Dentsply Sirona reaffirmed its commitment to environmental sustainability on Wednesday, announcing its goal to make all packaging recyclable by 2030.
“Sustainable packaging is an environmental imperative – one we have taken fully on board with our ambitious goal to strive to make our packaging, including plastic parts, recyclable by 2030,” says Tony Johnson, senior vice-president, chief supply chain officer and executive sponsor for ESG at Dentsply Sirona.
In 2021, only up to six per cent of the 40 million tonnes of plastic waste generated in the United States was recycled. Globally, only 9.5 per cent of plastic has been recycled, according to the World Bank. The rest ends up in landfills, oceans and other parts of the environment. The World Bank also estimates that each person generates an average of 0.74 kilograms (1.6 pounds) of plastic waste daily.
‘Smaller, lighter and easier to recycle’
Meanwhile, the company said it’s incorporating the circular economy principles of reduce, reuse and recycle and removing problematic, non-recyclable plastics from its packaging. This includes transitioning from plastic to paper-based and corrugated cardboard alternatives, replacing foam inserts and single-use plastic trays with paper inserts, as well as reducing label and box sizes. Printed Instructions For Use (IFUs), will also be replaced with digital versions wherever feasible.
The company also said that making packaging “smaller, lighter and easier to recycle” will reduce waste and lower CO2 emissions. This “brings practical advantages for dental practices and labs, such as saving space and lowering disposal costs,” it said in a news release.
“As a global dental industry leader, we are well-positioned to lead the way in rethinking and transforming packaging – and we hope our actions will inspire others to join us in driving positive change in this critical area,” added Johnson.
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Global momentum to reduce plastic waste
Dentsply Sirona said its commitment aligns with global momentum to reduce plastic waste, including ongoing efforts at the United Nations level.
So far, the second part of the fifth session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (INC-5.2) on plastic pollution is scheduled to take place from Aug. 5 to 14, at the Palais des Nations in Geneva, Switzerland. Delegates from around the world will meet to develop a legally binding international treaty to curb plastic pollution, including its impact on the marine environment. The negotiations are part of a broader U.N. effort to address the full life cycle of plastics, from production to disposal.
In July, the Biden administration also released the first U.S. plan to address plastic pollution.
To mark World Environment Day on June 5, 2025, Dentsply Sirona also called on the dental industry to strengthen its commitment to sustainable dentistry. The initiative is part of the company’s broader sustainability program, BEYOND: Taking Action for a Brighter World.