Description Bamboo toothbrushes are the new black. And with this Ecoelephant bamboo toothbrush, you also get black bristles to match! Now, you may say “Everything is the new black these days”… But at least the understated bamboo toothbrush looks trendy AND doesn’t leave a 400 year mark on the environment. And it works just as well as its plastic counterpart. A little rant: It’s estimated the world consumes more than 3.6 billion plastic toothbrushes every year, in which most of them end up in landfills and oceans, killing marine life, releasing microplastics into the waterways (microplastics have even been found in the ice in Antarctica) and releasing dangerous toxins into the air. Read more about the extent of microplastic in the ocean in our blog post. And that doesn’t even cover the damage to inland areas and inland waterways. Now you may think: “It’s easy, we should all just recycle our toothbrushes!” but the reality is that (1) most plastic toothbrushes are not recyclable to begin with, and (2) only around 30% of plastics that are sent for recycling, actually get recycled (recycling facilities often discard plastic waste due to complications in matching types, contamination and other practical factors). Add to that, that plastic is technically only down-cycled into structures of lesser integrity than the original item, meaning at the bottom of the recycle chain, it will necessarily end up as waste, somewhere (unlike glass, which can be infinitely and completely recyclable). So here’s the thing… Plastic production became mainstream in around 1940. And all of the plastic ever produced, is still with us, and will be, for the next couple of centuries. Worth it for an item that will last you 2 – 4 months, and that needs to be replaced ad infinitum? Ok, rant done – Enter bamboo toothbrushes. Bamboo is one of the fastest growing plants on earth. It is a sustainable renewable resource that needs little water and no pesticides to grow, and regenerates itself very fast (unlike most sources of wood). Being made from Moso bamboo, it does not rob the Giant Panda of its food source as it does not prefer to eat Moso. At the end of its useful life, you compost the handle (the bristles are not biodegradable, sadly, but can easily be eco-bricked). The Ecoelephant Adult Flat Handle Bamboo Toothbrush has soft black bristles. It is medium size, slightly smaller than the Natural Life curved handle alternative. The handle as well as the packaging is biodegradable and home compostable. A simple, effective swap away from plastic. Directions for use: Brush teeth as with a conventional toothbrush as recommended by your dentist, for 2 minutes twice per day. With proper care, bamboo toothbrush will last as long as any conventional plastic toothbrush. It’s suggested you rinse your toothbrush after cleaning your teeth, dry the handle with a towel and store it in an upright position in an open-air toothbrush holder or any other dry area. Dentists recommend replacing your toothbrush every 2 to 3 months or when the bristles have frayed out of shape. Materials: Sustainably grown Moso bamboo handle, biodegradable and home compostable Soft nylon bristles (for hygiene’s sake, nylon is recommended instead of natural fibres) Size and other specifications: Bristle strength – Soft Length – 17cm Packaging: Outer cardboard, biodegradable and home compostable Country of Origin: Made in China (PRC)
