Dow commercializes recyclable toothpaste packaging

Ground-breaking innovation

Dow published the ground-breaking innovation of commercialization of recyclable toothpaste tubes developed.

It is produced in the Asia Pacific region and used by significant consumer brands is now open on store shelves worldwide. The Company operated closely with many global toothpaste brands to make the new sustainable solution into mass production. 

Responsible for disposal and recycling

Joined with responsible disposal and recycling support, this solution could further reduce the number of used toothpaste tubes that go to landfills.

End of Unrecyclable toothpaste packaging

Unrecyclable toothpaste tubes estimate 100,000 tons of waste each year – about the weight of 10 Eiffel Towers. However, proceeding with the tubes recyclable was a technically challenging endeavor. 

Why are tubes multi-layered plastic?

Since toothpaste is sensitive to OTR and humidity, companies traditionally use tubes manufactured from different plastics and a film of aluminum, making the packaging nearly impossible to recycle. 

It utilizes high-performance polyethylene-based technology that matches the exact rigorous performance specifications of traditional multilayer tubes.

Dow’s new packaging solution does the recyclability issue by eliminating the aluminum layer while preserving the integrity of toothpaste products. It also allows printability, thereby enabling brand owners to design for shelf appeal.

“Dow has committed that 100 percent of what we sell into packaging applications must be reusable or recyclable by 2035,” said Diego Donoso, president of Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. “Recyclable toothpaste tubes represent another advancement in our commitment to drive circular economy solutions together with our customers around the world.”

“We are excited to make recyclable toothpaste tubes a reality for the oral hygiene industry by addressing the application challenges with Dow’s materials science expertise,” said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vice president, Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. 

“This new offering is part of a broader product portfolio of solutions that helps consumer brands reduce their environmental footprint and meet growing consumer demands for sustainability without compromising product performance.”

Toothpaste Packaging

In addition to toothpaste tubes, Dow has also launched several all-PE flexible packaging solutions, which have gained traction and adoption by leading Fast-Moving Consumer Goods（FMCG）brand partners. 

These developments are part of Dow’s efforts to achieve its Close the Loop target for 100 percent of its packaging solutions to be recyclable or reusable by 2035 and its target for one million metric tons of plastic to be collected, reused, or recycled through its direct actions and partnerships by 2030.

Dow continues to collaborate with customers and value chain partners across the plastics and packaging industries to find new ways to extract the total value of plastic and help reduce the overall environmental impact of packaging and plastics.

Examples include:

• Accelerating advanced recycling.
• Advancing bio-based renewable feedstocks.
• Helping consumer brands design their packing to be fully recyclable while extending shelf life.
• Finding new ways to give hard-to-recycled plastics a second life.

The Company also recently announced several advancements that will enable Dow to provide an initial supply of fully circular polymers to customers starting in 2022.

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