Recyclable Toothpaste Tubes

Colgate-Palmolive México has launched its first recyclable toothpaste tube made entirely from high-density polyethylene (HDPE) after five years of development. The new design addresses a longstanding recycling challenge, as traditional toothpaste tubes rely on multilayer materials that are difficult to process through conventional recycling systems.

Developed under the company’s Design with Purpose strategy, the monomaterial tube is compatible with existing HDPE recycling streams and has received recyclability recognition from the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR). To support adoption, Colgate-Palmolive plans to introduce collection initiatives across Mexico, where oral care remains a key market, but recycling infrastructure is still developing.

“This milestone transforms our packaging into a monomaterial fully compatible with existing plastic bottle recycling systems, eliminating the need for additional separation steps and facilitating material recovery,” the company said in a press release.

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