UK Achieves 100% Recyclable Toothpaste Tubes! Colgate, Haleon, WRAP Join Forces to Promote

WRAP states that all toothpaste tubes on the UK market are now recyclable and no longer need to be thrown into the trash. This means that the UK will significantly reduce the landfill waste of toothpaste tubes, marking a crucial step forward in promoting the circular economy.

— 1 —

The recycling dilemma of toothpaste tubes.

Data shows that the number of fluoride toothpaste tubes sold annually in the UK reaches 252 million. As a daily necessity for the public, the disposal issue of toothpaste tubes has long been a "recycling nightmare": traditional toothpaste tubes are made of a composite structure of "plastic and aluminum foil," which is difficult to process through conventional recycling methods. This results in a large number of used toothpaste tubes being sent to landfills, making them the second most common "wish-cycled" item in the UK—meaning products that consumers hope can be recycled but, due to material limitations, cannot actually be recycled.

— 2 —

Solution: Material and Technological Innovation

To tackle this challenge, leading companies in the toothpaste industry have embarked on deep collaborations with environmental organizations: Colgate and Haleon (which owns well-known toothpaste brands such as Sensodyne, Corsodyl, and Aquafresh) have joined forces with the climate action NGO WRAP and industry partners to collectively drive a "milestone transformation" in toothpaste tube materials.

The new toothpaste tubes are made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), the same material used for milk bottles. This means that all toothpaste tubes sold nationwide are now technically 100% recyclable. The recycled material can be used to manufacture a variety of new products, including garden furniture, plastic pipes, and bleach bottles.

— 3 —

Roadside recycling and Boots store guarantee.

With the innovation in materials, the recycling channels for toothpaste tubes have also been improved accordingly. Currently, more and more local governments in the UK have included toothpaste tubes in "kerbside collections," allowing them to be recycled alongside similar materials like plastic cans, plastic boxes, and plastic trays. Already, 3 million UK households can dispose of toothpaste tubes through this method. WRAP suggests that consumers use the "Recycle Now Locator" to check if their local government supports doorstep recycling of toothpaste tubes.

If there is currently no curbside recycling service available locally, consumers can also visit any Boots store in the UK to dispose of toothpaste tubes and other hard-to-recycle items through their "Recycle at Boots" program. Participants in this program can also earn Boots Advantage Card points as a reward.