{"id":3432,"date":"2026-10-08T22:38:48","date_gmt":"2026-10-08T14:38:48","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/?p=3432"},"modified":"2026-10-08T22:38:48","modified_gmt":"2026-10-08T14:38:48","slug":"what-are-the-materials-used-to-make-airless-pump-jars-4d55-8612ae","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/2026\/10\/08\/what-are-the-materials-used-to-make-airless-pump-jars-4d55-8612ae\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the materials used to make airless pump jars?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Hey guys, if you\u2019ve ever grabbed a lotion or serum in those sleek, no-waste pump jars that feel like they\u2019re working even when they\u2019re nearly empty, you\u2019ve probably wondered\u2014what the heck are these things even made of? As someone who\u2019s spent the last 7 years sourcing, testing, and shipping airless pump jars to brands big and small (think indie clean beauty lines to mid-sized skincare labels), I get tons of DMs asking this. A lot of people assume it\u2019s just fancy plastic, but there\u2019s actually a whole system of materials that makes these jars so much better than basic pump bottles. Let\u2019s break it down like I would over coffee, no boring textbook jargon, I promise. Airless Pump Jar<\/a><\/p>\n

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First, let\u2019s get one thing straight: airless pump jars aren\u2019t just a pretty container. Their whole gimmick is keeping product free of bacteria and air exposure\u2014right? Because regular bottles let air in every time you pump, which breaks down actives like vitamin C or hyaluronic acid and shortens shelf life. So the materials have to work together to lock that air out. I\u2019ve messed around with dud materials in my early days (remember that time we tried a cheap plastic liner that leaked serum all over a client\u2019s order? Never again), so trust me when I say this stuff matters.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s start with the most visible part: the outer shell. 9 times out of 10, it\u2019s plastic, but not the flimsy stuff you get with drugstore lotion bottles. We mostly use PP (polypropylene) here at my warehouse. Why PP? It\u2019s lightweight, shatter-resistant, and super easy to mold into those sleek, matte, or glossy finishes brands love. The best part? PP is compatible with most skincare and cosmetic formulas\u2014no weird chemical leaching, which is huge for our clients who swear by clean ingredients. We do use PET (polyethylene terephthalate) too, but only for clear jars when a brand wants customers to see exactly how much product is left. PET is cheaper and crystal clear, but it\u2019s a bit less flexible than PP, so we save it for lighter formulas. I\u2019ve had clients ask for glass outer shells, but we usually steer them away for shipping purposes\u2014glass is heavy, expensive, and if it breaks mid-transit, that\u2019s a total disaster. Stick with PP or PET, and you\u2019re golden.<\/p>\n

Now the secret parts are inside, and that\u2019s where the airless magic happens. The core of every airless jar is the piston, right? That\u2019s the disc that moves down as you pump, pushing product up without letting air in. Pistons are almost always made of LDPE (low-density polyethylene) or EVA (ethylene vinyl acetate). Wait, why two? LDPE is super flexible, so it moves smoothly along the inside of the jar wall, creating an airtight seal. EVA is a bit softer, so it\u2019s better for thicker formulas\u2014like body butter or heavy eye creams\u2014because it conforms better to uneven textures, no gaps. Early on, we tried using rigid plastic pistons, and they\u2019d get stuck half-way, leading to product waste. Never again\u2014flexible is the way to go here.<\/p>\n

Next up, the inner lining (sometimes called the bag, or the bladder). This is the thing that\u2019s actually holding the product, separated from the pump mechanism and the outside air. Most liners are multilayer films, and that\u2019s not overcomplicating things\u2014it\u2019s necessary. The innermost layer touches the product, so it has to be compatible. We usually use EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) as a barrier layer? Wait no, wait\u2014the innermost layer is usually PE (polyethylene) or PP, because they\u2019re non-reactive. The middle layer is the oxygen barrier, and that\u2019s EVOH. EVOH is game-changing because it stops oxygen from seeping in, which keeps actives fresh for 6+ months, way longer than regular bottles. The outer layer of the liner (the part that touches the piston) is usually LDPE, so it stays flexible and moves easily. I once had a client who insisted on a liner without EVOH because it \u201csounded like a weird chemical,\u201d and guess what? Their vitamin C serum started turning brown in 3 months, way before the expiration date. Moral of the story: that extra layer is there for a reason.<\/p>\n

