyclable, and safe to use.