The use of UV absorbers, or sunscreens, on cosmetic packaging is very important. UV light can adversely affect the natural and synthetic pigments and dyes, vitamins, lipids, fatty acids, and flavors found in many foods, beverages and pharmaceutical products, as well as household, cosmetic and personal care products. New ultraviolet absorption compositions have been developed for the protection of packaging or container contents in the ultraviolet range of 290 to 390 nanometers, offering effective screening from all wavelengths of solar radiation.
A combination of an optical brightener with an ultraviolet absorber has been found to provide effective screening without adding significant color to the package composition. This extended range of ultraviolet blocking over what can be achieved with ultraviolet absorbers alone is especially valuable in food and drink packaging applications where the contents of the packages need ultraviolet protection to prevent discoloration or development of undesirable flavors.