Your Halloween candy wrappers could be turned into park benches or flower pots thanks to the initiative of a Sherbrookoise.   "Refuse, reduce and recycle are basic rules of zero waste. There is a limit to refusing and reducing sweets to children on Halloween. So we looked for a way to recycle, "says Hélène Boissonneault, instigator of a project that aims to recover all the candy packaging instead of throwing them in the trash.   The company she co-founded, PH Effect, offers lectures and workshops for a minimalist lifestyle, zero waste and decluttering.   To reduce the environmental impact of this holiday that is ranked third in terms of spending behind Christmas and back to school, the entrepreneur decided to do business with the company Terra-cycle. The latter is responsible for recovering waste that is not normally recycled in municipal collections.   The company recovers, in twenty countries in the world, packaging, pens, coffee capsules, latex gloves or even shoes.   50 collection points   The operation is simple: just buy a Terra-cycle box online depending on the type of products you want. The garbage is dumped - in this case the candy wrappers - and the box is returned to the company.   The latter then takes care of sorting the waste, according to the materials, and sending them to companies that reuse and transform them.   "They take the waste and bring it back to a raw material that they send to the right places so that it can be used to produce other objects [such as park benches]," explains Ms. Boissonneault.   This is the first year that the entrepreneur has set up this project specifically for Halloween and she was surprised by the interest aroused by her initiative. Daycare centers and schools in Estrie, as well as businesses from as far as Rouyn-Noranda, contacted her.   "We had 4 or 5 collection points initially in the Sherbrooke area, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and on the North Shore of Montreal. We were happy, but the interest is so great that we are now at a [50] pickup locations throughout Quebec, "rejoices Ms. Boissonneault.   All but cardboard   The packaging of candies, chocolate, gums and even small bags of potato chips can be collected.   Only small cardboard boxes, such as the Smarties, are not allowed since they are already recycled in the municipal recycling system.

"Refuse, reduce and recycle are basic rules of zero waste. There is a limit to refusing and reducing sweets to children on Halloween. So we looked for a way to recycle, "says Hélène Boissonneault, instigator of a project that aims to recover all the candy packaging instead of throwing them in the trash.   The company she co-founded, PH Effect, offers lectures and workshops for a minimalist lifestyle, zero waste and decluttering.   To reduce the environmental impact of this holiday that is ranked third in terms of spending behind Christmas and back to school, the entrepreneur decided to do business with the company TerraCycle. The latter is responsible for recovering waste that is not normally recycled in municipal collections.   The company recovers, in twenty countries in the world, packaging, pens, coffee capsules, latex gloves or even shoes.  

50 collection points

  The operation is simple: just buy a Terra-cycle box online depending on the type of products you want. The garbage is dumped - in this case the candy wrappers - and the box is returned to the company.   The latter then takes care of sorting the waste, according to the materials, and sending them to companies that reuse and transform them.   "They take the waste and bring it back to a raw material that they send to the right places so that it can be used to produce other objects [such as park benches]," explains Ms. Boissonneault.   This is the first year that the entrepreneur has set up this project specifically for Halloween and she was surprised by the interest aroused by her initiative.   Daycare centers and schools in Estrie, as well as businesses from as far as Rouyn-Noranda, contacted her.   "We had 4 or 5 collection points initially in the Sherbrooke area, in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu and on the North Shore of Montreal. We were happy, but the interest is so great that we are now at a [50] pickup locations throughout Quebec, "rejoices Ms. Boissonneault.  

All but cardboard

  The packaging of candies, chocolate, gums and even small bags of potato chips can be collected.   Only small cardboard boxes, such as the Smarties, are not allowed since they are already recycled in the municipal recycling system.   ► For a list of collection points, visit effetph.com. Pickup will be until November 21st.

Do you have a stash of old manual toothbrushes, in case they may come in handy for cleaning? How many do you really need? Liberate the rest and Terracycle® them! Just put them in the yellow bin at the Littleton Transfer Station, near the tires, behind the cardboard collector. This is where you may recycle your empty toothpaste tubes, empty floss containers, empty mouthwash bottles, empty deodorant containers, and manual toothbrushes, as well as any of their outer packaging. Please note that all items should be emptied, and that no aerosols or electric toothbrush parts will be accepted. Terracycle® and Tom’s of Maine® are sponsors of this recycling stream, but containers may be of any brand. More information may be found at https://www.terracycle.com/en-US/brigades/tom-s-of-maine-natural-care-brigade/brigade_faqs. Still have questions? Please leave a message at 978-501-5336.  

