Who wins in the fight to reduce pollution: the aluminum can or the toothpaste tube?

According to research conducted by the Ellen MacArthur Foundation, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more plastic in the ocean than fish. It is estimated that around 8 million tons of plastic are dumped into the oceans each year, which is equivalent to a garbage truck full of plastic being dumped into the sea every minute.

Since most toothpaste tubes are made of plastic and millions of people around the world use toothpaste, it's likely that a significant number of toothpaste tubes end up in the ocean each year, contributing to the problem of marine pollution.

Speaking of recycling, there are many materials that can go through this process, but not all are created equal. While aluminum cans and toothpaste tubes are two common household items, they have different properties that affect this process. In this blog, we'll explore the differences between aluminum cans and toothpaste tubes and which is easier to recycle.

Aluminum cans are one of the most recycled materials in the world . They are lightweight, durable, and can be recycled numerous times without losing their quality. Aluminum is a highly valuable material, and the recycling process is simple. The cans are collected, sorted, cleaned, and melted down to create new aluminum products.

One of the significant benefits of recycling aluminum cans is that it requires only 5% of the energy used to create new aluminum from raw materials. It also reduces greenhouse gas emissions, as the recycling process produces 95% fewer emissions than creating new aluminum from raw materials.

Toothpaste tubes are a little more complicated to recycle. Tubes are typically made of a combination of materials, including aluminum and plastic , which is why They are not easy to recycle. The complexity lies in the different layers of material that make up the tube. Its interior is lined with a layer of plastic , which makes recycling difficult because that layer cannot be separated from the aluminum.

Another challenge in recycling toothpaste tubes is that they are often contaminated with toothpaste residue , and this contamination can make the process difficult, as the residue can clog machinery.

Although recycling toothpaste tubes may be more difficult, it's not impossible . Some companies are developing new technologies that can recycle them, and some recycling programs may accept toothpaste tubes. However, it's essential to check with your local recycling program to see if they accept toothpaste tubes before adding them to your recycling bin.

In conclusion, aluminum cans are made of a single material and are easy to recycle, making them one of the most recycled materials in the world . On the other hand, toothpaste tubes are more difficult to recycle due to their multiple layers of material and contamination from toothpaste residue.

As consumers, we can take steps to reduce our waste footprint and seek out more sustainable alternatives, such as tablet toothpastes packaged in metal or cardboard, and ensure we properly recycle any toothpaste tubes that end up in our homes.