It might seem easy to believe that oral health and environment are incompatible when we look at how we care for our teeth. But that is not the truth.
Besides turning off the water tap while brushing, which saves us an incredible 12 litres per time, there is another connection that all of us have – it revolves around toothbrushes.
Toothbrushes are an integral part of our daily lives. They clean our teeth twice a day, night and morning, for two minutes.
However, a toothbrush’s shelf life is relatively short. The theory is that each toothbrush should be used 180 times over a three-month period.
Sourcing high-quality plastics
For many reasons, plastics are an important material in toothbrushes. They can be moulded easily, are durable and easy to clean.
However, the environmental impact of manufacturing, transport, and disposability is well-known. We must reconsider our approach to plastics.
Recycled plastic is one of the most useful and common types of plastic. However, it may not be ideal for use in oral health products. It may contain harmful materials that should not be in direct contact with the mouth.
It’s unlikely that any recycled plastics will make it into toothbrushes. However, they can be great packaging options!
Current trends in oral health include the adoption of bio-based plastics and other renewable plastics.
These products are made from sugarcane and caster oil plants. This is a good thing. This helps to reduce our dependence on fossil-based plastics, and also creates a smaller carbon footprint.
Product life and carbon neutral
All of us have to take the challenge of tackling climate change and the consequences that come with global warming seriously. Carbon emissions are a major contributor to climate change. They cause shrinking water supplies, increased severity of weather and changes in the food supply.
This is the first step to reduce our carbon emissions and make our energy more sustainable.
TePe and the Oral Health Foundation are committed to achieving UN Goals of Climate Change. The latter will take on the challenge of reaching carbon neutrality in products, packaging, and services by 2022. This goal is admirable and other oral care suppliers and manufacturers should follow it.
To become carbon neutral, organizations must make fundamental changes to their business models. These are still being developed, but it is crucial that manufacturers consider how to extend the product’s life.
If we want to reduce plastic pollution, it is essential that we improve the sustainability of oral care products and extend their lifespan. It is essential to reduce waste.
Reusing plastics
The responsibility of prolonging the lifespan of your toothbrush is not just one that oral care companies must take on; it’s something that individuals and their families can do.
Our research shows that 4/5 (or 80%) of people use their old toothbrushes for an alternate purpose. This is great news for the environment.
The most common use of bathroom tiles is to scrub them (40%). Cleaning is the most popular theme. Nearly a third of us (28%) use our old toothbrushes to clean various kitchen appliances. More than a quarter (26%) use our jewelry to add glimmer and approximately one-in-five (18%) use the toothpaste to shine our shoes.
Cleaning car and bike wheels, computer keyboards and fish tanks are all popular uses. A clean sweep all-round!
After its cleaning of the teeth and gums, a toothbrush can be used for many other purposes around the house. Because of their superior quality and control, more toothbrushes have nylon bristles that are rounded.
Another factor that makes the toothbrush a powerful cleaning tool is its grip. The toothbrush’s handle should feel comfortable, unlike scouring pads that can be difficult to grasp, especially when wet.
It is easy to be more eco-friendly and extend the life of your toothbrushes by being better at recycling old plastics.