Unilever is working on a 100% recyclable toothpaste tube… here’s what it means for the environment

Unilever 100% Recyclable Toothpaste Tube

The Multi-national FMCG giant plans to convert its entire global toothpaste portfolio to recyclable tubes by 2025, starting with France and India – its two largest markets.

The problem with toothpaste is that there’s hardly any socially acceptable alternative to it. Sure, you could ditch bottled water and straws in a bid to save the environment. You could swear off Coca-Cola *wink-wink Ronaldo* because it’s the world’s biggest plastics polluter. You could even ditch plastic toothbrushes for recycled/bamboo ones… but how do you avoid toothpaste? There isn’t really a concrete, well-accepted alternative to it, and given how toothpaste is something the entire world uses at least once every day, it just results in thousands of tonnes of waste every year in the form of discarded toothpaste tubes. (1.5 billion tubes each year globally, according to some reports)

Unilever seems to be taking heed of this burgeoning waste problem, and after 4 years of research and development, is launching their first entirely recyclable toothpaste tube. Traditionally, toothpaste tubes have been made out of plastic, with an inner aluminum lining, to give it flexibility while keeping it food-safe and allowing it to have a higher shelf life. Unilever’s latest toothpaste tube will be made almost entirely out of HDPE – one of the most recyclable plastics there is. “It will also be the thinnest plastic material available on the toothpaste market at 220-microns, which will reduce the amount of plastic needed for each tube. To encourage wider industry change, the innovation will be made available for other companies to adopt”, mentions Unilever’s website.

Unilever 100% Recyclable Toothpaste Tube

Recycling HDPE is rather simple and can (on a basic level) even be done by consumers. However, Unilever’s approach will involve a much more robust supply and recycling chain. Not only are the tubes designed to be recyclable, but Unilever also claims it is working with multiple global recycling organizations to help ensure that the new tubes are collected and recycled; starting with France, where consumers can put the new tubes in their home recycling bin ready to be collected and turned into new products. The pilot project will begin with France, being implemented with Unilever’s oral-care brand Signal, and will make its way to India by the end of the year with Pepsodent and CloseUp, the company’s India-based brands. Samir Singh, Executive Vice President, Global Skin Cleansing and Oral Care said that Unilever will commit to ensuring that Unilever’s entire toothpaste portfolio shifts to the recyclable tubes by 2025.

Designer: Unilever


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World’s first adaptive deodorant – Meet the Degree Inclusive designed for the physically disabled





Life for blinddisabled people or ones who’ve unfortunately lost a limb is not easy. Everyday tasks are a struggle – even something we take for granted, like maintaining personal hygiene. For example, applying a deodorant – opening the cap, then holding it in place, and using with one hand only. While most take this easy routine for granted, Degree Inclusive deodorant is considerate of this problem, addressing the flaws of typical deodorant sticks. The Unilever-owned brand has created this world’s first adaptive deodorant to have a better grip for application along with the magnetic closure to put the cap back in place for easy application.

Tailored for blind people and those with upper limb disability, this newly designed deodorant’s cap has a hook that can be hanged while it’s lower body can be pulled down. The applicator is larger than on the usual deodorant stick to facilitate application with just one swipe. Degree has designed the package to have a braille label to make it visually impaired friendly, making it easier to locate on a stuffed retail store shelf. The deodorant design includes inputs from Christina Mallon, Wunderman Thompson’s head of inclusive design. Christina understands this challenge as she was diagnosed with a rare form of ALS, also known as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or flail arm syndrome, causing her arms to become paralyzed slowly. In collaboration with Unilever, the creative agency has developed the prototype of Inclusive deodorant, which will be brought to the masses under the Rexona brand, one of the leaders in this market space.

As a matter of fact, simple tasks like applying a deodorant are also a struggle for older adults with limited dexterity. They can also benefit from using the Degree Inclusive Deodorant without a semblance of doubt. As per World Health Organization, every individual on the planet will experience some kind of temporary or permanent disability at some point in their life. This fact makes for an even more pressing reason to appreciate the inclusive design of the Degree’s deodorant.

Bas Korsten, the global chief creative officer at Wunderman Thompson, said, “It is a mundane and almost trivial thing, deodorant, but when you can’t use it, it becomes very important.” To this end, both Degree and Wunderman Thompson got in close quarters with people from the disabled community to tweak the package down to the best possible design. The final product might see even more fine-tuning, making it suitable for people who’ll eventually relish using the deodorant more than ever. As mindful designs like this continue aiding the community, we need to understand that it’s the small things that matter. After all, we all want the world to be a better and fairer place for everyone, isn’t that right?

Designer: Degree Deodorant





 





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