SMILE — YOUR NEW TOOTHPASTE HAS SWAPPED THE TUBE FOR A GLASS JAR

METAL toothpaste tubes were phased out in the nineties and replaced by all-plastic tubes and pumps which manufacturers found to be less expensive and more durable (less likely to become damaged when repeatedly rolled-up).

This means the dental care industry is dominated by difficult to recycle plastic.

Georganics was one of the first UK companies to sell a range of toothpastes in a screw-top glass jar. You apply it to your brush with a compostable wooden spatula. Founder Alessandro Rocchi says: ‘Most toothpaste tubes are made of a series of layers, ranging from aluminium, internal lacquer, virgin plastic and exterior paint. ‘All these layers cannot be separated, and this is why 90 per cent of used toothpaste tubes cannot be recycled.’

A 60ml jar costs £6.90 from georganics.co.uk