Em parceria com a TerraCycle, brinquedos e embalagens da marca poderão ser reciclados pelos consumidores brasileiros.

The home cleaning market has been saddled with lackluster growth for years. New players, with new ideas, hope to shake up this $3.4 billion category. The only thing worse than cleaning the home is purchasing cleaning products, a process that wastes time and resources, according to detractors. No wonder that the newest ideas in home cleaning have less to do with cleaning spills than cleaning up the buying process. While few people admit to enjoy cleaning their homes, there’s no denying that the home cleaning category, when taken together, is a giant business. According to IRI, household cleaner sales in grocery, drug, mass market, military and select club and dollar retailers, rose 1.2% to more than $3.46 billion for the 52 weeks ended Sept. 8, 2019. Of course, some segments performed better than others. For example, all-purpose cleaner/disinfectant sales rose 4.7% to nearly $1.3 billion, but national brand managers should temper their enthusiasm, considering that private label sales surged more than 35% during the period. Oven and appliance cleaners and degreasers also outpaced overall industry growth, rising 8.3% to more than $203 million. The category has been a boon for Procter & Gamble, as its sales jumped more than 58% during the period, according to IRI. Meanwhile, sales were flat in multimillion-dollar categories like toilet bowl cleaners/deodorizers. But with sales limping along with a growth rate lower than the population growth, some entrepreneurs insist that the category is ripe for dramatic change through simplification. According to the founders of Truman’s, a new line of cleaning products, the cleaning process has become extremely complicated with a variety of formulas, SKUs, colors and scents. Their answer is four spray cleaners that work effectively on a variety of surfaces. There’s Everything And The Kitchen Sink kitchen cleaner, Floors Truly floor cleaner, More Shower To You bathroom cleaner and The Glass is Always Cleaner glass cleaner. What’s more, all four formulas come in concentrated cartridges. Consumers fill and refill spray bottles using water and cleaner formulas that are about the size of a Lifesavers package. It all adds up to a big savings in packaging and shipping costs—issues that have moved front and center with consumers. For Truman’s co-founders, reinventing an existing business model is nothing new. Jon Bostock and Alex Reed co-founded Truman’s after shaking up the staid industrial fan business. Bostock is the former president and COO of Big Ass Fans (BAF), which designs and sells large fans and lighting systems for industrial, commercial and farm use. Reed was BAF’s global marketing director. BAF was sold at the end of 2017, but Bostock and Reed wanted to do something entrepreneurial together. “We believe in the direct-to-consumer model and innovative products, and we felt that cleaning had been left behind,” Reed told Happi. “The supply chain is broken; products are primarily water, so companies are basically shipping and warehousing a small amount of active.” Problems continued once palettes are unloaded and products are placed on retail store shelves, according to Reed. “With so many unnecessary cleaners and fragrances, it is all very confusing,” he insisted. “No brand was born in the digital age of listening to the consumer. The category needed to be reimagined throughout the value chain.” Truman’s is a startup, but in its short existence company executives realized that consumers have an appetite for easy-to-use products that are “non-toxic.” People like to engage with us via social media and our website (www.Trumans.com),” insists Reed. “Household cleaning is a sleepy category and it doesn’t have to be.” In fact, Truman’s woke up Henkel to the possibility of a fun, DTC model. Two months ago, the multinational took a stake in the Louisville, KY-based startup. With the minority investment in Truman’s, Henkel is taking over the role as lead investor in a seed round totaling $5 million. “Convenience and sustainability today are top-of-mind for an increasing number of today’s consumers and we continuously advance our portfolio while addressing these topics. Specifically, when it comes to packaging, Henkel pursues ambitious targets for sustainable packaging to promote a circular economy and reduce plastic waste,” said Robert Günther, corporate director, Henkel Ventures, in statement. “We look forward to gaining insights from the Truman’s team, as well as supporting them with our expertise and resources.” The feeling is definitely mutual, said Reed, who noted that Henkel has broad manufacturing capabilities and international distribution. “We wanted to do more than take a paycheck,” he recalled. “Henkel has expertise in international trade and compliance, and has new technology, too. Now we have access to it.” Will Henkel ultimately offer the founders a buyout? Not necessarily. “Henkel’s venture arm made the investment and they want to see the value of the investment increase; this isn’t an acquisition nor is it a path to acquisition,” explained Reed. “We aren’t seeking new funds at this time, but it shows that the multinationals are interested (in a new model).” New from P&G Multinationals want new, whether its home grown or brought inside. Procter & Gamble expanded the Mr. Clean franchise earlier this year with two new formulas. Clean Freak is said to have three times the cleaning power of conventional