For years, toothpaste tubes have been a notorious problem in the world of recycling. These everyday essentials, used by billions globally, were largely ending up in landfills due to their complex, multi-material construction. However, Colgate-Palmolive, a leader in oral care, has stepped up to address this environmental challenge with an innovative solution: the recyclable toothpaste tube and the “Recycle Me!” program, a significant advancement in the Colgate Oral Care Recycling Program landscape.
Traditionally, the majority of toothpaste tubes worldwide have been made from a mix of materials, making them incompatible with standard recycling processes. This has resulted in an estimated 20 billion toothpaste tubes being discarded annually, contributing significantly to global plastic waste. Recognizing this pressing issue, Colgate embarked on a mission to create a fully recyclable tube, and they succeeded.
Colgate’s groundbreaking tube is constructed from High Density Polyethylene (HDPE), the same No. 2 plastic widely used for milk jugs and detergent bottles, materials already commonly recycled. This ingenious choice means that recycling toothpaste tubes becomes as simple as recycling plastic bottles. Consumers don’t need to undertake any complicated pre-treatment – no rinsing, cutting, or cleaning is required before tossing the tube into the recycling bin. This ease of use is crucial for encouraging widespread participation in the colgate oral care recycling program.
To effectively communicate this significant change to consumers, Colgate introduced the “Recycle Me!” tube. This initiative features bold, limited-edition graphics prominently displaying “Recycle Me!” on select Colgate toothpaste varieties, including Colgate® Optic White Advanced Sparkling White, Colgate® Cavity Protection, Colgate® Max Fresh Cool, and Colgate® Total Whitening. Colgate is committed to transitioning its entire toothpaste line to recyclable tubes by 2023, ensuring that sustainable packaging becomes the norm across their product range.
The “Recycle Me!” campaign extends beyond consumer awareness. Colgate’s objective is to engage and educate all stakeholders in the recycling ecosystem. This includes Materials Recovery Facilities (MRFs) that sort recyclables, reprocessors who convert recycled plastic into resin, and other key players in the recycling chain. By fostering collaboration and understanding across the industry, Colgate aims to ensure the successful implementation of the colgate oral care recycling program.
Dana Medema, Vice President & General Manager of Oral Care for Colgate-Palmolive in North America, emphasizes the company’s commitment: “As the global toothpaste leader…we want to lead in waste reduction and…making toothpaste tubes a part of the circular economy. The Recycle Me! tube is designed to educate and engage consumers and the recycling community…and we are excited to initiate and learn from our upcoming pilot program.”
Colgate-Palmolive is actively developing a recyclable tube pilot program, collaborating with industry peers, a leading MRF, and a reprocessor in the U.S. This pilot program will focus on a specific county or municipality to evaluate the effectiveness of educational campaigns in boosting tube recycling rates and to assess the quality of the collected tube material for reprocessing. The data gathered will be instrumental in establishing practical best practices for tube recycling, which will be shared with communities and recyclers nationwide, further strengthening the colgate oral care recycling program framework.
Choosing HDPE for the tube was a strategic decision by Colgate. HDPE is a robust and widely recycled plastic, boasting one of the highest recycling rates among plastics in the U.S. However, HDPE is typically rigid, posing a challenge for squeezable tubes. Colgate engineers overcame this hurdle by ingeniously layering different thicknesses of HDPE laminate, resulting in a soft, user-friendly, and recyclable tube that maintains product protection throughout its use.
Furthermore, Colgate has proactively shared its recyclable tube technology with other companies, even competitors, through numerous packaging forums and individual meetings. This collaborative approach is crucial to encourage a widespread transition to recyclable tubes. A critical mass of recyclable tubes on the market is essential to incentivize recycling facilities to include tubes in their accepted materials lists and to cultivate a new consumer habit of recycling toothpaste tubes as part of the colgate oral care recycling program.
The momentum is building. Major toothpaste brands, accounting for a significant portion of the US market alongside Colgate, have publicly committed to transitioning to recyclable HDPE toothpaste tubes by 2025. While this transition unfolds, it’s important for consumers to check with their local recycling facilities to confirm tube acceptance. For more detailed information, you can visit Colgate’s FAQ page.
“Recycle Me!” Limited Edition Products:
- Colgate® Total Whitening 4.8 oz, MSRP: $3.99
- Colgate® Max Fresh Cool Mint 6 oz, MSRP: $2.99
- Colgate® Optic White Advanced Sparkling White 3.2 oz, MSRP: $4.99
- Colgate® Cavity Protection 6 oz, MSRP: $1.67
These “Recycle Me!” edition toothpastes are readily available online and at major retailers across the nation, including Target and Amazon, making it easier for consumers to participate in the colgate oral care recycling program and contribute to a more sustainable future for oral care.
