You might have been buying toothpaste for years, but have you ever wondered where the plastic tubes end up when they’re empty? The collapsible toothpaste tubes were first made of metal, such as tin or lead, and later on, a combination of plastic and aluminum. This allowed flexible packaging, however not really being recyclable. Oral hygiene companies across the globe have taken initiatives in the last few years in order to address the sustainability issue by introducing sustainable and innovative packaging products.
Why do more and more companies quit using plastics? Plastics are produced by oil or petroleum, which are finite sources that could possibly be depleted in the next 50 years. In addition to that, manufacturing plastics releases chemicals, which are extremely harmful to the environment. Despite the advantages plastic packaging offered until now, it is time to eliminate all materials which endanger the natural sources of our planet and the air quality and atmosphere. Considering the volume of plastic which ends up polluting our oceans and ecosystem, and the fact that it can end up inside our system through what we consume, makes it so much more concerning and we must implement immediate measures on a global scale.
The Rise of Bioplastics
Bioplastic was introduced as a potential alternative material, made from biological material instead of petroleum. A material is considered bioplastic if it meets at least one of two criteria:
- It is manufactured by renewable plant-based resources
- It is biodegradable, meaning it has the capacity to be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms.
Due to the plant-based sources used for bioplastic production, the carbon dioxide emissions are very low, so the integration of this type of material is highly recommended by environmentalists and climate organizations.
The first bioplastic, known as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) was discovered almost 100 years ago by a French researcher. However, people used exclusively petroleum for its price and abundance until the 1970s, when the petroleum crisis led them to use alternative materials and take a closer look at the bioplastic discovery.
How is it produced? There are two ways to manufacture it. The first one refers to extracting sugar from sugarcane or plants like corn and converting it into polylactic acids (PLAs). The second way refers to processing microorganisms, resulting in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The PLAs are more used in food packaging while the PHAs can be found in medical equipment and surgical tools. Between the two types, the PLAs require less capital to manufacture, actually making them the least expensive bioplastic product. Hence, manufacturers took an interest and put it to use for utensil production, food packaging, and more.
Nordics Mission
Our mission has always been focused on two key areas: sustainability and premium quality. We aim to inspire change by setting an example with our ethical standards through the ingredients and the manufacturing of our oral care products. Apart from choosing certified, cruelty-free, and vegan first materials for our organic dental care products, Nordics has revolutionized toothpaste packaging. True to our mission, Nordics has introduced a recyclable tube, made of Sugarcane-based Polyethylene (PE). Equipped with the same properties as its non-recyclable counterpart, a sugarcane tube presents the following benefits:
- It is made by the residue of sugarcane, which is used to produce ethanol
- It is a renewable source, meaning that it does not endanger the finite sources of energy of our planet
- It is recyclable, so it can be reused for the same or other products, not like the typical toothpaste tubes which end up on landfills
- The carbon footprint emission is considerably low, as the sugarcane metabolizes more carbon dioxide to grow than most plants and it regenerates by itself.
One of the biggest challenges oral care companies had to face was to source collapsible tubes which could be recycled. Up until now, the regular plastic tubes had an inner lining of aluminum, crucial for the structure, which made it impossible to recycle. However, the global consumer interest in sustainable packaging and the introduction of bioplastics have allowed more companies to discontinue the harmful plastic tubes.
Conclusion
The big companies in the oral health sector have recently announced the shift to recyclable packaging in order to tackle climate change and adopt sustainable techniques. We at Nordics are proud to represent the much-needed movement towards green energy and plant-based renewable sources.
While the top oral hygiene brands now introduce new recyclable toothpaste tubes and transform their branding and positioning, the driving forces behind our purpose have remained the same since day one. Nordics products will always be equivalent to innovation, sustainability, top oral health and the utmost respect for our Mother Nature.
