Eco-Friendly Toothbrush Review
08/24/2013 Update: My new favorite bamboo toothbrush is called Brush with Bamboo. Read the full review here. It wasn’t around back when I wrote this post.
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What toothbrush would you choose? Recycled plastic in returnable packaging or natural wood packaged in plastic? Nylon bristles or natural pig hair? Or how about a stick that you chew on? I’ve been researching toothbrush alternatives and found that they all have pros and cons. How you brush your teeth will depend on your environmental and ethical priorities, I think. There’s no perfect answer. Which would you choose?
Preserve Recycled/Recyclable Toothbrush
Materials: 100% post-consumer recycled polypropylene #5 plastic and Nylon bristles. Recycled plastic wrapper which doubles as a prepaid mailer.
Origin: Made in the United States.
Why it’s good: I don’t use the word “recyclable” lightly. If a company claims its product can be recycled but doesn’t provide an actual way to recycle it, then I don’t consider it recyclable at all. Preserve DOES provide a way to return its plastic products for recycling (some would say “downcycling) so I give them props for practicing extended producer responsibility.
Preserve toothbrushes are made from recycled yogurt containers and other post-consumer #5 polypropylene plastic that is returned to them through their Gimme5 program. You can bring your used #5 plastics (all Preserve products, other #5 containers, medicine bottles, Brita filters, Tom’s deodorant containers, etc.) to participating Whole Foods stores or mail them back to Preserve. The toothbrush wrapper doubles as a prepaid mailer. When you’re done with your toothbrush, just stick it in the mail. The mailer will be recycled along with the toothbrush. Personally, though, I prefer to save them up and take them to Whole Foods to avoid the extra fuel to ship individual toothbrushes. But I appreciate Preserve’s efforts to make recycling easy for customers.
Less Than Perfect: Keep in mind, though, that Preserve’s recycling program does not actually close the recycling loop. Toothbrushes are recycled into plastic lumber, which does nothing to decrease the demand for virgin plastic to create those yogurt containers, Brita filters, and other packaging, but it does decrease the demand for virgin plastic toothbrushes and slows down the plastic’s journey to the landfill.
Also? This toothbrush is made from plastic. It you don’t want to put plastic anywhere near your mouth, this is not the toothbrush for you.
How it Works: I have been using these toothbrushes since 2007. I like the bent handle and soft bristles.
Environmental Toothbrush
Materials: Bamboo handle, Nylon bristles, cardboard box, polypropylene inner wrapper.
Origin: Made in Australia. (Correction: Designed in Australia/Made in China.)
Why It’s Good: Most of the Environmental toothbrush and packaging are plastic-free and compostable. And the company cites an article in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences, which states that Nylon 4 — the material from which the bristles happen to be made — is also biodegradable in soil:
9.2. Nylon 4
It has been reported that nylon 4 was degraded in the soil [88] and in the activated sludge [89]. The results confirmed that Nylon 4 is readily degradable in the environment. Furthermore, the biodegradability of nylon 4 and nylon 6 blends was investigated in compost and activated sludge. The nylon 4 in the blend was completely degraded in 4 months while nylon 6 was not degraded [90]. Recently, Yamano et al. was able to isolate polyamide 4 degrading microorganisms (ND-10 and ND-11) from activated sludge. The strains were identified as Pseudomonas sp. The supernatant from the culture broth of strain ND-11 degraded completely the emulsified nylon 4 in 24 h and produced γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) as degradation product [91].
Less Than Perfect: The inner white sleeve around the toothbrush is actually made from nonwoven polypropylene plastic, not paper. After receiving a shipment of the toothbrushes for the giveaway, I was curious about the shiny coating inside the wrappers and emailed the company to find out what it was. James Wilson, the company’s International Sales Manager wrote to find out, and that’s when we both discovered that the wrapper is made with plastic. According to the company:
This is as green as we could make the packaging and still pass all health restrictions when packaging a toothbrush.
How it Works: The bristles are a little harder than the Preserve bristles that I’m used to, so I have just been learning not to brush as hard. And I had to get used to the shorter handle. But it’s a basic toothbrush. It works fine.
Life Without Plastic’s Plastic-free Wooden Toothbrush
Materials: Sustainably-harvested beechwood handle preserved with vegetable oil, natural bristles made from pig hair, small cellophane wrapper around the head of the toothbrush (cellophane is made from trees.)
Origin: Made in Germany. Pig hair imported from China.
