Finish: Making Sustainable Choices Easier with Paper-Based Packaging

Plastic has long been considered essential for thermoforming dishwashing tablet packaging due to the product’s sensitivity to moisture, alongside the demands of transport and storage. The challenge was to develop a packaging solution that reduced plastic while maintaining seal integrity, durability and ease of use, meeting consumer expectations for uncompromised cleaning performance*.Additionally, Australians have become increasingly conscious of plastic waste, but recent disruptions to soft plastic recycling have left many unsure of what can be recycled. The solution needed to remove confusion, communicate disposal instructions clearly, fit into everyday routines and work within existing national kerbside recycling systems.

The result is a redesigned packaging system that balances performance, sustainability and usability while simplifying the recycling experience for consumers. The innovation uses a 75% paper structure1, reinforced with a moisture barrier for durability, and took over four years and 55 production trials to develop. A removable zipper and clear on-pack recycling instructions enable intuitive kerbside disposal. The solution was tested to maintain cleaning performance* and shelf life, reflecting collaboration across Reckitt’s R&D, packaging and sustainability teams to deliver a scalable and environmentally responsible packaging design.

This design innovation is projected to remove 48 tonnes of plastic2 from Finish tablet packaging3 annually in Australia, equivalent to over 1.8 million plastic water bottles4. By end of 2026, more than 50% of Finish tablets sold are expected to feature this sustainable packaging.It removes a key friction in sustainable consumption by embedding recyclability and clear disposal guidance into an everyday product without added complexity. Importantly, it responds to the disruption of soft plastic recycling in Australia by providing a kerbside recyclable alternative, restoring a practical disposal pathway and enabling widespread behaviour change across households.

· 75% paper composition1 – significantly reduces plastic use while remaining durable.· Kerbside recyclable – designed to meet Australian recycling guidelines once the zipper is removed.· Durability and water-resistance – maintains tablet stability, performance, and shelf life.· Range coverage – implemented across Quantum, Ultimate, and Ultimate Plus packs (46–80 tablet pack sizes)**.· Clear on-pack recycling communication – designed to support intuitive and correct kerbside disposal behaviour.