Vaseline’s new recyclable pump supports Unilever’s plastics progress

Vaseline has created a new recyclable pump for its pump-action bottles in North America. Traditionally, pumps in consumer goods contain an internal metal spring encased within the plastic, which makes them hard to recycle because recycling facilities need to separate the materials before processing them.

Now, Vaseline has worked extensively with its supplier to develop a new pump that does not have a metal spring and is widely recyclable in more than half of recycling facilities across the US and Canada.^[a] The packaging continues to deliver a quality experience for consumers, while simultaneously supporting Unilever’s sustainability goals.

“Unilever’s long-term ambition is an end to plastic pollution through reduction, circulation and collaboration,” said Kristina Friedman, Head of Sustainability at Unilever North America.

“We continue to implement bold innovations across our brands and markets that help to advance the delivery of our sustainability goals. Vaseline designing its pumps for recycling is another step in the right direction.”

Our plastic goals: reducing virgin plastic and increasing recyclability

Vaseline’s new recyclable pump supports the delivery of Unilever’s plastic sustainability goals. This includes Unilever’s aim to reduce our virgin plastic footprint by 30% by 2026 and to ensure 100% of our rigid plastic packaging is reusable, recyclable or compostable by 2030.

For rigid plastic — like bottles, pumps and caps — we’re making good progress. Vaseline is the latest of several Unilever Beauty & Wellbeing brands, including Dermalogica, REN and Garancia, to have incorporated forms of recyclable pumps into its product portfolio. For our Home Care brands like Cif, Vim, Viss, Domestos, Lifebuoy and Lysoform, we’re continuing to roll out recyclable mono-material triggers for spray products.

Beyond our own packaging, we’re advocating for infrastructure and wider change

To help close the gap between what packaging is technically recyclable and what is actually recycled, policy and regulation are critical in improving waste management infrastructure and helping to tackle plastic waste. In North America, collaborations with The Recycling Partnership and the US and Canada Plastics Pacts, as well as investments in Closed Loop Partners, support the ongoing development of local waste management infrastructure.

Globally, we also advocate for policies like Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), which can help to hold businesses to account for the packaging choices they make and boost recycling systems. By ensuring that money is invested back into waste management and packaging innovation, well-designed EPR schemes can drive up recycling rates and the supply of recycled plastic.

Unilever co-chairs the Business Coalition for a Global Plastics Treaty, which is calling for a global plastics treaty that addresses the full life-cycle of plastic and sets global rules on our priorities like EPR, as well as product design, and restrictions and phase-outs. Global rules in these areas will help to harmonise regulatory standards and policies across markets, and accelerate the voluntary work already being done by the industry.