At the end of 2020, Johnson & Johnson announced their commitment of 800 million USD and ensured that by 2030 they will use 100% recyclable, reusable or compostable plastic packaging in all of their products. And it seems they’re taking steps in the right direction.
The Johnson’s Baby product line has decided to eliminate its pumps. It may seem like a small gesture, but it will prevent around 24 million hard-to-recycle pumps from being thrown into landfills. Pumps are particularly difficult to recycle because of the metal spring inside that allows the pump to do its job. Small plastic products are normally recycled at a mass scale, but metal springs need to be separated individually from the pump, which presents a big obstacle.
Karen Marchetti, Johnson’s Global Marketing Director further explained why they decided to make this switch with pumps: “Parents really appreciate the convenience of pumps. The easy, one-hand dispensing comes in handy when bathing and handling small babies. For this reason, when we last upgraded our packaging in 2018, we incorporated pumps into many of our washes and lotions. But since then, as we’ve continued to evolve our packaging to reduce waste and optimize recyclability, we’ve reconsidered our use of pumps. On smaller sizes that are easier for parents to hold and use with one hand, we have switched to flip-top or disk-top caps. And we’re continuing to innovate in this area, with the goal of introducing recyclable pumps across our full line within a few years.”
