The UK has achieved a milestone in sustainable packaging: toothpaste tubes are now fully recyclable, according to the Environment and Resources Action Network (WRAP), just in time for Recycling Week 2025.
More than 252 million tubes of fluoride toothpaste are sold in the UK each year. Traditional tubes are made of plastic and lined with aluminum foil, making them challenging to recycle.
Now, major brands including Colgate and Haleon (the maker of Sensodyne, Corsodyl, and Aquafresh) have partnered with WRAP to launch toothpaste tubes made entirely of high-density polyethylene (the same material used in milk bottles).
This change means that technically all toothpaste tubes sold nationwide can be recycled into new products such as garden furniture, hoses, and bleach bottles.
WRAP says that a growing number of local authorities now collect toothpaste tubes through curbside recycling schemes, and these tubes can also be returned at any Boots store in the UK.
WRAP CEO Kathryn David called the move “another game-changing step in recycling” and emphasized the importance of ensuring all recyclable items find their way into the recycling stream. Currently, approximately 3 million households can recycle toothpaste tubes, along with items like plastic tubs and trays.
Adrian Sen, Senior Manager of Sustainable Innovation at Colgate-Palmolive, stated that the company is committed to making all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable, adding that WRAP’s leadership has played a vital role in raising consumer awareness.
Joe Muscat, Director of Sustainability at Haleon, noted that previously “unrecyclable” toothpaste tubes can now become part of a truly circular economy.
Boots continues to support this initiative through its recycling program, offering Advantage Card points for recycled toothpaste tubes and other hard-to-recycle health and beauty products. WRAP recommends checking local recycling options through its “Recycle Now” locator.
