Good news! Tom’s of Maine has now added a 24-hour, long-lasting deodorant in recycled/recyclable packaging to their line. They have sold all-natural deodorant free of aluminum, parabens and PG for decades, but now Tom’s commitment to sustainability extends even to the packaging.

To begin with, the plastic is made of 40-70% recycled materials from industrial waste sources. And the whole container is made from one type of plastic, polypropylene, so that the shell, cap, and screw can be recycled together. Most other deodorant containers make the shell cap and screw of different plastics, making recycling the products very difficult. As it is made of fully recyclable number 5 plastic, it is a little more difficult to recycle in some areas.

Gimme 5 Drop Off Bins

However, the Gimme 5 program allows you to drop the container at your local Whole Foods or to mail it in for recycling. So the packaging goes easily from recycled to fully recyclable.

The deodorant itself, like all Tom’s of Maine deodorants, is 100% natural, vegetable-based, never tested on animals, and proven to stop the growth of odor-causing bacteria. However, this last fact has been a bit dispute. As the deodorant does not contain the aluminum used by other deodorants to inhibit sweating, it makes no claims to being an anti-perspirant, but more than one person has complained that it isn’t much of a deodorant either. However, for around $3.99, it is definitely worth a try, especially when you know it won’t cost the environment much either.

Those of you aware of the toxic chemicals and additives in most personal care products were probably already aware of Tom’s of Maine. They have been making all natural personal care products for almost 40 years and have demonstrated a commitment to social responsibility and environmental sustainability all along the way. Visit their site to see the full line of products and the full lists of ingredients, which specify both the purpose and source of those ingredients.