Why use a bamboo toothbrush?
First of all, let's start with a simple comparison between a bamboo toothbrush and a plastic one.
In today's blog post, we are going to explain why you should switch to using a bamboo toothbrush and what to look for when selecting a very good bamboo toothbrush. bamboo .
60% of us use manual toothbrushes, on average four per year.
Despite a growing popularity of bamboo toothbrushes, the vast majority of manual brushes we purchase still consist of nylon bristles and a plastic handle.
This is bad news for three notable reasons:
- Supply
- Toxicity
- Elimination
Supply:
Plastic toothbrushes are no different from the majority of other plastic items; petroleum derivatives.
Oil is an increasingly rare resource that is highly polluting in its extraction, processing and waste disposal.
Toxicity:
The bad news continues - now plastic toothbrush users are unaware of the hidden toxicity inside the product they use daily (hopefully minimum twice a day).
Many brushes leach toxins such as BPA and phthalates which are linked to health problems including reproductive problems and cancer.
Elimination:
The final problem with plastic toothbrushes comes when it's time to replace them.
The vast majority of toothbrushes are not recyclable due to the mix of materials used in their manufacture and contaminated plastic in the bristles.
As a result, most toothbrushes will end up in a landfill or worse, our oceans, where over time they break down into microplastics (which we'll cover in a future blog post) - tiny but very harmful pieces of plastic which can kill marine life and even make their way into our food chain and drinking water.
Suddenly an innocuous, everyday item like a plastic toothbrush doesn't seem as innocent as we think about the repercussions of using them instead of a sustainably sourced, biodegradable, toxin-free, and less environmentally hazardous alternative .
So what is the solution ?
Drum roll, please, for the bamboo toothbrush . This unsung hero could do more for the environment than you think.
Supply:
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world (up to 1 meter per day for some species).
This is an important feature because it makes bamboo a highly renewable and super sustainable crop, meaning that a small plot of land can be harvested repeatedly to produce huge quantities of raw materials.
Toxicity:
Bamboo can also be grown without the use of pesticides or fertilizers which often contain highly toxic chemicals, and to top it all off, bamboo produces more oxygen and absorbs more carbon dioxide than any other plant.
It seems that this is an excellent alternative to toxic and non-renewable plastics!
What about elimination?
Bamboo is biodegradable and can be safely returned to the soil via your compost heap or local authority green waste without fear of leaching toxic chemicals into the environment (provided there are no toxic paint on the handle).
So there you have it, we've covered all the reasons why you should replace your old plastic toothbrush with a virgin, earth-friendly bamboo brush - from sourcing and safety concerns to disposal, bamboo beats plastic every time.
Discover our Oceansrespect bamboo toothbrushes .
Still not convinced? Here are the 10 benefits of the bamboo toothbrush.
The 10 advantages of the bamboo toothbrush:
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1) Ecological, natural & sustainable.
The Moso bamboo that we use to manufacture our products comes from a certified eco-responsible operation having obtained the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) environmental label, the aim of which is to ensure that the production of wood or a product based on wood respects procedures guaranteeing sustainable forest management.
Bamboo is extremely versatile and durable. It is the fastest growing plant in the world and regrows naturally after harvest without the use of watering, chemicals or harsh pesticides.
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2) Biodegradable & compostable.
Bamboo is 100% biodegradable and compostable.
In fact, it decomposes naturally and becomes bio-assimilable under the action of micro-organisms, oxygen, humidity or heat in approximately 6 months.
Furthermore, it can be composted since it does not contain any heavy metals and is not ecotoxic because it is completely natural and has not undergone any chemical treatment.
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3) Rot-proof & antibacterial.
Although bamboo is already water resistant, our toothbrushes have heat-treated handles to carbonize their surface and make them even more durable.
Bamboo is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and odor resistant. It is therefore very hygienic and is perfectly suited to this use.
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4) Light, solid & ergonomic.
The handle, perfectly ergonomic, is made entirely of very light and resistant bamboo.
Bamboo is a highly sought-after material for its exceptional strength and lightness. Our toothbrushes can be transported without risk of breaking or damaging them. In addition, bamboo is water resistant and does not suffer any alteration upon contact.
The handle is handcrafted to obtain a specific curvature allowing a pleasant grip and facilitating tooth brushing for maximum efficiency.
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5) With soft bristles, dye-free, Bisphenol A, made from castor oil.
