Colgate-Palmolive México Launches Recyclable Toothpaste Tube

Colgate-Palmolive México has introduced its first recyclable toothpaste tube made from high-density polyethylene (HDPE), also known as plastic No. 2, following five years of research and development. Historically, toothpaste packaging has posed significant challenges for recycling facilities due to its multilayer construction, which combines aluminum and various plastics. These layers, often composed of low-density polyethylene and polypropylene, are essential for preserving flavor and product integrity but are difficult to separate using conventional mechanical recycling processes.

The new packaging is a key component of the company’s "Design with Purpose" strategy. Its monomaterial structure allows the tube to be processed through existing recycling streams for plastic bottles, eliminating the need for specialized sorting or separation. “This milestone transforms our packaging into a monomaterial fully compatible with existing plastic bottle recycling systems, eliminating the need for additional separation steps and facilitating material recovery,” the company said in a press release. The design has been recognized as technically recyclable by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR).

According to Statista, Mexico is the second-largest market worldwide for Colgate-Palmolive’s oral care products. However, the country’s recycling infrastructure remains limited, with specialized companies such as TerraCycle processing only a small portion of collected toothpaste packaging. To help increase recovery rates, Colgate-Palmolive plans to launch pilot collection programs across Mexico to recover and recycle the new tubes.

The initiative aligns with both global and domestic sustainability goals. According to Colgate-Palmolive’s 2024 Sustainability Report, 93% of the company’s packaging is now recyclable, reusable or compostable, up from 89.5% in 2023. In Mexico, the strategy supports the objectives of the National Agreement for the Circular Economy of Plastics, which seeks to achieve 100% recyclable packaging and increase the use of recycled materials. Tehicú Valenzuela, senior manager of packaging sustainability innovation, Colgate-Palmolive México, said the new tube maintains product protection while meeting consumer expectations for convenience and functionality.

Colgate Marks 100 Years in Mexico

The product launch coincides with Colgate-Palmolive’s 100th anniversary in Mexico and reflects the company’s broader strategy of combining business growth with sustainability initiatives. Its manufacturing facility in Guanajuato — the company’s largest production plant worldwide — has achieved True Zero Waste certification by diverting more than 90% of its operational waste from landfills through recycling and recovery programs.

The company has also committed to the Ellen MacArthur Foundation’s 2030 Plastics Agenda for Business, a five-year action plan designed to eliminate plastic waste and accelerate the transition to a circular economy. The initiative focuses on three pillars: advocating for stronger public policies, supporting collaborative innovation and risk-sharing, and advancing individual corporate action. The agenda builds on the foundation’s 2018 Global Commitment, developed in partnership with the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). According to the foundation, participating companies — representing roughly 20% of the global plastic packaging market — have collectively eliminated 14 million metric tons of virgin plastic and tripled their use of recycled content.