Honoring our Earth means choosing sustainable packaging options. Our toothpaste tubes are made of aluminum instead of single use plastics. Aluminum is an abundant mineral that is 100 percent recyclable and a sustainable option for those looking for eco friendly packaging. Find out why aluminum packaging is one of the most sustainable choices below.
Aluminum can be recycled an infinite number of times, making it a true circular material.
It may sound too good to be true, but aluminum can be recycled an infinite number of times without losing any of its original qualities. If all the aluminum in the world was recycled, then aluminum would be the definition of a circular material. It is 100 percent recyclable from curbside recycling program, infinitely recyclable, and not requiring any virgin aluminum to be added in the recycling process.
When we compare this to how many times plastic can be recycled, it’s easy to see that aluminum is a far more sustainable packaging material. On average, plastics can only be recycled 2-3 times, as each time the same piece of plastic is recycled, its quality decreases. Moreover, virgin material (i.e. new raw materials that have never been used before) must be added to recycled plastic to improve the quality of the recycled plastic. A bottle that claims to be made from 100% recycled plastic is only partly true, because the current plastic recycling process cannot avoid adding virgin plastic to the mix.
Aluminum recycling is efficient
Aluminum recycling supply chain is energy efficient. It only requires 5 percent of the energy needed (= carbon footprint) to produce the metal the first time around. That is a 95 percent energy saving found in recycled aluminum.
While the US is slowly shifting towards renewable energy sources, 80 percent of our energy came from fossil fuel sources (petroleum, natural gas, and coal) in 2018. The more energy we can save in producing new and recycled materials, the less greenhouse gases we release into our Earth, only home.
In addition to that, aluminum recycling is quick. Once recycled aluminum reaches the recycling plant, it can take as little as two months for the aluminum to be recycled and reused. This short recycling cycle makes aluminum a viable long-term material for brands dedicated to sustainable and eco friendly practices.
Aluminum recycling is easy
Amazingly, it’s estimated that around 75 percent of the aluminum ever produced is still in use, after being diligently recycled and reused over and over again. Aluminum has been used commercially in the United States since the early 1900s, meaning that there may be aluminum that’s over 100 years old that is still in use today.
While impressive, this still leaves 25 percent of produced aluminum heading to the landfill. So, what can you do to make sure that the aluminum you’re using is being recycled?
• Be aware of where aluminum could be: from aluminum cans and toothpaste tubes to aluminum foil and even pots and pans, all of these aluminum products can be recycled.
• Rinse out your recyclable content. Recycling rules differ from place to place, but it’s always a good habit to clean your recyclables of any leftover product. It can help avoid contamination at the recycling plant.
How to recycle OJOOK toothpaste
When you’re ready to recycle, we recommend you cut open the aluminum toothpaste tube and rinse out the aluminum tube to avoid potential contamination.Then, separate the recyclable cap from the aluminum tube and throw both in your recycling bin. It takes less than a minute, but means a lot to the hardworking employees at your local recycling center and to Mother Earth.
To learn more about OJOOK’s sustainability policy, please click here.
