I first discovered Change Toothpaste at a local farmers market, tucked between vendors selling fresh vegetables, baked goods, and handmade crafts. Their display was simple but striking, small compostable pouches of toothpaste tabs instead of the familiar long rows of plastic tubes we’ve grown up with. It immediately caught my attention, not just because it was different, but because it was a solution to a problem I’d often thought about but rarely saw addressed: the wastefulness of toothpaste tubes.
That initial introduction quickly turned into a deep appreciation for what Change Toothpaste is doing. They’re actively challenging an industry standard that has gone unquestioned for decades. In this blog, I’ll dive into who Change Toothpaste is, what makes them unique, and why their innovation matters, and then explore the larger environmental issue of toothpaste tubes versus toothpaste tabs.
Who is Change Toothpaste?
Change Toothpaste is a Canadian, Edmonton, company born from a desire to make everyday routines more sustainable. Their mission is simple yet powerful: reduce plastic waste in oral care. For years, the global toothpaste market has relied almost exclusively on plastic tubes, a design that prioritizes convenience and cost over environmental responsibility. Change Toothpaste set out to prove that oral care could be effective, safe, and eco-friendly without compromise.
What began as a small, community-focused project has grown into an internationally recognized brand that’s carried in eco-stores, health shops, and online platforms Nation wide. Their dedication to reducing single-use plastics and creating compostable, zero-waste packaging has made them a leader in the sustainable personal care movement.
What Makes Change Toothpaste Different?
Unlike traditional toothpaste, Change Toothpaste comes in the form of small, dry tablets. You simply pop one into your mouth, chew lightly until it forms a paste, and brush as normal. This seemingly small change eliminates the need for plastic tubes entirely.
Here’s what sets them apart:
Plastic-Free Packaging
The average toothpaste tube is made of a combination of plastic and aluminum, making it almost impossible to recycle. Change Toothpaste replaces that with compostable pouches, which can safely break down without leaving behind harmful residues.
Simple, Safe Ingredients
They use carefully chosen ingredients that clean teeth effectively while avoiding unnecessary additives. Their formulations are fluoride-free but include nano-hydroxyapatite (nHAp), a proven alternative that helps remineralize teeth and strengthen enamel. For those who prefer fluoride, they also offer options to suit individual needs.
Travel-Friendly Convenience
Because the tabs are dry, they’re lightweight, portable, and TSA-approved. No more worrying about liquids in your carry-on or messy tubes that burst under pressure.
Commitment to Transparency
Change Toothpaste makes their ingredient lists and sourcing information openly available, prioritizing consumer trust. This transparency builds confidence in both their product and their values.
Supporting Local and Global Communities
From their farmers market roots, they’ve maintained a strong commitment to community. They often collaborate with local businesses and eco-minded organizations to spread awareness about waste reduction.
The Bigger Picture: Toothpaste Tubes and Environmental Impact
While Change Toothpaste is a small company, the issue they’re addressing is massive. Every year, over 20 billion toothpaste tubes are produced worldwide. Because of their multi-layered construction (plastic fused with aluminum), these tubes almost never get recycled. Instead, they end up in landfills or oceans, where they can take 500 years or more to decompose.
Here’s why this matters:
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Scale of the Problem: Billions of tubes annually translate into millions of tons of plastic waste. Even if only a fraction escapes into waterways, the impact on marine life is devastating.
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Resource Extraction: Producing plastic requires fossil fuels, water, and energy. Each tube represents a resource footprint much larger than its physical size.
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Microplastics: Over time, discarded tubes break down into microplastics that infiltrate ecosystems, food chains, and even human bodies.
In contrast, toothpaste tabs like those from Change Toothpaste dramatically cut this footprint. Their compostable packaging decomposes in a matter of weeks to months in the right conditions, leaving behind no toxic traces.
Comparing Plastic Tubes vs. Toothpaste Tabs
To put this into perspective, let’s break down the comparison:
| Feature | Plastic Tubes | Toothpaste Tabs (Change Toothpaste) |
|---|---|---|
| Material | Multi-layer plastic + aluminum | Compostable paper pouch |
| Recyclability | Almost none | 100% compostable |
| Decomposition Time | ~500 years | ~12 weeks in compost |
| Portability | Can leak or explode in travel | Lightweight, TSA-friendly |
| Resource Use | Fossil fuel intensive | Plant-based packaging |
| Environmental Impact | Major contributor to plastic waste | Minimal, circular solution |
This stark difference highlights why Change Toothpaste is more than a clever idea — it’s a necessary shift in how we think about everyday essentials.
Innovation Beyond the Product
Change Toothpaste isn’t stopping at tabs. They’re part of a growing movement of innovators reshaping personal care. By choosing to focus on one product category and do it exceptionally well, they’re creating a ripple effect that inspires others to rethink their packaging and sustainability practices.
Some of their ongoing contributions include:
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Consumer Education: Actively raising awareness about plastic waste and encouraging small, manageable lifestyle shifts.
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Sustainable Supply Chains: Carefully sourcing ingredients and packaging materials to ensure ethical, low-impact production.
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Industry Influence: Pushing larger oral care brands to pay attention. As more consumers adopt tabs, traditional companies may be pressured to rethink their plastic-heavy models.
Why Small Changes Matter
Critics sometimes argue that switching to toothpaste tabs is a “drop in the ocean” compared to larger systemic issues like fossil fuel consumption. But here’s the truth: small changes add up.
If one person uses a tube of toothpaste every 2–3 months, that’s 4–6 tubes per year. Multiply that by a lifetime, and it’s hundreds of tubes from just one person. Multiply it again by billions of people, and the scale becomes undeniable.
Switching to tabs means removing those tubes from the equation permanently. Each compostable pouch represents plastic that never had to be created, used, or thrown away.
The Future of Oral Care
As more consumers become aware of the environmental toll of everyday products, brands like Change Toothpaste are paving the way forward. The oral care aisle of the future may look dramatically different: rows of refill stations, compostable pouches, or even entirely new cleaning methods we haven’t yet imagined.
Change Toothpaste shows us what’s possible when innovation meets responsibility. They’ve proven that oral care doesn’t have to come at the planet’s expense and that consumers are ready for better options.
Final Thoughts
Meeting Change Toothpaste at the farmers market was a reminder that some of the most meaningful solutions start small. What began as a simple idea, replacing tubes with tabs, has grown into a global shift in how we think about oral care.
By supporting companies like Change Toothpaste, we’re investing in a vision of a cleaner, healthier planet. Every tab chewed is a step away from plastic waste and toward a more sustainable future.
So the next time you reach for toothpaste, pause and ask: Do I want another plastic tube in a landfill for 500 years, or a compostable pouch that returns to the earth?
The choice is simple. The choice is Change.