Can Toothpaste Tubes Be Recycled Across the US? It’s Getting Closer
Three out of four plastic squeeze tubes on the US market are now made in a way that allows them to be recycled alongside shampoo bottles.
A "Recycle Tube" logo on a box of Colgate Optic White toothpaste. Colgate developed a recyclable toothpaste and shared the design with competitors.
Photographer: Lanna Apisukh/BloombergToothpaste tubes and other squeezable plastic containers are getting closer to being more sustainable in the US. Some 90% of toothpaste tubes on the market are now made in a way that makes them compatible for recycling with HDPE, the same plastic used for products like shampoo bottles, according to research firm Stina Inc.
Overall, 75% of all the plastic squeeze tubes in the US — also used for personal-care products such as conditioner and lotion — now have the correct design. The technical milestone makes it more likely that the tubes US consumers recycle will actually get reclaimed.