On World Environment Day 2025, Dentsply Sirona has reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability by intensifying its efforts to make all its packaging recyclable by 2030. This target is part of the Healthy Planet pillar of Dentsply Sirona’s sustainability programme, “BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World”, and aims to support dental practices on their own journey to sustainability and waste reduction.
As part of this journey, Dentsply Sirona is incorporating the circular economy principles of reduce, reuse and recycle, and removing problematic, non-recyclable plastics from its packaging. This includes: transitioning from plastic to paper-based and corrugated cardboard alternatives, replacing foam inserts and single-use plastic trays with paper inserts, as well as reducing label and box sizes. Printed instructions for use will also be replaced with digital versions wherever feasible.1 The company, which has already optimised some of its packaging, said that the accumulative improvements will lead to environmental gains over time.
“Sustainable packaging is an environmental imperative — one we have taken fully on board with our ambitious goal to strive to make our packaging, including plastic parts, recyclable by 2030,” said Tony Johnson, who serves as the SVP, chief supply chain officer and executive sponsor for ESG at Dentsply Sirona. “As a global dental industry leader, we are well-positioned to lead the way in rethinking and transforming packaging — and we hope our actions will inspire others to join us in driving positive change in this critical area.”
Currently, packaging waste accounts for a significant portion of municipal waste streams worldwide. In the US, packaging makes up 63% of municipally collected garbage, while in the dental industry, it is the largest source of plastic waste.2 Redesigning packaging to be smaller, lighter and easier to recycle not reduces the amount of waste and CO2 emissions, but also brings practical advantages for dental practices and labs, such as saving space and lowering disposal costs.
Driving industry-wide progress through collaboration
In addition to its packaging goals, Dentsply Sirona continues to support industry-wide sustainability initiatives through its partnership with the World Dental Federation (FDI). As a founding member of the FDI’s initiative Sustainability in Dentistry, Dentsply Sirona has supported the development of educational tools such as two Sustainability in Dentistry massive open online courses (MOOCs) and a dedicated resource kit to empower dental professionals with practical strategies for minimising the environmental impact of everyday practice life.
The company, which was recently named one of “World’s Greenest Companies 2025” by Newsweek,3 also contributes to the FDI’s “Sustainability in Dentistry Summit 2025” with panel participation and a virtual booth.
“Sustainability is a shared responsibility — and inconsistent global regulations continue to slow progress,” said Johnson. “We urge policymakers, manufacturers and industry partners to come together to align on harmonised standards and scale sustainable packaging solutions. By working collaboratively, we can drive real change and go BEYOND for a brighter, more sustainable future.”
References
1. In markets where this is permitted by local regulations
2. Plastics in healthcare: Time for a re-evaluation. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine. 2020; 113(2): 49-53
3. Newsweek’s World’s Greenest Companies 2025 – Newsweek