all-purpose cleaners, and acts on contact to remove 100% of dirt, grease and grime leaving nothing behind but a perfect shine, according to Mary Johnson, a spokesperson for Procter & Gamble. The brand also launched Mr. Clean Magic Eraser Sheets that have Magic Eraser’s cleaning power but are thin and flexible. “Recently, we’ve focused on designing more plant-based products, to meet consumer needs and help increase our use of renewable materials,” explained Johnson. “We’ve introduced a plant-based portfolio in Fabric Care, with Tide purclean, Downy Nature Blends, Dreft purtouch and Gain Botanicals, and we’ve launched Home Made Simple, a plant-based home care & cleaning line designed to meet EPA Safer Choice and USDA Standards.” The Home Made Simple line includes detergent, fabric softener, multipurpose cleaner, hand soap and dish soap. According to P&G research, about 8% of consumers are committed to a lifestyle that includes natural products, but up to 76% of consumers are interested in trying such products. About 24% of consumers aren’t interested in naturals. Cleaner products that help consumers clean their homes has other benefits, too. “Consumers across the country are increasingly tapping into the mental clarity and peace of mind that comes from not only a clean home, but from the act of cleaning itself,” observed Johnson. “Most consumers are aware of the physical benefits of a good clean, but more and more consumers are turning to cleaning as a way to clear their minds, take a pause from the hectic pace of daily life and use that as a moment of ‘me time.’” Johnson pointed to the new phenomenon of “clean with me” videos has caught fire on YouTube. These videos, which literally take the viewer around a stranger’s home as they clean it, have been viewed more than 200 million times, with more than 5,000 new video uploads in the past few months alone. She told Happi that for P&G brands, sustainability comes to life in everyday moments, like washing laundry and doing dishes. “For example, as more and more people strive to adopt resource-efficient habits, it becomes increasingly important to use products designed to perform in the toughest conditions. If you’re washing clothes in shorter, colder cycles, you need a detergent like Tide, that’s been designed with a specific enzyme to clean in the quickest, coldest wash. If you want to use less water to get clean dishes, you need a product that doesn’t require a pre-rinse, like Cascade, which lets you skip the rinse and save up to 15 gallons of water per load. If you’re using a lower performing product and something doesn’t get clean, chances are you’ll compensate for that by washing it again—this time with more water or more product, driving your footprint up. So that’s why we design products like Tide and Cascade specifically to help save water, time and energy, without sacrificing the clean you need.” At the same time, P&G is aware that the way its products are made matters too. So, the company makes its brands at facilities that use 100% renewable wind power electricity and send zero manufacturing waste to landfill. “We’ve helped the industry tackle important challenges like the creation of a recycling stream for colored PET, and we’re working to find alternatives to plastics, like Cascade cartons made from 100% recycled wood pulp,” said Johnson. Finally, P&G is being transparent about what’s in its products and why. Johnson noted that P&G was one of the first firms to participate in the online SmartLabel system, where you can find information about all of P&G’s fabric and home care products listed. “Today, we working to incorporate more of this information onto our packaging to further our transparency efforts and enable you to make informed choices,” she said. SC Johnson has been the leader in ingredient transparency for years. In September, SC Johnson released its 2018/19 Sustainability Report. During the past year, the company has removed 1.7 million kilograms of plastic from primary packaging. Furthermore, 94% of the company’s plastic packaging is now recyclable, reusable or compostable. Recently, SC Johnson let its membership in the Plastics Industry Association expire. In a statement, SCJ said it strongly believes governments should be able to democratically ban plastics if that’s what its citizens want. “Leaving the Plastics Industry Association was a difficult situation because we respect the work they’re doing on recycling and plastic innovation,” a company spokesperson told Happi. “However, its connection to the American Progressive Bag Alliance became confusing. SC Johnson is committed to packaging innovation and post-consumer recycled content and you’ll see more from us in the future.” Are You in the Loop? Whether startup or multinational, nearly every FMCG company is determined to reduce its packaging footprint. Last year, more than 250 companies, including PepsiCo and H&M, pledged to cut back on their use of plastic, including making all of their packaging recyclable, reusable or compostable by 2025. Packaging is the hot-button issue of the moment and TerraCycle, the creator of Loop, is pushing all the right buttons. Launched in May, Loop is billed as a global circular shopping platform that’s designed to eliminate the idea of waste by transforming the products and packaging of everyday items from single-use to durable, multi-use, feature-packed designs, according to TerraCycle, which developed Loop more than a year ago, introduced the concept at Davos and has expanded from three US