Colgate has launched a new toothpaste called 'Smile for Good' which is reportedly being dubbed as 'the first of a kind' because it comes in a recyclable tube.
The toothpaste has also been certified by the Vegan Society, reports The Guardian.
Traditionally toothpaste tubes have been impossible to recycle due to the fact that they are made from a combination of plastic and aluminium.
'Recyclable Toothpaste Tube'
Colgate-Palmolive announced in June last year that it has completed the design of a recyclable toothpaste tube that 'sets a new standard in the industry'.
The new tube was quick to receive recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR), the first oral care or personal care tube to earn recognition for recyclability.
At the time, toothpaste-maker announced its plans roll out the new tube under the Company’s Tom’s of Maine brand in the US in 2020, and then to select global markets under the Colgate brand.
The company said that it was planning 'to fully convert to recyclable tubes by 2025, when all of its products will be in 100% recyclable packaging'.
Long-Term Solution
Justin Skala, executive vice president and chief growth & strategy officer for Colgate-Palmolive, said that, up until now, “there hasn’t been a way to make toothpaste tubes part of the recycling stream”.
“Once we’ve proven the new tube with consumers, we intend to offer the technology to the makers of plastic tubes for all kinds of products,” Skala said.
“By encouraging others to use this technology, we can have an even bigger impact and increase the long-term market viability of this solution.”
Most toothpaste tubes are made from sheets of plastic laminate, which usually contain a combination of different plastics, sandwiched around a thin layer of aluminium that protects the toothpaste’s flavour and fluoride.
Colgate Smile for Good Whitening Toothpaste is currently available in Ireland from Boots priced at €6.29, for a 75ml tube.
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