Plastic recycling failure? Dr. Sheffield’s ditches plastic toothpaste tubes for aluminum

31 Aug 2021 --- Dr. Sheffield’s is packaging its fluoride-free charcoal toothpaste in aluminum metal tubes in a bid to support toothpaste packaging recyclability rates and reduce plastic pollution.

Although recyclable plastic tubes are “certainly a more cost-effective option,” Dr. Sheffield’s views plastic recycling as a “failure,” says Jeffrey Davis, CEO of Sheffield Pharmaceuticals.

He also deems recyclable plastic tubes as “less effective” at preserving the quality of his company’s product.

“Our research determined that aluminum was the clearest choice versus other options like plastic, which often ends up in landfills or worse, in the oceans,” says Davis.

The company has also made a “significant investment” into modern automated packaging equipment to facilitate manufacturing aluminum toothpaste tubes at high speeds.

Dr. Sheffield’s new metal tubes.Not just for charcoal
Over the next several months, the entire collection of nine cruelty-free, non-GMO flavors of Dr. Sheffield’s Certified Natural Toothpaste will be transitioned to fully recyclable aluminum tubes.

The nine kinds of toothpaste in Dr. Sheffield’s portfolio include chocolate, strawberry banana and mixed berry, targeted at children.

The other six in the Natural category are Cinnamon, Extra Whitening, Activated Charcoal, Peppermint, Wintergreen and Sensitive Care.

Dr. Sheffield’s toothpastes are certified according to Natural Products Association standards and contain no fluoride, GMOs, synthetic detergents or foaming agents, and no artificial colors, flavors or sweeteners.

Dr. Sheffield’s Naturals is certified cruelty-free by Leaping Bunny, signifying no animal testing at any stage of product development, and verified by the Non-GMO Project.

Non-circular toothpaste plastic?
Beyond oral health, plastic use and its recyclability is becoming increasingly scrutinized. This month, a Consumer Brands survey showed US consumers are “clearly confused” by the country’s recycling infrastructure, despite a “tremendous will” to reduce plastic waste.

Last year, a US study deemed recycling in the US a “fairy tale,” revealing recycled plastic demand is massively outstripping supply.

In similar efforts to reduce plastic waste, Colgate-Palmolive and Unilever both spoke with PackagingInsights about their new toothpaste tubes made from recyclable plastic in their respective dental care portfolios.

Edited by Anni Schleicher

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