Sold under the “VCAN” brand name, Your Own Brand (YOB, Neutraubling / Germany; www.yourownbrand.de) has launched an aerosol can made of plastic, used to package the women’s shaving foam sold by German drugstore DM’s “Balea” brand.

YOB subsidiary Deutsche Aerosol (Neutraubling) developed the can together with PET stretch blow moulding specialist Krones (Neutraubling; www.krones.de) as well as Austrian bottler Kemacos Full Filling Service (Kematen; www.kemacos.com), whose stockholders also own shares in YOB.

Joachim Fetzer, the leading shareholder of the private label cosmetics and household goods manufacturer, says YOB currently is the only company in Europe to offer such a packaging solution. “VCAN” was awarded the German industrial prize for R&D in spring this year.

Fetzer said the packaging’s advantages include the “just-in-time” production located adjacent to the filling line – as opposed to the storage that is commonplace for empty metal cans. In addition, the use of PET now only allows for more choice in the packaging shape, the material’s transparency also enables buyers to see the can’s contents.