Starting in 2013, Colgate-Palmolive set out to invent a plastic laminate toothpaste tube that could be recycled. At the time, most toothpaste tubes were made from sheets of different plastics often sandwiched around a thin layer of aluminum. They couldn't be recycled through conventional methods.
Colgate wanted to change that. It created a first-of-its-kind tube that could be recycled along with laundry detergent bottles and other plastic bottles. And to spark a global transition to recyclable tubes, it decided to share its recyclable tube know-how with other companies, including competitors.
Today, 90% of toothpaste tubes in the US have designs compatible with the color HDPE bottle stream, according to Stina Inc., which announced this milestone on March 21, 2024. Stina is leading a Tube Recycling Project among stakeholders to help speed the tube transformation.
Colgate-Palmolive people are proud of the leadership role the company has played in reaching this milestone. Here are some key steps in the company’s journey.
To learn more about Colgate-Palmolive's sustainability efforts, including its goal to make its packaging reusable, refillable or recyclable, check out our Sustainability & Social Impact report.
