Colgate’s plastic toothpaste tube obtains RecyClass recyclability approval for HDPE streams

10 Nov 2021 --- RecyClass has approved the Samson HDPE tube with Colgate Total artwork as recyclable with high-density polyethylene containers (HDPE), excluding the cap. The independent laboratory testing also confirmed the toothpaste tube can be recycled into high-end applications. 

The Samson Tube is designed predominantly for oral care products. It is a fully printed HDPE tube containing EVOH-barrier compatibilized with maleic anhydride grafted polyethylene (PE-g-MAH).

The tube’s decoration consists of printed blue and red tones, and it represents less than 1% of the total weight of the tested technology, including inks and varnish.

Colgate’s barrier-tube technology is provided with HDPE shoulders and a PET insert, which RecyClass analyzed and approved in 2020.

According to Innova Market Insights, 30% of global consumers believe plastic packaging has below average recyclability.

RecyClass’ recommendations
RecyClass’ Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for HDPE containers testing found the Samson Tube with Colgate Total artwork is fully compatible with the colored HDPE recycling stream. However, due to the PET insert, the process results in 20% material mass losses.

The RecyClass HDPE Technical Committee encourages Colgate to replace the PET insert with a PE insert, as one of the RecyClass methodology’s prerequisites is maximizing the recyclable polymer in a recycling process.RecyClass testing also confirmed the toothpaste tube can be recycled into high-end applications.

The technology was found not to contaminate the rigid HDPE recycling stream when it is designed according to set conditions. These conditions require the tube’s body and its shoulder to be made of clear or white PE with HDPE prevalence, while the EVOH must be in line with RecyClass’ guidelines.

Furthermore, the cap must be made of PE and the decorative technology, including direct printing, must follow the RecyClass’ recommendations, and be “as limited as possible.”

RecyClass concluded that recycled plastics generated from the tube could be used to manufacture high-quality blow molding applications, such as containers with up to 25% concentration.

“This technology will positively contribute to increasing the quality of recycled HDPE containers in Europe and reaching recycling targets,” states RecyClass.

Bottle recyclability, tube squeezability
Ahead of the Rethinking Materials virtual summit in May, PackagingInsights discussed the tube innovation with Jun Wang, packaging innovation and global design at Colgate-Palmolive Company Technology Center.

The recyclable toothpaste tube is made from the same plastic used to make bottles, so it recycles like a bottle but squeezes easily like a tube. Colgate-Palmolive first launched the “first-of-its-kind” tube in the EU last year.

“There were multiple challenges we needed to overcome [to develop the tube] on both the material selection and tube-making processes. HDPE is not a material widely used for film and tubes – it’s used for bottles and other rigid molded articles,” he explained.

“The film and tube-making processes are not designed to handle HDPE. We worked closely with resin suppliers, film makers and tube-making machine suppliers, testing and optimizing the combination of resin grades, tube film/laminate layer structures and tube-making processing conditions, experiencing rounds and rounds of trial and error to get the best solution.”Innova Market Insights found 30% of global consumers believe plastic packaging has below average recyclability.

Colgate in the news
Colgate-Palmolive has pledged to make all of its packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable and eliminate one-third of its virgin plastic use by 2025.

The American multinational consumer products giant has faced continued scrutiny around its waste management practices. Break Free From Plastic identified the company as the world’s tenth biggest plastic polluter in its 2021 Brand Audit Report.

However, according to Innova Market Insights, 64% of global consumers believe consumer behavior contributes most to the global plastic pollution crisis, followed by packaging suppliers (51%) and FMCG companies (44%).

Meanwhile, major FMCGs including Unilever, Coca-Cola, Nestlé and Colgate-Palmolive have been accused of “dirty and misleading” waste incineration practices after a Reuters investigation flagged a series of global collaborations with cement companies, who use plastic waste as fuel for their kilns.

In addition to the recyclable Samson HDPE tube, Colgate-Palmolive’s brands have made efforts to lower their environmental impact. For example, Softsoap recently launched Foaming Hand Soap Tablets and a refillable, recyclable aluminum bottle.

Rival personal care player Unilever announced plans this year to transition its entire global toothpaste portfolio to recyclable tubes by 2025, starting with France and India, its biggest oral care markets.

By Joshua Poole