Reckitt is rolling out a 75 per cent paper-based, kerbside recyclable pack for Finish thermoformed dishwashing tablets in Australia, targeting a significant reduction in plastic use while maintaining product protection and performance.
Four years in development by Reckitt, in partnership with packaging supplier Mondi, the new pack is made with 75 per cent paper and is designed to replace conventional plastic-heavy formats. The company says the move could remove up to 48 tonnes of plastic annually from its tablet packaging – equivalent to more than 1.8 million plastic water bottles.
The new format will be rolled out across selected SKUs, with Reckitt anticipating that around half of Finish tablet packs sold in Australia will transition to the paper-based alternative.
Technical challenge
According to Reckitt, developing a paper-based solution for thermoformed tablets required overcoming significant technical hurdles, particularly around moisture resistance.
Dishwashing tablets are highly sensitive to humidity, traditionally necessitating plastic barrier materials. The company undertook more than 55 production trials to achieve a structure that maintains product stability while still meeting Australian kerbside recycling requirements.
Malgorzata Herman, R&D packaging innovation manager at Reckitt, said the development reflects a balance between sustainability and functional performance.
“This is a true testament to perseverance, partnership, and our commitment to driving meaningful environmental progress,” she said.
Scaling paper in homecare
Reckitt’s head of Sustainability Australia, Laurie Ferland-Caouette, said the move is part of a broader push to reduce plastic use and improve recyclability across the company’s packaging portfolio.
“Reducing plastic and improving recyclability is a key focus for Reckitt,” she said.
“This launch represents a real step forward for the homecare category, as we transition some of our top selling Finish packs to paper-based, kerbside recyclable packaging.”
The packs are designed to align with Australian recycling systems, offering consumers a format that can be disposed of via kerbside collection, rather than store drop-off schemes typically associated with flexible plastics.
The packaging launch coincides with an updated tablet formulation in the Finish Ultimate Plus range, with Reckitt emphasising that cleaning performance has not been compromised.
The company positions the move as evidence that sustainability and product efficacy can be delivered in parallel – a key consideration in categories where functionality drives purchasing decisions.
Finish’s new packaging began rolling out nationally from mid-March across major grocery retailers.
Ed's note: The introduction of paper-based, recyclable formats into moisture-sensitive homecare applications highlights ongoing material innovation as brand owners respond to regulatory pressure and consumer expectations.
For the packaging value chain, the development underscores the increasing role of fibre-based structures in applications historically dominated by plastics – while also raising ongoing questions around barrier performance, recyclability in practice, and system compatibility at scale.