states to 11 in six months. Loop is also available in Paris and, most recently, London. “The growth and acceptance has been wonderful,” said Anthony Rossi, VP-global business development, Loop. “We are adding nearly a brand a day.” At press time, Loop offered 150 products and Rossi expected that number to climb to 350 by year-end. So, who’s in the Loop? Well-known companies such as Clorox, P&G, Seventh Generation and Unilever offer an array of cleaners, detergents and personal care products in reusable, returnable, often stainless-steel packaging. Loop delivers products to its members’ doors and picks up the packaging when it’s depleted. Products are reordered online and after seven or eight uses, The Loop process turns positive for the environment, according to TerraCycle. For now, consumers can order products at Loopstore.com, and Kroger and Walgreens are the official retail partners. Loop is just getting started, but there have already been a lot of lessons learned, according to Rossi. “Faster moving products, such as snacks and beverage, create a lot of engagement with consumers,” he told Happi. “On the home care side, autodish pods and all-purpose cleaners have been performing very well.” Getting in the Loop isn’t easy. Suppliers are making heavy investment in packaging and filling lines, but as Rossi notes, “they wouldn’t do it if the reaction wasn’t positive and there wasn’t demand for our products.” Procter & Gamble was one of the first companies to join the Loop program. P&G designed packaging that is both reusable and recyclable for Febreze One, an ultra-durable package for Cascade and a stainless-steel refillable package for Tide Purclean. All three of these solutions are designed for consumer convenience and reuse, and to enable ongoing learning within the new platform, according to Johnson. “While it’s still very early in the test markets, we have seen that consumer appeal increases when the product offering broadens, so we are encouraging more brands to join Loop as we all learn together in this important space,” she said. Coming Next Month A different kind of packaging issue was front and center earlier this year. The household cleaning industry won a key battle in August when the Supreme Court of the State of New York ruled in favor of a lawsuit filed by the Household & Commercial Product Association (HCPA) and the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) against the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC) attempts to force cleaning product manufacturers to disclose chemical ingredients and identify any ingredients that appear on authoritative lists of chemicals of concern on their websites. The Court found that the NYSDEC Disclosure Program is “null and void” and remitted the matter back to NYSDEC with the directive to comply with State Administrative Procedure Act. “It was a huge decision,” recalled Steve Caldeira, president and CEO, HCPA. “Any time you litigate against a state it is a big undertaking.” According to Caldeira, the ruling underscores HCPA’s successful strategy to collaborate with other stakeholders on key issues. “The HCPA has a good reputation of being collaborative and inclusive. Engagement and collaboration is our mantra and we will continue to do so.” At the same time, however, Caldeira observed that the association is willing to go it alone when it involves critical issues. Two years ago, when California passed the Cleaning Product Right to Know Act, HCPA engaged in intense negotiations with NGOs and other stakeholders, when many other associations, were neutral on the issue. HCPA also played a leading role in the reauthorization of the Pesticide Registration Improvement Act (PRIA), which was signed by President Donald J. Trump this Spring and will remain in effect through 2023. Also this year, HCPA earned the 2019 Safer Choice Partner of the Year from the US Environmental Protection Agency. “To win this award is humbling and we are very grateful. It speaks to the vision and mission of our board and the engagement of our membership,” said Caldeira. “We have a lot of big wins, because we have a talented staff, an engaged board and are focused on the right issues.” Of course, more issues are on the horizon. For example, the California legislature adjourned before acting on the Circular Economy and Pollution Reduction Act, which would require all single-use packaging sold in California on or after Jan. 1, 2030 to be recyclable or compostable. HCPA member companies are part of the Alliance To End Plastic Waste, a group made up of some the leading suppliers and marketers in the home came industry. These companies have pledged $1.5 billion over the next five years to solve some of the issues surrounding plastic. “Plastic is an issue that consumers care about and one that we must address,” said Caldeira. “Whatever we can do as companies and trade associations to become smarter and innovate around plastic is important.” During XPand 2019, the HCPA Annual Meeting, several important issues will be in focus. The event takes place in Fort Lauderdale, FL, Dec. 8-11, 2019. The overarching theme of the Annual Meeting is innovation and, for the first time, the HCPA will honor members with its Innovation Awards, which will be granted in five categories—ingredients, sustainability, consumer communication, technology and game-changing innovation. Annual Meeting programming will center on operational excellence, consumer education and sustainability stewardship. There will be sessions on consumer