Toothpaste Tube Waste in the Circular Economy: Sustainable Packaging Innovation, Industry Challenges, and Pathways Toward Circular Oral Care

Toothpaste tubes; Circular economy; Sustainable oral care; Sustainable packaging; Packaging innovation; Recycling;

1Sharvari K Bhat,
Post graduate, Nitte (Deemed to be University),
AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental
Sciences (ABSMIDS) , Department of
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics,
Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
ORCID -00090008-8055-3268, Email idsharvaribhat22@gmail.com

2*Tony Mathew, Nitte
(Deemed to be University), AB Shetty
Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences
(ABSMIDS) , Department of Conservative
Dentistry and Endodontics, Mangalore,
Karnataka, India.
Email id dr.tonymathew@gmail.com, ORCID- 00000001-8033-1579

3Malvika mamidala ,
Post graduate, Nitte (Deemed to be University),
AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental
Sciences (ABSMIDS) , Department of
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics,
Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
ORCID- 00090004-0891-3215 Email idmalvikamamidala10@gmail.com

4Radhika Vasudev,
Post graduate, Nitte (Deemed to be University),
AB Shetty Memorial Institute of Dental
Sciences (ABSMIDS) , Department of
Conservative Dentistry and Endodontics,
Mangalore, Karnataka, India.
ORCID- 00090008-9182-9370 Email idradhikavasudevl@gmail.com

5Vinod Jathanna,
Department of conservative dentistry and
endodontics, Manipal college of dental sciences
Mangalore, Manipal academy of higher
education, Manipal, India.
ORCID-0000-00030524-1594, vinod.jathanna@manipal.edu

6Shivangi vats,
department of conservative dentistry and
endodontics, Manipal college of dental
sciences, Mangalore, Manipal academy of
higher education, Manipal, India.
Email id:shivangi.v@manipal.edu, ORCID: 0000-00032467-8281

*Corresponding Author- Tony Mathew, Nitte
(Deemed to be University), AB Shetty
Memorial Institute of Dental Sciences
(ABSMIDS) , Department of Conservative
Dentistry and Endodontics, Mangalore,
Karnataka, India.
Email id dr.tonymathew@gmail.com, ORCID- 00000001-8033-1579

Received:27-06-2026
Revised:30-07-2026
Accepted:05-08-2026

European Journal of Prosthodontics and Restorative Dentistry (2026) 34(7s), 797–803

Toothpaste Tube Waste in the Circular Economy: Sustainable Packaging Innovation, Industry Challenges, and Pathways
Toward Circular Oral Care

Toothpaste tubes constitute a significant yet under-recognized contributor to global plastic waste, with billions of units discarded annually. Their multilayered composition, typically combining polyethylene and aluminium, renders them incompatible with conventional recycling systems, thereby posing persistent environmental challenges. This narrative review examines current waste management practices, recent material innovations, and emerging sustainable alternatives within the oral care packaging sector. Major focus is shift toward mono-material high-density polyethylene (HDPE) tubes, advancements in specialized recycling technologies, and alternative product formats such as toothpaste tablets, refill systems, and biodegradable materials. Although these approaches show promising potential for reducing environmental impact, their scalability is constrained by economic limitations, insufficient recycling infrastructure, and inconsistent consumer behaviour. The review identifies a critical gap between technological innovation and real-world implementation, emphasizing the need for integrated system-level interventions. Policy mechanisms, particularly extended producer responsibility, alongside targeted infrastructure development and consumer education, are essential to enable a transition toward circular economy models in oral care packaging. Further research is needed to better understand lifecycle performance, clinical efficacy of alternative formats, and region-specific implementation strategies to ensure both environmental sustainability and public health outcomes.

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