As part of Recycle Week 2025, climate action NGO WRAP is highlighting its work with leading toothpaste brands to make toothpaste tubes recyclable.
WRAP says the move has been driven by toothpaste brands including Colgate and Haleon, the makers of Sensodyne, Corsodyl and Aquafresh.
Toothpaste tubes are now made from the same material as milk bottles – high-density polyethylene. WRAP says this means all tubes sold nationwide are now ‘technically 100% recyclable’.
Commenting on Recycle Week 2025, Catherine David, WRAP CEO, called the move a ‘game-changing moment for recycling’.
“In partnership with Colgate and Haleon, we’ve taken one of the most infuriating packaging formats and given it a sustainable makeover,” David said.
“We’re on a mission to ensure all items that can be recycled are recycled, and I’m delighted that now no toothpaste tube need become a landfilling!”
In partnership with Colgate and Haleon, we’ve taken one of the most infuriating packaging formats and given it a sustainable makeover.
Research by WRAP found toothpaste tubes are the second most ‘wish-cycled’ item in the UK (25%) behind drinking glasses (33%), food & drink foil pouches (25%), plastic film lids (22%) and glass cookware (22%). Wish-cycling is when people put an item that cannot be recycled in with the recycling.
Currently, 37 local authorities, covering 3 million households, collect toothpaste tubes at the kerbside. Any Boots store across the UK collects toothpaste tubes for recycling.
Under simpler Recycling legislation, all local authorities will have to collect toothpaste tubes by the end of March 2026.
Adrian Sen, Sustainability Innovation Senior Manager at Colgate-Palmolive, commented: “We are committed to making all our packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable and have been a pioneer in introducing recyclable toothpaste tubes to the market. It’s important to us to make this technology available to all.
“The leadership and collaborative spirit of WRAP have been vital in helping to make this a reality and create awareness with consumers. Their work in bringing together industry, local authorities, and consumers is crucial for building a more circular economy.”