The Oceansrespect bamboo toothbrush has soft nylon-6 bristles, made from castor oil. They are natural, 100% recyclable and guaranteed to be free of Bisphenol A (BPA), an additive dangerous to health, but present in many plastic toothbrushes. They are soft to protect your gums, as dentists recommend.
Although some manufacturers claim their bristles are 100% biodegradable, in most cases they are not. The only biodegradable material available today is pig hair, but we love animals. So we hope you understand that for us, this is not an option.
We will continue to work closely with our manufacturers to seek replacement solutions. In the meantime, carefully remove them for proper disposal.
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6) Vegan & Cruelty Free.
The Oceansrespect bamboo toothbrush is certified “Vegan & Cruelty Free”.
No tests are therefore carried out on animals and no animals or derivatives are used during the entire process of harvesting the bamboo, manufacturing the products or their transport.
And the pandas? We use Moso bamboo which grows up to 28 meters high, so the leaves are out of the panda's reach. We love pandas!
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7) Packaged in recycled and recyclable cardboard, printed with vegetable ink, without plastic.
We have sought to avoid over-packaging as much as possible. All our products are sold either in bulk or packaged in 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard. Our information is printed using totally biodegradable vegetable ink.
Our items are shipped in recycled paper envelopes or in completely plastic-free upcycled boxes.
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8) Delivered with a negative carbon footprint.
For the import of our bamboo toothbrushes, we practice sharing containers in order to use their smallest gaps. They would have remained unused without the addition of our products whose small volume allows them to be integrated into very small spaces.
We use rail transport and not air freight which is much more polluting. Rail transport takes longer but its environmental footprint is extremely small.
We ship your orders on foot via La Poste, which is located approximately 500m from our premises, and which is committed to carbon neutrality for the delivery of mail and parcels.
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9) Economical & durable.
Although slightly more expensive than traditional plastic toothbrushes, bamboo toothbrushes remain very affordable and economical.
A decreasing price is applied and allows you to save up to 25% by purchasing 4 items. In addition, a subscription system is offered to you on our online store and allows you to save an additional 15% on the price of your toothbrushes by having them delivered automatically at the frequency of your choice.
The average duration of use is the same as that of plastic toothbrushes, i.e. 2 to 3 months. But many of our customers use them for longer thanks to the quality of the soft nylon 610 bristles from the DuPont brand, very renowned in this field, which are very durable.
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10) A way to protect our oceans.
Each purchase contributes to financing eco-responsible initiatives helping to protect our oceans.
Let's introduce the Oceansrespect bamboo toothbrush:
THE HANDLE
The perfectly ergonomic handle is made of 100% biodegradable bamboo, from sustainable cultivation (FSC label).
It is heat treated to carbonize its surface to make it even more water resistant. Naturally rot-proof and antibacterial, it is very light and resistant.
HAIRS
DuPont quality bristles are made from 62% bio-sourced nylon 610 (castor oil). Without dyes, 100% recyclable and guaranteed without Bisphenol A, they are flexible and have rounded tips to protect your gums, as dentists recommend.
They are not 100% biodegradable. The only biodegradable material available today is pig bristle, but we love animals and for us this is not an option.
We therefore invite you to carefully remove them using tweezers or break the head of your brush for proper disposal.
PACKAGING & SHIPPING
We have sought to avoid over-packaging as much as possible. All our products are sold either in bulk or packaged in 100% recycled cardboard. Printing with water-based ink certified by the OEKO-TEX ECO-PASSEPORT guarantees its perfect biodegradability. It can be thrown away with your other organic waste.
Our products are shipped in recycled paper envelopes or in completely plastic-free upcycled boxes. Our deliveries are carbon neutral thanks to our partner, La Poste, which is committed to the neutrality of its carbon footprint for the delivery of mail and parcels.
ABOUT BAMBOO
Bamboo is extremely versatile and durable. It is the fastest growing plant in the world and regrows naturally after harvest without the use of watering, chemicals or harsh pesticides.
It is naturally antibacterial, antifungal and odor resistant. It is therefore perfectly hygienic in addition to being 100% biodegradable.
And the pandas? We use Moso bamboo which grows up to 28 meters high, so the leaves are out of the panda's reach. We love pandas!
WE ARE OVER-CERTIFIED, BECAUSE IT MATTERS
Our supply chain is certified by various particularly rigorous independent organizations.
Each of these certifications demonstrates that we strive to develop sound and more environmentally friendly environmental practices at every stage of the production process.
