Most of today's toothpaste tubes are made from plastic laminate positioned around a thin layer of aluminium. After 5 years of development, Colgate-Palmolive has created a recyclable toothpaste tube consisting of several grades of high-density polyethylene (plastic used to make milk jugs). After initially believing that high-density polyethylene was too rigid for a squeezable toothpaste tube, Colgate determined a combination of different grades and thicknesses of high-density polyethylene that satisfy the production and product requirements for a recyclable toothpaste tube.  

This new development is part of Colgate pledge to use 100% recyclable packaging by 2025. Furthermore, Colgate intends to share its toothpaste tube technology with other competitors in an attempt to eliminate waste and standardize recyclable tubes among companies. This technological advancement should improve the environmental impact of the toothpaste industry that currently yields an estimated 20 billion toothpaste tubes annually.