habits, ecommerce, retailer updates, supply chain disruption and diversity. The keynote speaker is Nancy Giordano, a strategic futurist and corporate strategist who has guided transformation projects with The Coca Cola Company, Brinker International, Sprint, Nestle, Acumen, Energizer, Mercedes Benz and many other Fortune 500 companies. On Dec. 11, HCPA will host a Preservation Summit that will feature presentations by Beth Ann Browne of DuPont, Tony Rook and Doug Mazeffa of Sherwin Williams, Petra Kern and Jeff Van Komen of Procter & Gamble, and other key stakeholders to further the discussion about the benefits of product preservation. According to HCPA, the goal of the Summit is to help inform legislators, retailers, decision makers and NGOs about the benefits of product preservation by developing scientific and consumer-friendly data and educational content that can be used to communicate effectively with a range of target audiences. In 2020, HCPA staff will continue to collaborate with other groups to find a solution at the national level regarding ingredient communication. “We will continue to the use the California model for a national solution. Patchwork regulations can be onerous and costly,” observed Caldeira. “We need common sense solutions. We will continue to work with the Grocery Manufacturers Association, ACI and others to find a solution. There are a lot of great things going on, but we have to stay focused, collaborate with NGOs and like-minded trade groups.” The strategy is paying off, as HCPA membership and revenue continue to grow slowly and steadily. During his three years at the helm of the association, HCPA has been rebranded, developed economic data to better tell its story on Capitol Hill and at the state level, updated its strategic plan and and expanded its board and officers. “There is growing interest among companies to have a voice as we expand,” Caldeira concluded. “If you stay stagnant, you get left behind.”

NORTH BRUNSWICK – Ten professionals from the community shared their career stories with second graders at Judd Elementary School during Community Helper Day.   As part of the Social Studies curriculum, students learned that the community is where people live, work and play, according to Eileen Glincman.   On Oct. 29, each class visited the station of each helper for six minutes, viewing equipment, asking questions and participating in activities. Many were parents of the children in attendance.   Mark Cafferty is the director of North Brunswick’s Office of Emergency Management. He spoke about first aid kits, whistles for rescues, the necessity of having a flashlight, and keeping a backpack with emergency supplies.   Justin Capezza is a lieutenant with North Brunswick Volunteer Fire Co. No. 2. He showed the students his gear, some equipment and an air tank.   “If you see somebody wearing all this stuff, you should come right to them. Don’t hide – we want to make sure you’re safe,” he said.   Arielle De Lain is a registered nurse at New York Presbyterian Hospital. She said she works with patients with head injuries, and demonstrated to the students how a light shone in the eye dilates the pupil.   Keith Rada is a banker at Brunswick Bank & Trust. He explained how a bank makes its money, detailing borrowing and lending, and charging interest. A popular question asked by several students was what happens when a bank gets robbed, to which Rada replied tellers push an emergency button and call police.   Michael Reggio has been a member of the U.S. Coast Guard for 12 years. He said he guards the coast while also helping ships that are in trouble on waterways. He also participates in search and rescue efforts, law enforcement and pollution response. He said, on average, Coast Guard members save 10 lives a day and assist about 190 people a day. He also mentioned that Coast Guard members are trained firefighters in case of an emergency while at sea.   Erin Dunne is a recycling expert with TerraCycle. She explained how recycling is turning waste into useable materials, while upcycling is creating a new product by creatively using an old product. She displayed a small table made out of chip bags that were turned into pellets, shoes made with toothpaste tubes, and a block of wood constructed from cigarette filters.   Frank Petrillo is retired from the North Brunswick Police Department, but now works as a Special Law Enforcement Officer Class III at Judd. He told the students that police officers train at the academy, save lives and sometimes go to court.   Jennifer Ponds is a local artist. She hand drew a mural for the Raritan Valley YMCA in East Brunswick, sent it for a computer rendering, and then had help painting it. She asked students where they see art: everywhere, not just on walls, in museums or in picture frames. She asked the students to look at their clothes, since a fashion designer is an artist who made their shirts and sneakers.   Hilal Tekin is an EMT with the North Brunswick First Aid & Rescue Squad. She showed the children an AED and gave a demonstration if someone is stung by a bee. She said when someone calls 911, she shows up in an ambulance with a partner to help the injured, takes blood pressure and listens to the heart rate with a stethoscope.   Irene Kanterakis is an interpreter. She said she helps families who are new to the country go to work, go to school, drive, buy a home, get money for food and fill out paperwork to become a citizen.   Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@newspapermediagroup.com.

