How Colgate is focusing on sustainability with its latest product
The company is looking to do its part with the launch of a vegan-certified toothpaste in a recyclable toothpaste tube.
With increasing consumer demand for "greener" shopping products, many major businesses have started to take note, Colgate included. The oral care brand has just announced that it will soon be releasing a vegan-certified toothpaste that comes in an "industry-first" recyclable tube.
The tube has been five years in the making, with the brand eventually settling on a design made from several grades of HDPE material. According to a statement made by Colgate, the tube "allows people to comfortably squeeze out all the toothpaste, protects the integrity of the product, and meets the demands of high-speed production".
The toothpaste meanwhile contains minimal ingredients, with Colgate choosing to swap out glycerin for a plant-sourced alternative. The toothpaste has now been certified by the Vegan Society.
The product will be a part of Colgate's Smile For Good brand, which is currently only available in Europe. With the Colgate-Palmolive company (which owns the Colgate brand) pledging to use 100% recyclable packaging on all its products by 2025 though, we'll likely be seeing something similar in Australia soon.
Toothpaste tubes have traditionally been non-recyclable as they are made from a mixture of plastic and aluminium, making the new Colgate design the first of its kind.
In a release, Colgate-Palmolive's chief executive, Noel Wallace said, "Colgate wants to make tubes a part of the circular economy by keeping this plastic productive and eliminating waste."
Despite being the first to come up with the packaging, Colgate-Palmolive has no desire to keep it to itself, with the brand taking to twitter to announce that it will be "openly sharing this technology with other companies to speed the sustainability transformation".
Not every #CES2020 #innovation requires batteries. Our first-of-its-kind recyclable toothpaste tube is attracting attention. We're openly sharing this technology with other companies to speed the #sustainability transformation. Learn more: https://t.co/PQe95Nsh1H pic.twitter.com/TPSwJm5gHX
— Colgate-Palmolive Co (@CP_News) January 8, 2020
Colgate now joins a list of other major brands trying to create more sustainable business practices. Fashion retailer ASOS has recently introduced new recyclable mailing and garment bags, while fellow fashion giant THE ICONIC is set to launch a new initiative that will let shoppers easily donate their pre-loved clothing.
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