Top Tubes manufactures custom PBL (Plastic Barrier Laminate) tubes for cosmetics and personal care brands that need strong barrier protection in a fully recyclable package. PBL tubes give you the smooth, seamless look customers expect from premium tube packaging, without the aluminum layer found in ABL tubes.
What Is a PBL Tube?
A PBL tube is a laminate tube built entirely from plastic layers, with an EVOH (Ethylene Vinyl Alcohol) barrier layer replacing the aluminum foil used in ABL tubes. Because there is no metal layer, PBL tubes are 100% recyclable through standard plastics recycling streams, while still delivering strong protection against oxygen and moisture.
The 5-Layer PBL Structure
PBL tubes are built from five layers: LDPE / adhesive / EVOH / adhesive / LDPE. The inner and outer LDPE layers give the tube its softness and printable surface, the EVOH core provides the oxygen and moisture barrier, and the adhesive layers bond everything into a single laminate wall.
EVOH Barrier Properties
EVOH is one of the best oxygen barrier materials available in plastic packaging. It blocks oxygen transmission that would otherwise degrade actives, fragrances, and preservative systems, and it also resists moisture vapor transmission, helping formulas maintain their texture and shelf life.
Key Advantages
PBL tubes spring back to their original shape after being squeezed, giving customers a soft, premium in-hand feel that ABL tubes do not offer. Top Tubes prints up to 8 colors directly on PBL tubes for detailed, photo-quality graphics, and the tube’s smooth, seamless exterior gives your packaging a clean, high-end finish with no visible seam line.
Industries We Serve
PBL tube packaging is most common in cosmetics, personal care, hair care, and eco-conscious beauty brands. Because PBL tubes are 100% recyclable, they are a strong fit for brands building a sustainability story around their packaging.
Decoration Options
We decorate PBL tubes with offset printing, silk screen printing, hot stamping, and digital printing, and offer matte and glossy finishes. Our design team works with your files to build a production-ready proof before your order goes into production.
Sustainability Story
Because PBL tubes contain no aluminum layer, they can be recycled as a single plastic stream in facilities that accept polyethylene packaging. For brands that want to go further, Top Tubes also offers PCR (post-consumer recycled) content and Bio-PE material options.
MOQ, Lead Time and Shipping
MOQ for PBL tube packaging starts at 5,000 units per SKU. Standard lead time is 10 to 12 weeks from art approval to completed production, and orders ship FOB Los Angeles.
Quality and Compliance
All PBL tubes are manufactured in an ISO 9001:2015 certified facility and are BPA free, giving you a packaging partner you can rely on for consistent quality order after order.
See our laminate tube overview for how PBL compares to ABL, our tube packaging glossary for material definitions, or our FAQ for common ordering questions.
Ready to switch to a fully recyclable tube without sacrificing barrier protection? Request a quote and our team will help you spec the right PBL tube for your product.