Colgate-Palmolive’s recyclable toothpaste tube tested by RecyClass
31.01.2020
An independent laboratory testing of ‘S.-VF1’ known as ‘Samson Technology’ in the US by Colgate-Palmolive shows that it can be recycled in a high-density polyethylene containers (HDPE) recycling stream, with minor recyclability issues.
‘S.-VF1’ is a directly printed toothpaste packaging made of HDPE containing five per cent (by weight) of ethylene vinyl alcohol (EVOH) barrier, and a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) insert.
According to the results obtained from laboratory tests by the Institut für Kunststofftechnologie und -recycling (IKTR), carried out as per the Recyclability Evaluation Protocol for HDPE containers, the tube is considered to be compatible with recycling.
The laboratory analysis shows that the recycled material derived from ‘S.-VF1’, to produce new HDPE bottles, demonstrates minimal differences when compared to other HDPE bottles made of a recyclate which did not contain the innovative material. This means that the recycled material generated by processing ‘S.-VF1’ tubes can be used back in similar products as it was attested as being relevant for high-end applications. However, the innovative tube has a small adverse impact on the recycling yields due to mass losses (around 20 per cent), resulting from the PET insert.
Consequently, RecyClass certifies that ‘S.-VF1’ tube will not have a negative impact on the current European HDPE containers recycling, provided that this type of tube is designed under specific conditions. These include, the requirement on the composition of the body of the package – which must be white and has to be made of PE.
Additionally, other components (e.g. closures, liners, seals and valves) must be made of PE. The use of EVOH as a functional barrier, must be limited to five per cent of the total weight. The full list of the conditions can be found in the Colgate Palmolive RecyClass Product Approval.
The findings of the RecyClass testing contribute to the constructive developments within the design for recycling for toothpaste packaging.