Everybody knows plastics are hazardous for our environment. We cannot recycle plastics. However, even after knowing this, in our everyday lives, we use numerous things that are made-up of plastic. Simple toothpaste laminated tubes are also harmful to our environment because they cannot be recycled.

Ever considered what toothpaste tubes are made of?

Toothpaste laminated tubes are made up of plastic laminate. The laminate is either made up of an aluminium barrier or a plastic barrier. The plastic sheets are embedded around aluminium in order to make toothpaste tubes.

The barrier property of such a tube gives better protection to the content inside from air, dust particles, moisture and strong lights. The manufacturing cost of such tubes is also very low. Thus for all these reasons plastic laminates are used for making toothpaste tubes.

Packaging innovation

Despite knowing that the toothpaste laminated tubes can not be recycled, companies are still manufacturing it. But recently toothpaste companies have discovered packaging innovation. They have started to recognise that toothpaste tubes can be recycled.

A recent alternative to the plastic laminate

The toothpaste companies will now try to make toothpaste tubes with the help of High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE). The benefits of using HDPE is that –

• It is can be recycled easily.
• It is a TYPE 2 plastic and generally, milk jugs and plastic bottles are made out of this.
• It is the most eco-friendly plastic which does not release any harmful fumes.
• It is absent of any phthalates, BPA, heavy metals or allergens.
• The polyethylene thermoplastic is produced from petroleum.

There are other qualities which makes it environment friendly.

How toothpaste tubes made recyclable

Previously toothpaste tubes were not made of HDPE because it was thought that it would be impossible to squeeze it. But now they are trying to combine various grades and thicknesses of the HDPE laminate. Thus on the one hand it can be recycled and on the other, it can be easily squeezed. Colgate is the first company to make recyclable toothpaste tubes.

Providing the best for all

Keeping in mind the demand for such products, they are also concerned about swift production. They are trying their best to provide their customer with something which is best for them as well as for the environment around them. Thus they are also concerned about keeping the content inside the tube safe and maintaining hygiene.

Test to improve properly

The toothpaste companies are carrying out various tests to get the right thickness of the HDPE laminates. They are also carrying out tests to ensure that these tubes are reusable. Such efforts made by the toothpaste companies are path-breaking.

To Sum It Up

With such innovations coming into the light, it shows people are becoming more responsible towards our environment. Human beings must make the earth a better place to live in. The toothpaste companies with their small packaging innovations of making reusable toothpaste tubes are setting examples in society.