Oral care company Spotlight has met its goal of providing 100% recyclable packaging for its line of toothpaste, using biopolymer tubes made from sugarcane-based polyethylene.Based in Ireland and launched in 2016, Spotlight plans to revolutionize the oral care industry by creating a range of products that are cruelty-free, vegan-friendly, free from toxins, ocean safe, and 100% recyclable.

By using Braskem’s I’m green™ brand of bio-based polyethylene, a drop-in bioplastic that provides the same functionality as petroleum-based plastics, the company has reached its goal of 100% recyclability.

Dr. Lisa Creaven, founder of Spotlight says “Generic toothpaste tubes are made from a combination of materials, including crude oil and aluminum, which makes them non-recyclable. Sugarcane is one of the greatest carbon sinks that exists, metabolizing CO2 as it grows and regenerating itself from its own roots. Grown in Brazil using fair labor, each ton of Green Polyethylene produced captures up to 3.09 tons of CO2, helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Our tubes are fully recyclable and won’t end up contaminating our precious oceans.”

“Our toothpaste tubes are packaged in 100% recyclable cardboard packaging and are delivered in a 100% biodegradable mailer bag that can be directly deposited into a compost bin. Also, when ordering online, we offer customers a choice at checkout whether to go with or without the cardboard packaging.”

For its whitening products and some product bundles, Spotlight uses a 100% recyclable aluminum canister, and for a pack of tooth whitening strips for men, it uses a cloth pouch with drawstring. Its products also include a bamboo toothbrush and dental floss made from 100% recycled PET bottles. It also offers a Dental Aligner Recycling Program, where consumers can ship the company all brands of aligners, and Spotlight will handle the recycling.

“Sustainability is a significant part of Spotlight Oral Care, and we do our best to educate our consumers on the ‘why’ behind our sustainable packaging and beliefs. We recently shared our efforts with our community by launching videos showcasing the lifespan of a toothpaste tube, as well as how our Dental Floss, made up of ​​100% recycled plastic bottles, is created. In addition, over the span of August, we rolled out various marketing emails, including statistics and polls, informing customers on topics such as animal testing and encouraging engagement with prizes. We plan to continue to release education materials, as well as have conversations around the importance of sustainability in the oral care industry.”

Spotlight Oral Care products are available in the U.K., Ireland, and the U.S., through the company’s website and other e-commerce sites.

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