Until recently, empty toothpaste tubes had nowhere to go other than landfill or incineration. Their mix of plastic and aluminium made them impossible to recycle – confusing households and wasting valuable material.
That’s now changed.
Thanks to innovation from major oral care brands and collaboration with WRAP, toothpaste tubes are finally recyclable, having been redesigned into recyclable mono-plastic.
Millions of households can now put their empty tubes into kerbside collections, or return them to retailers like Boots to be recycled.
What changed – and why it matters
Toothpaste tubes were the UK’s second most “wish-cycled” item – often thrown in with recycling but rejected at sorting plants. Bathroom plastics in general are a weak spot, with around 10% still ending up in the bin. This resulted in wasted resources and consumer frustration.
Global players including Haleon, Colgate-Palmolive, Unilever and P&G worked together along with WRAP to find a solution, redesigning their toothpaste tubes to use mono-material plastics specifically polyethylene (PE) or polypropylene (PP) – accepted by UK recycling facilities and set to be part of Simpler Recycling reforms from 2026. The result: toothpaste tubes that can be recycled just like pots, tubs and trays in kerbside collections.
This shift has done more than just solve a packaging problem. It’s opened the door for the oral healthcare sector to be a leader in circular packaging innovation, setting an example for cosmetics, personal care and wellbeing brands to follow.
Why it matters for Oral Healthcare Professionals
Quite simply: patients trust you. Oral healthcare professionals are on the frontline of everyday behaviour change – from encouraging better brushing habits to tackling tooth decay, gum disease and promoting preventive care. Adding a message about environmental sustainability, recycling toothpaste tubes is a natural extension of this role:
- You have their attention: Conversations about toothpaste are already part of dental consultations. A simple addition – “And don’t forget, your tube is now recyclable!” – all team members can reinforce this positive, sustainable behaviour at a moment of key relevance.
- You allay confusion: Many patients still believe toothpaste tubes are non-recyclable. Your advice helps dismantle that myth and reduce contamination in recycling.
- You connect oral and planetary health: By linking oral care to environmental care, you demonstrate holistic concern for wellbeing, resonating with patients who increasingly value sustainability.
- You drive wider change: With millions of patients across the UK visiting oral healthcare professionals each year, your collective influence could be transformative in raising recycling rates.
What you can do
Here are three simple steps dental professionals can take:
- Start the conversation - Next time you recommend a brand or toothpaste type, add: “By the way, these tubes are now recyclable through kerbside collections or in-store at Boots collection points.”
- Use in-practice prompts - A small poster in the waiting area, or a line on your practice’s website or reminder emails, can plant the idea before patients even sit in the chair. (See the downloadable poster at the bottom of this page)
- Reinforce correct recycling behaviour - Remind patients to squeeze tubes empty before recycling. This small detail can make the difference between recovery and waste.
The recyclability of toothpaste tubes is more than a packaging tweak – it’s a visible sign of how the oral healthcare industry is embracing environmental sustainability and embracing social conscience. It reflects a future where everyday products are designed with their afterlife in mind and where behaviour change at home makes a measurable difference to the planet.
Oral healthcare professionals are uniquely placed to amplify this change. By helping patients understand that toothpaste tubes now belong in recycling, you are not only supporting oral health but also contributing to the health of the planet.
Rescue the tube! Recycle.
Download poster for your practice – either print or display on your in-practice screens:
A3 poster PDF | A3 poster JPEG | 1920x1080 TV screen JPEG
You can use the Recycle Now Locator Tool to see if toothpaste tubes are recyclable in your local kerbside collections or to find your nearest recycling point.
Alternatively, many Boots stores across the UK accept toothpaste tubes and other hard-to-recycle items through their Recycle at Boots scheme, where you can even earn Advantage Card points for participating.