Salina’s nearly half-century-old music store is partnering with their long-time string suppler, D’Addario, to offer free instrument restringings to area musicians. And maybe help save the planet along the way. “I was talking to them about what we can do for our consumers, and they mentioned that they had started this recycling program,” said Rick Hanson, of S.M. Hanson Music. “I thought it was a great idea — I’m not a super ‘green’ kind of guy, but I don’t want to throw away stuff that could be used.” On Saturday, S.M Hanson Music will offer a free recycle and restring event 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the company’s east Salina location, 335 S. Clark St., Salina. Musicians can bring any old instrument strings for recycling and get their electric or acoustic guitars restrung with the Brand New D’Addario XT Electric or XT Phospher Bronze Acoustic strings, all at no cost. Old strings collected during the event will be recycled through “Playback,” D’Addario’s free, national recycling program. “The price of new strings is about $16 a set, and $10 is our normal charge to put them on and tune it, so it’s a $26 service for free,” Hanson said. Playback is the world’s first instrument string recycling program, launched through a partnership between D’Addario and recycling company TerraCycle, organizers said. “The normal metal recycling guys don’t want to deal with strings,” Hanson said. “They are different metals and alloys, usually brass or bronze wrapped around a steel core. So we’ll take any type of instrument strings — violin, viola, cello, guitar, banjo, bass — whatever, we will collect them in a box to send them off. “TerraCycle specializes in very niche areas — along with strings, they offer recycling for Tide laundry detergent bottles, which I guess are constructed of plastics which the other recycling companies don’t want.” Musicians have been receptive to the recycling program, even going out of their way to mail instruments to Salina. “I had a lady from Madison, Wisconsin, found out we were participating and mailed me her strings,” Hanson said. “We’ve had a lot of interest and phone calls. I’ll have two guys in here, and that is going to be their only job Saturday, is changing strings.” To learn more about TerraCycle or get involved in its recycling programs, visit www.terracycle.com.

What’s trending in the oral care category From flosses to paste formulations that tackle key issues and contain unique ingredients like hemp seed oil and cacao, oral care brands are pulling out all the stops to garner consumers’ attention in this category that straddles the line between health and beauty. It is the latter attribute, however, that has witnessed a dulling of late as consumers seem to be slowing down their use at-home products that promise whiter smiles without dentist intervention. According to data from Information Resources, sales of tooth bleaching and whitening products such as strips fell 4.2% to $282.2 million during the past year. In contrast, toothpaste sales overall rose 2.5%, and SKUs that offer brightening benefits fared well in the market too, an indication that having a bright white smile still matters. Pain relief appears to be another main issue, as shoppers spent more money on treatments to dull tooth pain than in the previous year. According to IRI, oral pain relief sales jumped 5.5%, and toothpaste products that addressed sensitivity posted gains as well. For example, several Sensodyne toothpaste SKUs recorded gains over the past year, which is one reason why GlaxoSmithKline (GSK) is the No. 3 manufacturer in the toothpaste category overall, trailing leader Procter & Gamble and Colgate (No. 2). The major players continue to up their game when it comes to toothpaste formulations that deliver multiple benefits. Last month, GSK rolled out Sensodyne Rapid Relief Whitening, a toothpaste that helps “beat” sensitivity in as little as three days with twice daily brushing, while also helping to whiten teeth by gently lifting stains and preventing new stains from forming. According to GSK, the formulation has been engineered to address sensitivity pain by quickly creating a protective barrier over the sensitive areas of teeth to keep outside triggers from reaching the nerves. According to GSK, sensitivity pain occurs when dentin, the softer inner layer of the tooth, becomes exposed revealing small canals known as tubules. Consuming hot or cold food and drinks can trigger the nerves inside the teeth when they reach the exposed dentin tubules, resulting in pain. Similar to  Sensodyne Rapid Relief, which launched in the US last year, this new whitening formula also includes stannous fluoride that starts to form a gel-like scaffold over exposed dentin tubules, according to the firm. “At GSK, we pride ourselves in creating multi-action products that hit on all consumers’ oral care needs,” Adam Sisson, head of oral health research and development at GSK Consumer Healthcare, said in a press statement. “With the