Mitsubishi Chemical’s DURABIO adopted by ALBION for Excia compact cases
- DURABIO, a bio-engineering plastic made primarily from plant-derived isosorbide, is used in compact cases for ALBION’s Excia Eye Color Volonte collection launching November 1, 2026.
- DURABIO is combined with other transparent resins (e.g., PET) and shaped by injection molding to produce pearlescent, seashell-like textures and depth that change with viewing angle and lighting.
- DURABIO offers high transparency, strong optical properties, weather resistance and mechanical durability.
- DURABIO’s durability helps offset the usual loss of robustness and increased cracking risk when different resins are mixed, supporting both design and strength.
Adoption
Mitsubishi Chemical’s DURABIO™—a bio-engineering plastic produced primarily from plant-derived isosorbide—has been selected for the compact cases of "Excia Eye Color Volonte," part of ALBION’s Excia Makeup Collection, available for a limited time from November 1, 2026.
Design approach
The compact cases are produced by combining DURABIO with other transparent resins such as PET and using injection molding. Differences in optical properties between the resins generate pearlescent effects, while controlled flow during molding creates patterns that resemble natural seashells and produce a sense of depth that shifts with viewing angle and lighting.
Material performance
DURABIO delivers high transparency and favorable optical characteristics alongside weather resistance and mechanical durability. Those properties mitigate the typical reduction in robustness and the increased cracking risk that can arise when dissimilar resins are mixed, enabling both the intended aesthetic and structural requirements for the cases.
Outlook
Mitsubishi Chemical says it will continue to pursue broader applications for DURABIO to provide additional high-value solutions to customers.
Source: Mitsubishi
