The Sticky Truth: Are Pritt Glue Sticks Sustainable?
Glue sticks are a school and office staple. From children’s craft projects to professional presentations, most of us have twisted up a Pritt Stick at some point. But have you ever stopped to wonder what happens when that little tube runs out?
How Many Glue Sticks Are We Throwing Away?
Globally, it’s estimated that over 120 million glue sticks are sold each year. In schools alone, the numbers pile up quickly: one UK eco-school reported discarding around 2,000 glue sticks annually.
Children in early years classrooms may use up to 30–40 sticks each year, often because they dry out, caps get lost, or they’re simply consumed rapidly in creative activities.
Most of these glue sticks end up in landfill, because kerbside recycling programs can’t usually accept small, mixed-plastic items with adhesive residue.
The Sustainability Challenge
Traditional glue stick casings are made from multiple plastics that are hard to recycle. Even if technically recyclable, the small size and sticky contents mean most municipal facilities won’t process them.
That creates a “silent waste stream” where millions of small plastic tubes accumulate in landfill each year—rarely noticed, but significant in scale.
Henkel’s Efforts to Make Pritt More Sustainable
As the maker of Pritt, Henkel has taken measurable steps in recent years to tackle this issue:
Recycled content: Pritt containers now use up to 65% post-industrial recycled plastic, reducing virgin plastic demand.
Recyclability: New Pritt sticks are designed to be fully recyclable (though this depends on local collection schemes).
Natural ingredients: Since 2021, the glue formula itself has been made with 97% natural ingredients, lowering chemical impact.
Plastic-free packaging: In 2022, Pritt launched plastic-free blister packs made from at least 85% recycled paper, cutting an estimated 1,000 tons of plastic annually.
Sustainable e-commerce shipping: In 2023, Henkel shifted Pritt’s online delivery packaging to EPIX padded mailers made from 90% recycled paper and 92% recyclable.
Corporate goals: By the end of 2024, 89% of Henkel’s packaging was designed for recycling or reuse, and 25% of plastics used in consumer packaging came from recycled sources—on track for their 2025 sustainability targets.
These are meaningful improvements, and Henkel deserves recognition for driving change in a product category that often flies under the radar.
The Reality Check: What Happens After Use?
Even with improved designs, a big challenge remains: collection and recycling infrastructure.
Many households don’t have the option to recycle glue sticks at kerbside.
Schools and offices often throw them straight into general waste.
“Designed for recyclability” doesn’t guarantee “actually recycled.”
That means while Henkel is making the product more recyclable, most glue sticks still end up in landfill.
Alternatives and Better Options
So, what can schools, parents, and professionals do to cut down on glue stick waste?
Refillable glue sticks: A handful of companies now offer refillable versions—extending the life of casings.
Liquid glue or glue pens: These often use less plastic overall and sometimes come in recyclable bottles.
Bulk purchasing and managed classroom use: Encouraging shared resources can reduce waste from individual sticks drying out.
Proper disposal: Some specialist recycling schemes (like Terracycle) may accept glue sticks in bulk, though access is limited.
The Bottom Line
Pritt has come a long way: from natural formulas to recycled packaging, Henkel is leading the way in greening a surprisingly wasteful everyday item.
But the biggest sustainability hurdle isn’t just the stick itself—it’s what happens after the glue is gone. Until recycling systems catch up, the best solutions are refill, reuse, and reduce.