Why it’s Good: The Life Without Plastic toothbrush is the only completely plastic-free toothbrush I have found. If your priority is to completely avoid plastic, this could be the toothbrush for you. And I love that the manufacturer uses such a small amount of packaging.
Less than Perfect: The bristles come from long-haired pigs that are raised for food. If you are vegetarian or vegan, this is not a toothbrush for you. But if you eat meat and see value in using part of the animal that would have gone to waste, this toothbrush might be your best bet. By the way, Jay from Life Without Plastic says they will continue to look for a natural AND vegetarian option.
How it Works: Honestly? I don’t know. I am a vegetarian and don’t want to try it. But if you try it, let us know how it works out for you.
Other Toothbrush Options
The three toothbrushes reviewed above are the only ones I seriously considered for this post. But there are other options that contain varying degrees of plastic, so I thought I would mention them.
Radius Source toothbrush: The durable toothbrush handle is made from recycled materials (flax, wood, or dollar bills.) But the disposable toothbrush head is made from plastic and is not taken back for recycling. What’s more, the toothbrush comes in a plastic blister pack.
Swissco wooden toothbrush with natural bristles: The toothbrush itself is plastic-free (although not vegetarian) but it comes in a hard plastic case.
Acca Kappa toothbrush with natural bristles: The Acca Kappa handle is made from cellulose acetate, which is produced from wood and cotton byproducts. The bristles are not vegetarian. And sadly, the toothbrush comes in a plastic container.
Neem Chew Sticks
And now, for a completely different alternative, I’m considering skipping the toothbrush altogether and chewing on sticks.
In researching toothbrush options for this post, I discovered something called Miswak sewak, used in the Arab world for natural toothbrushing. You peel off the bark at the tip and then chew the end to separate the fibers. Then you use the fibers to brush your teeth, and when they wear out, you cut off the tip and work your way down the stick. I thought it sounded like a neat idea, except all the miswak sticks come sealed in plastic.
Then Jay mentioned they are similar to Neem sticks which have been used for centuries in India. And today, I discovered a company called Neem Tree Farms in the United States, which ships Neem Sticks fresh the same day they are harvested. I was assured they can be shipped without plastic packaging (in fact, the web site recommends not storing them in plastic), so I ordered a batch today to try.
Neem Tree Farms has farms in Florida and Mexico. The company also sells seedlings so you can grow your own, but I have to see how I feel about the sticks first. That will be a post for another day.
And my next oral care dilemma will be finding a good plastic-free toothpaste replacement, now that Tom’s of Maine has switched to plastic tubes. I’ve gotten lots of advice from people, but I can always use more.
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Neem “datun” – as they are called in India have been used for centuries. The only downside I see is that the bark is bitter as hell !!!
Know that “fuzzy” feeling you get on your teeth when you wake up? I don’t. Since switching my diet and dental products, I don’t get that gross feeling in my mouth anymore. I brush my teeth only at night with toothpaste; and in the morning, just with water.
Let me start by saying my oral hygiene has changed dramatically since I started eating a plant-based (mostly raw) diet. It’s almost like the fruit and veggies are cleaning my teeth while I eat. If you have dental issues, start there.
As for products I use, I swear by Uncle Harry’s Toothpaste (and mineralization liquid). The bentonite clay is key I think, but it’s so effective, I only use a fraction of this toothpaste in comparison to conventional toothpaste.
As for kids, every time I go into the dentist for my daughters (or myself), I’m always highly praised for my diligence in oral care. Really, I’m only marginally better about their oral hygiene than my own, but it’s really a non-issue when my kids also drink only water, eat a high-fiber plant-based diet, and brush with the same bentonite clay toothpaste I do. Though, I would not recommend it for children under 2. Even their mild children’s toothpaste is strongly flavored with spearmint.
It comes in a glass jar, but the lid is plastic. However, I mitigate this by repurposing the jars. And two jars will last just under two years, so it’s not like I’ve got jars upon jars stuffed in some closet, waiting to be repurposed.
In regards to toothbrushes, I’ve been chipping away at one of those Costco packs I bought YEARS before my 4 year old daughter was born. I brush more gently since I was told by a dentist that most people brush too hard, which is why your bristles are probably all mashed up. I use the same toothbrush for a year at least until I need to replace my cleaning/detailing toothbrush. To keep it “fresh”, I disinfect it once a month or so with hydrogen peroxide. Maybe in 4 years, I’ll finally get through the Costco pack and try one of these toothbrushes!
What about the Bam&Boo toothbrush?
