MEET the new all-plastic tube

Just one of the ways we’re expanding our sustainability journey here at babyganics.

MEET the new 
all-plastic tube

What’s so great about an all-plastic tube?

It’s designed to be recycled; our all-plastic tube is made with multiple all-plastic layers which means no metal or non-recyclable layers in the tubes

Why is it important

This tube is extra special because it’s made with #2 HDPE plastic (think: the plastic in your milk jugs) and is a widely recycled plastic amongst recycling facilities. Just make sure you separate the cap from the tube—currently our caps aren’t designed to be recycled, but we’re working on it!

What are we doing about it?

And because this tube has been designed to make it through a recycling facility, we’re hoping this helps to move the industry closer to the goal of tubes eventually being curbside recyclable across the nation

A lil’ bit on #2 HDPE 

All-plastic tubes are still so new (and so exciting) and are being rolled out across babyganics’ suncare products 3oz sizes and larger. So, it’s super important to double check that tubes have the #2 HDPE symbol on it—that’ll tell you whether the tube is the new, all-plastic version (conventional tubes have a #7 symbol on them which indicates that they are made of mixed materials and usually means they are not designed for recyclability).

Recycling tips & tricks

First things first, when you’re done with your tube, make sure all the product is completely gone. A little leftover is a-okay, but why not use up your product before recycling, right? Once that’s checked, make sure that your tube has the #2 HDPE sign on it and is 3 oz or larger. And last but not least, it’s also important to triple check your local waste/recycling facility website to see if they accept and recycle tubes made of #2 HDPE plastic (because these new tubes are still new, not all facilities have agreed to accept them yet). If all signs point to yes, then you’re ready to recycle!

As a heads up, we currently carry a 1.7oz sunscreen tube that is too small to make it through the recycling process. If you have one, make sure to throw it out in the trash!

Meet our recycling BFFs

To make sure we're doing our part in leaving the world better than we found it, we're supporting STINA (you can learn more about them here) and participating in the Journey to Recyclability for Plastic Squeeze Tubes. Together, we're currently working to adjust national plastic bale specs to ensure that all-plastic tube tubes designed for recyclability are added to the list of materials accepted universally in #2 HDPE plastic bales.

cue the ooohs and ahhhs, these are designed for recycling

FAQs

  • What are these new tubes made of? how is it different? 
    We’re so glad you asked! Our new tubes are made of majority #2 HDPE plastic (with some #4LDPE plastic) which is one of the most widely recycled plastics with many downstream uses. Conventional tubes are made from multiple materials, including plastic and metal (foil) for preservation properties. When all of these materials are used inside a package and are inseparable, they render the whole item non-recyclable in conventional curbside recycling programs.

  • First, be sure to check that your tube the following symbol on it:

    Note that if your tube does not include these symbols that means that it has not yet been transitioned to the all-plastic tube packaging format and should be disposed of in the trash.

    Check your local waste/recycling provider’s website to see if they accept all-plastic tubes made from #2 HDPE plastic.

    If your local recycling provider accepts this material format, then recycle your empty tube in curbside. Separate the cap and dispose in trash, and the empty tube goes curbside.

  • This process will vary based on where you are located, but if they are accepted for recycling in your local area, they will be collected from your recycling curbside bin and transported to a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) where the material would be ground/crushed, and then sorted with other plastics of the same polymer type (#2 HDPE). This plastic is then further processed into pellets and can be resold for use in new products and packaging as post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastic!

  • Our packaging supplier has gone through a rigorous assessment by the Association of Plastic Recyclers (APR) and received critical guidance recognition for this packaging format which shows that it is capable of being recycled if it is placed into the appropriate recycling bin and properly sorted with the #2 rigid HDPE plastic stream (the same one as your milk jugs!). § Our tubes currently utilize caps made from PP (#5 plastic). PP is widely accepted for recycling in the USA and Canada but is not as commonly accepted as #1 and #2 plastics. We are currently working to switch these caps to #2 HDPE caps so that the entire tube + cap assembly is made of compatible materials for recycling. Once we have done so, caps and tubes can be recycled together (i.e. no need to separate them!)

    Because tubes have long been made up of a multilayer material structure, most recyclers don't yet accept these new recyclable formats as not all tubes have converted over to the more recycling-friendly version. Recyclability is also dependent on a multitude of factors at the community level which can result in widely recyclable formats not being recovered and this underscores the importance for industry-wide collaboration to ensure tubes are given the best chance at being recycled and recovered.

    To make sure we're doing our part in leaving the world better than we found it, we're participating in the Journey to Recyclability for Plastic Squeeze Tubes, a collaborative project managed by Stina Inc. Through collaboration, critical data gathering, and support, Stina works through

    critical steps needed for all-plastic tubes to be included in the acceptable items in the recycling stream.

    Even with all of these efforts, however, during this transition phase your community may not yet accept tubes for recycling. It's important to check with your local community programs to make sure that mono-tubes are accepted.

  • Not yet! Only the tubes with the #2 HDPE or recyclable tube logo on them are capable of being recycled where accepted by the local recycler. Beyond that, tubes also must be above a certain size in order to successfully make it through the sorting equipment at a material recovery facility - our 1.8oz tubes do not meet this size requirement and should therefore be disposed of in the trash. We will keep this site updated as we increase the number of products we offer in this new tube format!

oh, poop!