success of Sensodyne Rapid Relief, the team worked to ensure sensitivity sufferers who need fast relief, but want to maintain a white smile, have a product that works for them.” Earlier this year, Procter & Gamble’s leading Crest brand expanded its line with Crest Gum and Sensitivity, which targets the gum line to provide healthier gums and provides fast sensitivity relief. This formulation, which hit retailers in June, also contains stannous fluoride and targets the gum line to help neutralize plaque bacteria. Competitive Spirit While the marketplace is dominated by big brands like Crest, Sensodyne and Colgate, smaller players also actively pursue periodontal consumers with their own formulations. For example, there’s New Orleans-based Theodent, which contends it has clinicals to prove its products provide relief better than market leaders thanks to Rennou, an active ingredient comprised of theobromine, calcium and phosphate. “The ratio of these three ingredients in our formulation is proprietary and only efficacious in a specific combination,” said Jantzen Hubbard, director of operations and media. According to Hubbard, with Rennou, the theobromine combines with calcium and phosphate to remineralize the surface of teeth. “Saliva naturally has calcium and phosphate in it, aiding in tooth remineralization. Introducing theobromine into the mix enhances enamel strength through natural remineralization,” he said. The brand, which has been on the market since 2012, offers two formulations, Theodent Classic and Theodent 300, the latter of which is a clinical strength, professional product with a much higher price point. The formulations have different concentrations of its proprietary ingredient, Rennou, which traces its origins back to the 1980s when Dr. Tetsuo Nakamoto and Dr. Malektaj Yazdani collaborated on research that analyzed the effect of caffeine on pre-natal bone growth. “Because of their research, we know now that pregnant women shouldn’t ingest caffeine because it stunts the bone development of the growing baby. As that research portfolio grew, variant molecules of caffeine were studied, namely theophylline (found in tea) and theobromine (found in chocolate). The original hypothesis proposed that all members of this molecular family, called methylxanthines, would have a similar effect, being harmful to pre-natal bone growth,” noted Hubbard. Further research, however, led to an unexpected discovery: theobromine did not have a shrinking effect on enamel crystals; instead it increased enamel crystal size. According to Hubbard, this previously unknown property in cacao “revealed an ironic truth: a component of chocolate actually enhances enamel strength.” In the mid 2000s, Dr. Arman Sadeghpour looked at Nakamoto’s research in a new light; he applied a neural network analysis of enamel hardness responses to both theobromine and fluoride. He found that the theobromine treatment produced harder enamel than a similar treatment of fluoride. Sadeghpour, Nakamoto and Joseph Fuselier together founded Theodent in 2007, and five years later launched its first toothpaste. Today, the brand can be found in places like Whole Foods, and Theodent’s true point of differentiation is the science that backs up its claims, according to Hubbard. “We have quite a lot of research dating back to the early 1980s. Our big clinical trial conducted at the University of Texas San Antonio Health Sciences Center was conducted using Theodent Classic, which out-performed prescription strength Sensodyne NuPro5000 and Colgate in remineralization and hypersensitivity reduction,” he told Happi. Ingredients and Ideas Elsewhere in the oral care category, the NPD pipeline is filled with new, more naturally-focused ingredients and flavor profiles designed to pique consumer’s fancy. Last month, indie oral care company Hello Products released its new collection with hemp seed oil. The on-trend range includes Hemp Seed Oil + Coconut Oil Extra Moisturizing Mouthwash, Hemp Seed Oil + Coconut Oil Extra Freshening Fluoride Free Toothpaste, Hemp Seed Oil + Coconut Oil Extra Freshening Fluoride toothpaste, and Hemp Seed Oil + Coconut Oil Infused floss, which is non-GMO, no PFAS, no shred and features natural vegan wax formulated with xylitol. Another naturals brand, Schmidt’s, has made a foray into child oral care. The company’s new Kids Tooth+Mouth Pastes are plant-powered, fluoride-free formulas that include vitamin E, aloe, coconut oil, and tea tree, and come in three flavor profiles—Watermelon+Strawberry, Mint+Berry and Coconut+Pineapple. While the latest news from market behemoth Colgate is a new partnership with Sarah Michelle Gellar who will pitch the Colgate Optic White line, the brand’s biggest endeavor is designed to have a more lasting and meaningful impact. Colgate’s “Save Water” Campaign, which commenced in 2016, has by some calculations, led to an estimated 99 billion gallons of water saved. This September during the UN’s Climate Change Week, Colgate convened leaders in sustainable water for a panel discussion on the cumulative impact that individual action has on water conservation and climate action. In addition, Colgate has been recognized as a “Lead” company by the UN Global Compact—a designation given to companies that represent the highest level of engagement with the compact. And just as this issue was heading to press, Colgate was set to promote “Imagine a Day Without Water” by partnering with the American Water Works Association and the Value of Water Campaign to further behavior change. Whether with formulation enhancements, familiar faces or forward-thinking initiatives, leading marketers make sure their oral care brands stay on the tip of consumers’ tongues.    