Iìm not sure about the Nylon they use… it means Nylon 6 Bpa free bristles.
I live in Panama, the country, I’ve been researching about the different kinds of toothbrush alternatives that I could switch to and have them shipped (we don’t have any kind of ec-friendly stores that I know of) but I keep reading that bamboo brushes’ bristles come off easily and I’m reluctant to buy a product I may not end up using.
Hi! I make my own toothpaste with coconut oil and hydrogen peroxide. I keep it in a ceramic jar with a tight fitting, snap-down lid. I’ve put cinnamon in some batches, peppermint oil in others, but I keep coming back to just the two main ingredients. I fought-off two small tooth infections with the oil and avoided root canals. 😊
For years, I’ve used little plastic brushes that clean between your teeth. I like them a lot, but they’re good for maybe 3 uses and then get tossed. I’ve found biodegradable floss, but I like the brushes in addition to flossing. Any ideas?
As for a viable toothpaste the carefree dental website has a recipe for dental tooth powder you could look into and they list pros and cons of using it verses using toothpaste too. And since they aren’t trying to sell the tooth powder or toothpaste you can trust they are accurate in their list.
I’m not vegan but I cannot eat pig. I think that I will try the first two options.
as a veggie[almost vegan] pigs hair is a no no for me but maybe the nylon 4 could be an option difficult fin ding tinned toothpaste too
I am a vegetarian (most of the time) and i dont see a problem with using pig hair toothbrushes for the following reasons. 1. I am not eating the brush; 2. Its helping to recycling the pig (like the pig having a donor card)….Its not like the pig is killed for the hair.
The Environmental Toothbrush no longer comes with a plastic cover (it’s just in the box without any cover). This is in Australian stores so I’m not sure if the international ones are the same but I was quite happy to discover that they got rid of them.
How long do the Life w/o Plastic’s toothbrushes last? In your opinion, would you say they last long enough to be worth their weight in the materials used to make them; are they economical?
Have you tried the NEEM or Miswak yet? What is your opinion on there?
I did try neem. It’s a great option, although it didn’t really work for me. https://myplasticfreelife.com/2011/06/verdict-on-neem-chew-stick-toothbrushes/
Please update to reflect no plastic wrapper on the Environmental Toothbrush anymore(at least not in UK.
What kind of wrapper does it have now?
My whole family has been using the life without plastic toothbrushes. We like them and we can put them in our compost pile after we are done with them. I have to admit, though, that my teeth are not as clean as when I use the plastic toothbrush from the dentist. something about the way it is designed? It’s not anything major, maybe it gets my teeth clean enough to be healthy, but I can definitely tell a difference. I’ll be getting some preserve toothbrushes to try those as a compromise.
I am 69 years old Indian. My grandfather insisted on our using need sticks taken from need tree in our back yard to clean our teeth. No body had any dental problem. It is slightly bitter in taste. He used to give us young need seeds to swallow, so no one suffered from any skin problem ever in our family. He was a chemistry professor ,well educated but believed in home remedies. We were a family of healthy people till we were under his care. Problems started when we began to ignore his advise.
Ugly by nature toothpaste is all organic ingredients chemical free and cruelty free their website has all the ingredients listed and they have I think 7 flavors
Colgate makes a tooth powder that comes in a tin. I found it in an Indian food supply shop. My grand dad had tooth powder tins, he kept them to store nails/screws. I’m looking to go less plastic, I use Preserve now. Before you do DIY tpastes talk to dentist, different enamels can’t handle some things.
My approach is to consider all aspects of a purchase. So while I am concerned about my individual health and the environment, I also must consider the social responsibility of the company and where the product is produced. Sadly, Colgate does not have a good record in this regard.
My wife and I make our own toothpaste. Coconut oil, baking soda, salt, and spearmint. Simmer the mint in the oil for a while before mixing. A bit salty during brushing, but very refreshing. We keep ours in a jar.
What is the recipe if I may ask? I would love to try it :)
I just wanted to say that both my husband and myself love the Life Without Plastic toothbrushes. Some bristles do come off the first few times you use it but after that, you’re good to go! I have an extremely small mouth and I need to say that they are a mouthful but I still have no problem brushing with it. If the bristles are too hard for you, you just have to run them under hot water for a few second, no need to soak them. They last long too! I really recommend them.
