Each year, people will throw away their old plastic toothbrush for a new one without realizing the impact that their old brush has on the planet. Many traditional toothbrushes contain plastic and rubber that take 400 years to decompose and become a threat to sea life, whilst also wasting our planet's resources. Although plastic can be recycled, around 91% of it isn't and ends up in landfills. In fact, experts estimate that there is enough plastic in landfills to create 2500 swimming pools.
The good news is that toothbrushes that are sustainable do exist.
Why Are Plastic Toothbrushes Unsustainable?
Around one million plastic toothbrushes are thrown away each year. These brushes end up in landfills, waterways and oceans.
Moreover, each year the planet's natural resources are depleted to create more single-use and less durable plastic for items that are even less durable. This is what makes plastic toothbrushes a big contributor to plastic waste. Some plastic toothbrushes are not recyclable due to the combination of materials they are made of. Hence, plastic toothbrushes can't be reused or recycled in a way that doesn't use unrenewable materials.
Why is Bamboo Better?
Bamboo toothbrushes are created from a natural, renewable material. Bamboo is sustainable because it is a renewable material that doesn't impact the environment in a negative way. Bamboo toothbrushes are also biodegradable. This means they decompose naturally within a few weeks as opposed to plastic which takes years. Bamboo doesn't produce any waste when recycled and 100% of it is decomposable.
Why Switch to Bamboo?
Bamboo toothbrushes are created from a natural, renewable material. Bamboo is sustainable because it is a renewable material and doesn't impact the environment in a negative way. Furthermore, bamboo toothbrushes are biodegradable. This means they decompose naturally within a few weeks as opposed to plastic which takes years. Bamboo doesn't produce any waste when recycled and 100% of it is decomposable.
If you're looking to be more green-minded making the switch from plastic to bamboo is a great place to start. If you want a great starter toothbrush, check out our biodegradable bamboo toothbrush.
Written by Haris Hussnain.