Brushing Up According to IRI, sales of manual toothbrushes were $814.1 million (a decline of less than one percent) and power brushes were $569.2. million, a 5.4% gain, for the 52 weeks ended Aug. 11, 2019. In this category, brush makers are making advancements in both sustainability and design. For example, Tom’s of Maine, which is owned by Colgate-Palmolive, has released its new Whole Care Toothbrush, which has a handle made from 80% post-consumer recycled plastic. It is designed with cross-angled, multi-height bristles, is BPA-free and colored with food-grade mineral based pigments, to help remove plaque between teeth and gently clean down to the gum line. In addition, the brush is recyclable through the Tom’s of Maine collection program with TerraCycle. Also, pushing for less plastic is WooBamboo, a company that offers what it calls a selection of “environmentally- and panda-friendly” bamboo toothbrushes. The firm was recently named the “Official and Exclusive Eco Oral Care Brand” for the 2019 Forbes Travel Guide. (Formerly known as Mobil, this long-standing guide created the nation’s original star rating system for the luxury hospitality industry.) Each year, the guide provides a list of companies that provide luxury accommodations, wellness and health-related products or services; this was the first year it tapped any oral care product for the list. The designation is more than welcome by the six-year old Cape Coral, FL-based company, which has grown from startup phase to being stocked in more than 18,000 stores in more than 56 countries—and made a cameo in the 2018 Stella Artois-Matt Damon commercial during the Super Bowl. WooBamboo has also expanded its roster of products to include floss and a toothpaste formulated with bamboo and green tea extracts that is fluoride free and comes in flavor profiles like marshmallow and bubble berry and for kids and sweet cinnamon and for vanilla mint for adults. In the power brush area, a new option is Gleem, a sonic brush with a minimalistic design and a two-minute timer that pulses at 30-second intervals to help users track brushing progress so they know when to switch quadrants for a consistent clean. Powered by a single AAA battery (no plug-in needed), it has a suggested retail price of $25 and is exclusive to Walmart and gleem.com.  

  Gerber, Florham Park, New Jersey, has partnered with Trenton, New Jersey-based TerraCycle to help give hard-to-recycle baby food packaging a new life. This partnership is rooted in Gerber and TerraCycle’s shared values around eliminating waste and supports the recovery of hard-to-recycle baby food packaging on a national scale, according to a Gerber news release.   To participate, parents can sign up on the Gerber Recycling Program page and mail in packaging that is not municipally recyclable using a prepaid shipping label. Once collected, the packaging is cleaned and melted into hard plastic that can be remolded to make new recycled products.   “Through this free recycling program, Gerber is offering parents an easy way to divert waste from landfills by providing a responsible way to dispose of certain hard-to-recycle baby food packaging,” says TerraCycle CEO and Founder Tom Szaky. “By collecting and recycling these items, families can demonstrate their respect for the environment not only through the products that they choose for their children, but also with how they dispose of the packaging.”   As an added incentive, for every pound of recycled packaging sent to TerraCycle through the Gerber Recycling Program, collectors can earn $1 to donate to a nonprofit, school or charitable organization of their choice.   This partnership is one of many steps toward Gerber’s goal to achieve 100 percent recyclable or reusable packaging by 2025.   “We’re thrilled to partner with TerraCycle as part of our broader sustainable packaging efforts,” says Gerber President and CEO Bill Partyka. “We know every parent’s top priority is to ensure a healthy, happy future for their baby. Our commitment to sustainability is rooted in giving parents a hand in making their baby’s future that much brighter.”

Winter weather is coming. Make sure you give your skin the best skincare to replenish itself at night from the day’s damage and look renewed and refreshed in the morning.