The neem chew stick do have a name (Datoon, relatively from hindi word for tooth->Daant)
Thank you for your extensive, detailed, article. It was not only a great read but also I have been looking for a 100% plastic free toothbrush for sometime and thanks to you I found it. You made my day :)
Hi, I bought an Environmental Toothbrush today and there was no inner white sleeve that you mention, so I guess they must have managed to convince the health authorities it wasn’t necessary. Or perhaps the regulations are different here in Australia. In any case, it might be worthwhile updating your post.
I only skimmed the comments so I don’t know if anybody mentioned the Green Panda toothbrushes. It’s a bamboo toothbrush with bamboo bristles that are infused with charcoal. So, it’s got the added benefits of the charcoal and it’s entirely biodegradable.
That’s interesting. I would like to see a third party certification regarding the bristles because the last time I checked into these, they were nylon. I know someone who had a different environmentally friendly toothbrush tested and found out the claims about the bristles were not true. I’m not inclined to trust anyone’s claims until I see some proof.
Hello – I know the latest update here was in 2013 – just wondering if the Brush with Bamboo toothbrush is still the favorite? We are looking to add some eco-friendly – really good toothbrushes to our online store…
So far yes.
Any thoughts on WooBamboo
I hadn’t heard of WooBamboo, so I checked out their website. For one thing, they use plastic packaging, which is a deal breaker for me. http://woobamboo.com/how-were-eco-friendly/ Ro Kumar of Brush with Bamboo https://www.brushwithbamboo.com/ is trying to develop the most eco-friendly packaging possible.
Thank you for your research! Eco friendly and plastic free teeth cleaning products seem to be hard find. I appreciate your hard work.
I have used in the past baking soda (like a decade or more ago) and last year i used just coconut oil during the warmer months. I have been using Miswak sticks for a couple of months now and really like them.
In the near future I am thinking about making some homemade toothpaste (I have already started making homemade mouthwash) using a recipe that I got from https://www.thankyourbody.com/all-natural-homemade-toothpaste/ to make a coconut oil based toothpaste that I will use at night while I brush in the morning with my miswak stick. I will use Raw Coconut oil and Distilled water rather than filtered water.
The recipe is below:
Homemade Toothpaste
Ingredients:
4 Tbs Coconut Oil
4 Tbs Bentonite Clay
2 – 3 Tbs filtered water
1/2 tsp Real sea salt
10 – 15 drops peppermint essential oil https://www.thankyourbody.com/young-living-essential-oils/
(You can add a few drops of liquid stevia if you feel so inclined.)
Directions:
1. Mix coconut oil, clay, and salt in a small bowl. Start with just
one tablespoon of water. Working with the back of a spoon, cream the
ingredients together and add more water until you like the consistency.
(If you choose to add in a few drops of liquid stevia, this is the step
to do it).
2. Add in the peppermint oil (or cinnamon or spearmint) and then mix until well combined. Store in air tight container.
To use: Place a pea-size amount on your toothbrush and the brush. Not
too hard. Not too long. Just enough to make your mouth happy. Rinse.
(Although it’s safe to consume in case your kiddies don’t rinse very
well.)
Thanks, I have used just the coconut oil and the dentist is still looking for the cavities that have disappeared. But I like the bentonite clay and spearmint essential oil. So this recipe gives me both. thanks again.
Does anyone know any resources for plastic free electric toothbrushes?
I cant avoid my dentist any longer.
Thanks!
Unfortunately, no.
nice article,plastic is not good for our enviorment and to us also.i use neem stick and another stick called timber stick for theeth cleaning instead of a plastic brush.it has a great taste and feels natural.i suggest other people too use neem stick or timber stick,if anyone want i can send them.
Nice article. I have recently started evaluating my plastic consumption and have slowly decreased my intake so far. I was pleasantly surprised at the mention of the Neem tree sticks. I am from India and there are plenty of Neem trees. Infact, as a child, my grandfather would make us brush our teeth with the sticks. We even eat the Neem flowers and the leaves have antibacterial properties!! This post brought back all the memories! Well, on my next trip home, I’m gonna get some sticks for myself :)
Amazing how we take last generation’s things for granted!
I’m allergic to plastic, so your reviews, especially the last option for Neem sticks NOT packaged in plastic, is invaluable information for me. Even contact with plastic by items that I use keeps me hypersensitized, so every bit I can eliminate helps me control the reactions (life threatening if not controlled).
Wow! I had to change to a bamboo brush to eliminate a corners of my mouth rash.. and have been afraid of admitting to the fact for people telling me that was bogus. The rash persistent for 3/4 year left in three days!
Here’s a recipe for tooth powder I found here:
It’s natural and the whole family can use it!