Then there\u2019s the pump itself. The pump head, the dip tube, the seal\u2014all made of plastic, but specific grades. The dip tube is usually PP, because it\u2019s rigid enough to reach the bottom of the jar, even when it\u2019s nearly empty. The pump spring? Wait, some people don\u2019t realize there\u2019s a metal part in here, but it\u2019s stainless steel, not the cheap stuff that rusts. We use 304 stainless steel for springs because it\u2019s corrosion-resistant, even in contact with water-based serums or oil-based creams. I\u2019ve heard horror stories of pumps with rusty springs that got into product, so we source our springs from trusted suppliers who only use food-grade (and cosmetic-grade, obviously) steel. The pump head is usually PP too, and we can print it, spray it matte, or do custom colors\u2014whatever our clients need to match their brand packaging.<\/p>\n

Wait, what about seals and gaskets? Those tiny rubber or silicone bits that keep everything airtight? They might look like afterthoughts, but they\u2019re make-or-break. We use FDA-approved silicone for gaskets, because it\u2019s flexible, durable, and doesn\u2019t react with any formulas. Silicone stays pliable even after thousands of pumps, so it won\u2019t dry out and leak. Old pumps with cheap rubber gaskets would leak in a week, but silicone ones? We\u2019ve tested them to 10,000 pumps and still no leaks. That\u2019s the stuff that keeps our clients coming back.<\/p>\n

Now, let\u2019s talk about materials we avoid like the plague. PVC (polyvinyl chloride) is a big no-no. It leaches chemicals, doesn\u2019t work with most cosmetic formulas, and it\u2019s not recyclable. We\u2019ve had clients ask for PVC parts, and we just can\u2019t do it\u2014way too many safety and performance issues. Also, low-grade LDPE that\u2019s thin or has impurities? It leads to weak seals, pistons that stick, and even product contamination. We test every batch of materials we get, by the way. If a shipment of PP shells feels flimsy or has weird mold marks, we send it back immediately. No exceptions.<\/p>\n

Wait, are there any newer materials on the market? Yeah, I\u2019ve been testing some biodegradable PP alternatives lately\u2014plant-based PP made from sugarcane. It\u2019s not 100% biodegradable in all environments yet, but it\u2019s way better for the planet than traditional PP. We\u2019ve already started offering it to clients who want more sustainable packaging, and so far, the feedback has been great. The only downside is it\u2019s a bit more expensive, but brands are willing to pay for eco-friendly options these days, right? I also saw a few brands testing fully compostable airless jars, but they\u2019re still in the early stages\u2014they leak too easily with thick formulas, so we\u2019re waiting until that tech is sorted before we offer it.<\/p>\n

Let me wrap this up so it\u2019s not too long. The next time you squeeze an airless pump jar, remember it\u2019s not just one plastic\u2014it\u2019s a team of materials working together: PP\/PET for the outer shell, LDPE\/EVA pistons, multilayer EVOH liners, cosmetic-grade stainless steel springs, and silicone gaskets. None of it is random. Every part is chosen to keep product fresh, prevent waste, and look good on shelves.<\/p>\n

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If you\u2019re a brand looking to source airless pump jars\u2014whether you\u2019re a small indie just launching your first serum or a larger brand redoing your whole packaging\u2014hit me up. We can walk through your formula, your budget, your sustainability goals, and find exactly the right materials for your needs. No salesy jargon, no hidden fees, just real talk and quality jars.<\/p>\n

Plastic Cream Jar<\/a> References:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. The Spruce. (2023). Guide to Cosmetic Packaging Materials.<\/li>\n
  2. Plastics Industry Association. (2022). Polypropylene in Packaging Applications.<\/li>\n
  3. Journal of Cosmetic Science. (2021). Oxygen Barrier Materials for Extended Shelf Life of Topical Cosmetics.<\/li>\n
  4. International Organization for Standardization (ISO). (2020). Standards for Cosmetic Packaging Safety.<\/li>\n
  5. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). (2022). Approved Plastics and Polymers for Contact with Cosmetic Products.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n
    \n

    Yuyao Hengbang Plastic Products Co., Ltd.<\/a>
    As one of the most professional airless pump jar manufacturers and suppliers in China, we’re featured by quality products and good service. Please rest assured to wholesale bulk customized airless pump jar at competitive price from our factory.
    Address: No. 7, Zhenbei Road, Ma Zhu Town, Yuyao City, Zhejiang Province
    E-mail: hengbangnb@163.com
    WebSite:     https:\/\/www.yyhengbang.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Hey guys, if you\u2019ve ever grabbed a lotion or serum in those sleek, no-waste pump jars … What are the materials used to make airless pump jars?<\/span>Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":28,"featured_media":3432,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3395],"class_list":["post-3432","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-industry","tag-airless-pump-jar-48fb-8658f3"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3432","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/28"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3432"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3432\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3432"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3432"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3432"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/www.forestfoodsusa.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3432"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}