You may think that something as small as a toothpaste tube doesn't really make a difference when it comes to waste, but approximately 20 billion toothpaste tubes go to the landfill each year. I think we all agree that we should be eliminating waste wherever we can. Luckily Colgate has realized this too, but why has it taken so long for there to be a change? Well, redesigning the toothpaste tube to make it recyclable has been a big challenge because it is made from multiple layers of plastic laminate with aluminum mixed in to protect the flavor and fluoride of the toothpaste. Despite the challenges, Colgate-Palmolive has announced the creation of the first ever recyclable toothpaste tube; it is planned to hit stores in 2020. These new tubes can get mixed into the recycling stream or can be ground up and turned successfully into new plastic bottles. It's great to hear about major companies making sustainable switches and we hope more join the bandwagon before it is too late.
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