The Ingredients
-4 parts bentonite clay
-1 part baking soda
-1/2 part myrrh gum powder
-1/2 part ground cloves
-1/2 part ground stevia
-essential oils of cloves and cinnamon
Directions
1. Add all ingredients to a mason jar. Tightly close the lid and shake jar until well combined.
2. To use, apply a small amount of tooth powder to your tooth brush with a spoon and brush as you normally would.
Thriving Toothbrush:
100% Bamboo Toothbrush (including bristles)
Compostable and vegan! Shipped from the United States (not known where the product is made) in recycled & recyclable paper. Fairly economical compared to market prices.
Uncle Harry’s Toothpaste:
This company is located less than 10 miles from where I live, and have let me coordinate with them to refill my mason jars rather than purchasing the product in new container (although the jars are glass with a plastic lid). I love this product, although I am not sure if I would continue if they were not so accommodating to my plastic-free life.
“This is a non-toxic toothpaste, free of preservatives, synthetic foaming
agents, abrasives and glycerine. The ionic minerals in this toothpaste
supply significant amounts of calcium and magnesium for healthy teeth.”
!tab1
Have you considered ordering larger quantities from them? Next time I
re-fill I will ask what sizing options they have – that way you’re
dealing with less containers.
Environmental toothbrush now has “ecotoothbrush”, there next generation version with charcoal enhanced bristles. They still seem to be distributing from Australia for USA clients, so high shipping prices.
Worldcentric’s says thair bristles aren’t biodegradable.
I ordered both to see which one I like. I’ll try to remember to post back here with any reviews.
Beth, here’s one I came across. Any feedback from anyone?http://worldcentric.org/biocompostables/toothbrushes
Hi Mark. I have actually been trying to get info on that from Worldcentric.
Very interesting discussion and valuable information! Well done!
Magnus SE
I hate that Tom’s has switched. Even apart from the plastic issue, the old ones you could just flatten as you go up and fold it over to keep the paste in place – flexible plastic tubes have to be reflattened each time you squeeze. More hassle for more waste. I asked and they said they have recieved requests to package in flexible plastic for years – this was a ‘caving to public demand’ choice. Unfortunately.
If i’m not mistaken, Tom’s is owned by Kellogs. This is probably the reason why they were “pushed” to used “usual” (read – plastic, plastic and more plastic) tubes for their toothpaste. I don’t use most of Tom’s products.
We have been wondering about what you do in this department…thank you for this!
Brooks sells a pearwood toothbrush with boar bristles. It does come in a hard plastic travel-type container though.
I make all of my personal cosmetic products, including toothpaste. This is THE best way to take care of ourselves and the planet, in my opinion. Here’s the toothepaste recipe I use : Mix 40 ml of water, 6 tablespoons of white kaolin clay (used for facial masks), 4 pinches of baking soda and 8 drops of mint essential oil. Makes 50 ml total with a pleasant taste and refreshing feeling similar to conventional toothpaste. Put it in a small glass container with a lid and dip your toothbrush in! I just visited the dentist and confirmed that my teeth are healthy. However, I agree with the people who commented about how brushing is the key to healthy teeth, not necessarily the toothpaste.
I knew the guy, who had never brushed his teeth! He has been rinsing his mouth with water on the regular basis all his life.
I just received a pack of the Environmental Toothbrushes, they didn’t come in a plastic sleeve, they were just loose individual little cardboard boxes as pictured. Weh Hey!
That’s great to know! Maybe I’ll place another order.
I could go on hour long rants about the toxins in shampoo, make up, hair products and everyday objects, but i’ll save you from that and just rant about toothpaste and how it is cheaper and better for you and the environment to use. make your own toothpaste from coconut oil, baking soda, peppermint oil, and stevia. i refuse to use commercial toothpaste because of what is in it, the first ingredient is normally an artificial sugar (sorbitol) and fluoride is dangerous to your own health and the environment (those are NOT the only two harmful ingredients). i make it in a small glass jar, and re-use the jar when all is done. it is much safer than any commercial alternative as the plastic free toothpaste containers are normally made out of aluminum which is very costly to the environment (the energy it takes to produce the aluminum in one stick of deodorant could power a laptop for thirty minutes) and hazardous to your health because it has been linked to alzheimers. the toothpaste takes a while to get used to, but my dentist has been complementing my teeth and how she has not seen a mouth as clean as mine in a few years (plus, i have braces). you should look up the studies done on baking soda (stops cavities as soon as comes in contact) and coconut oil (anti-bacterial). you could also use coconut oil as a mouth wash because its anti-bacterial qualities are so strong and it is recommended that you swallow it because it is extremely good for you. plus, coconut oil comes in a glass jar, and baking soda comes in a cardboard container.
