This week, Proctor & Gamble (P&G) has announced that its popular Old Spice and Secret deodorants are the first major brands to introduce all-paper, plastic free packaging, which will debut in 500 Walmart stores in the U.S. on May 1st.
The paper tube package, made of 90 percent recycled paper, is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council and features a “push up” design. This new packaging design is one of several ideas P&G has initiated recently, with the goal of reducing plastic waste.
The company will complete the second phase of its recyclability testing on the new package this fall as part of its effort to learn how consumers respond to the design. If successful, P&G will expand the new package across more of its product lines.
“If we convert just 10 percent of our current deodorant packages to recycled paper or another recyclable material, it could eliminate up to 1.5 million pounds of plastic waste annually,” notes Anitra Marsh, Associate Director of Global Sustainability and Brand Communications, P&G Beauty.
Both P&G and Walmart have publicly declared aggressive goals in sustainability. By 2030, P&G Beauty’s brands have committed to using 100 percent recyclable or reusable packaging and reduce the use of virgin petroleum plastic by 50 percent. By 2025, Walmart is committing zero waste to landfill for its operations in the U.S., U.K., Canada and Japan.