I heard you are not to swallow it because it has “pulled” all the toxins out of your mouth and you are just putting them in your system.?????
update on environmental toothbrush from the company:
“In our next production run we will be removing the inner sleeve as this has
been a challenge for many people, we will not have that stock until early
next year.”
i still want to see production local to each region – asian produciton for asian clients. north american production for american clients, etc… if i understand, it is possible to source local bamboo. i can’t imagine it is too difficult to find a factory in each region who can make such a simple design
if they solved the plastic nylon bristles issue (but replace with what other vegan option i don’t know?), environmental toothbrush would be far far ahead of the pack.
btw, i’m trying to organzie a group order of these to north america. i can coordinate, if some people email me expressing interest nish2575 at gmail. i’ll also try to post this to the forums when i get some time.
Thank you so much for this post. I’ve been using Preserve, while keeping my eye out for something better. Thanks to your post, I’ve ordered a case of The Environmental Toothbrushes. Not perfect, but as close as I’ve seen, especially since boar hair is not okay with me, for a multitude of reasons (I wouldn’t use a human-based hair bristle in my mouth, either…unless it was my own human hair). Keep up this great work!
I think on this topic it’s of importance to remark that natural fiber toothbrushes (made mostly from pig hair) have been found to not be the most hygienic thing. The hair has a little canal in the middle which will fill with tiny particles from the stuff that you brush away from your teeth. This will naturally encourage growth of bacteria. If you use those, you should change them veeery frequently, or put them in boiling water from time to time.
There is a company in Germany that makes toothbrushes and toothbrush-heads from the sticks which seems more practical – if it works. I haven’t tried them yet and don’t know how plastic free they are.
This world really could do with a real toothbrush solution… oO
love
yaga
Hi Beth, you can make toothpaste from baking soda, xylitol and a tiny bit of water and/or coconut oil. See my experiment here: http://jemsroom.blogspot.com/2011/06/diy-furniture-polish-soap-and.html
#91, 98: I also have a set of the Izola bamboo-handled toothbrushes. I was able to purchase them at a store in the U.S., but you can also order them direct through Izola’s website.
As with the other toothbrushes mentioned, this one has its own set of pros and cons. A pack of four toothbrushes is packaged in a cardboard box but is (unfortunately) topped off with a non-recyclable plastic lid. The brushes are designed in the U.S., made in China. As Brianna mentioned above, the bristles are made of regular nylon-6 and have a consistency similar to Preserve’s “soft” bristles. I’m on my second brush and have not experienced any mold, cracking, or noticeable bacterial build-up with the unvarnished bamboo handle. It does help to use a toothbrush holder so the handle has a chance to dry in between brushings. When it comes to disposal, I plan to cut off the nylon bristles and include the bamboo handle with the rest of the branches/twigs/leaves that my town picks up for municipal composting. I doubt any bamboo handled toothbrush will biodegrade easily in a home composting system. Hope this helps.
I’ve been switching over things gradually and I’m onto toothbrushes and shaving razors. I’m interested in either the Preserve or Environmental but I’m debating over the environmental impact, US Made, less shipping on the Plastic recycled material and downcycling of Preserve over the bamboo, no plastic but shipping from AUS of Environmental, UGH.
Interesting topic.
My favourite toothbrush is a TerraDent. https://www.eco-dent.com/ These are plastic, but the handle is made to be reused by replacing only the head. Did you know that some toothbrushes actually use metal staples to attach the bristles? I would never compromise on a good quality toothbrush, and I am concerned about the amount of plastic discarded.
This company also makes GentleFloss, a fantastic dental floss that comes in a recycleable paper box. It’s vegan too!
@ Yuki: Thanks for clarifying that the aluminum tubes are 100% recyclable. I hope you’ll take the time to mention this in your own letter to Tom’s of Maine;)
@ Sandra
Sorry to disappoint you but metal is not biodegradable. I know you probably put your aluminum toothpaste tubes on the recycling bin but if you put them in the trash it’s no better than plastic. Granted, it will probably not be floating in the ocean among others plastic crap but the thing fun with metal is that usually it’s recyclable an infinite number of times compared to plastic.
i am not against it, I just wanted to point out that it’s not biodegradable.