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There has been much discussion about Peak Oil over the years, which refers to the point when global petroleum production reaches its maximum. Since plastic is completely made from oil, Peak Plastic is also inevitable.

A book written in 2018 by American business professor, Jack Buffington, discusses this topic. Peak Plastic, according to Buffington, is defined as the point at which society’s marginal benefit from plastics is less than the negative impact on the environment. By 2030, Buffington predicts we’ll hit Peak Plastic. That’s not far off.

Conventional gasoline-powered cars are expected to disappear in the near future, and electric vehicles will take over. As society moves away from using petroleum as a fuel, it makes sense that we will also move away from using petroleum in the form of plastic in products and packaging.

In the end, plastic will soon be replaced with biodegradable and bio-based alternatives to the products that we use every day. Natural materials, such as bamboo, wood, and steel, as well as bioplastic, will be used as replacements. As with the gasoline-powered car, it won’t take long for the business landscape, the environmental situation, and consumer demand to reach a sweet spot.

Many people associate plastic toothbrushes with a throwaway culture created in the early 20th century. Plastic toothbrushes are only used for a short period of time, but they persist in the environment for thousands of years after they are discarded. According to Buffington, plastic toothbrushes were invented in the 1930s, and their popularity and existence will last about 100 years (from 1930 to 2030).

ECO-FRIENDLY TOOTHBRUSHES ARE THE FUTURE

Is it bad for the environment to use toothbrushes?

The way most of us brush our teeth now, the answer is an emphatic yes. Modern plastic toothbrushes are made up of petroleum-based components. Tobacco toothbrushes made from non-renewable and non-biodegradable materials can’t be produced and used indefinitely.

We have seen a growing popularity of bioplastic and bamboo toothbrushes as alternatives to plastic toothbrushes in the past decade. As the first company worldwide to manufacture bamboo toothbrushes, we are proud to be at the forefront of this movement. The bamboo toothbrush has become a symbol of zero waste.

Three reasons why eco-friendly toothbrushes are the future:

In our oceans, waterways, and landfills, plastic toothbrushes accumulate.

In conventional toothbrushes, nylon is used in the bristles, polycarbonate is used in the handle, PET is used in the see-through plastic packaging, and nylon is used in the bristles. You can’t think rationally about brushing your teeth with an instrument that is made entirely from a non-renewable resource (which pollutes and heats the planet simultaneously). It doesn’t matter how you look at it, petroleum-based plastic toothbrushes are on the way out.

There are already sustainable alternatives to plastic toothbrush handles.

The world used plant and animal parts to make toothbrushes before the plastic toothbrush came into existence in the 1930s. Europeans brushed with wood handles. Asians brushed with bamboo handles. They used bristles derived from plants and animals. Bamboo and wood are once again being used to make toothbrushes. Unlike wood, bamboo is much more sustainable and renewable than wood, making it a very promising material.

What makes bamboo an eco-friendly material?

A grass, bamboo regenerates, regrowths, and spreads much faster than wood. It is a member of the grass family.

As a result of its durability and hardness, bamboo is often referred to as “green steel”.

In the right conditions, bamboo can grow 3 feet in 24 hours, whereas trees may take 30+ years.

Bamboo absorbs twice as much carbon dioxide as trees and produces more oxygen (up to 30% more than most other plants).

What makes bamboo toothbrushes eco-friendly?

Unlike plastic toothbrush handles, bamboo toothbrush handles will biodegrade naturally. A bamboo toothbrush handle can decompose completely within three months, whereas a plastic toothbrush handle can linger in the environment for thousands of years depending on the level of soil activity.

Due to its durability and hardness, bamboo is often called “green steel” because it is a great replacement for plastic toothbrush handles.

Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial. The bamboo stalks themselves naturally prevent bacteria from growing on the bamboo surface. This makes bamboo an excellent material for hygienic products like toothbrushes.

Can bamboo toothbrushes be biodegraded?

The answer to whether or not bamboo toothbrushes are biodegradable is: it depends. This is dependent on the type of bristles they use. If they are made from pig hair, then the whole brush can decompose, however if the bristles are made from conventional nylon or biobased nylon, then only the bamboo part of the toothbrush will decompose. There’s a legal definition which states that for something to be considered biodegradable in the United States, it must fully break down within one year. This may seem peculiar, as some products may take longer to degrade but still eventually do so.

Is bamboo a better toothbrush?

The reason bamboo toothbrushes are better is that they are compostable and can decompose in as little as 3 months. Plastic toothbrushes can last for thousands of years before they break down, creating additional waste.

Bamboo toothbrushes are naturally anti-microbial. This means that they have a natural shield against germs, which a plastic toothbrush does not.

Additionally, they’re just as durable as plastic toothbrushes. You can easily use them for the 3-4 months recommended by dentists.

There are alternatives to plastic toothbrush bristles being developed.

Toothbrushes have long been made using nylon bristles, which are derived from petroleum-based fossil fuels. Recently however, 100% vegetable oil is emerging as a replacement that could drastically reduce our reliance on nonrenewable resources. These new alternatives will likely become the preferred material as we move towards an increasingly post-plastic society.

What are the advantages of natural bristle toothbrushes?

There are two answers to this question: NO if they’re made from animals, and YES if they’re made from plants. Previously, human bristles were made from plant and animal sources before nylon was invented.

Pig hair was used to make most of the toothbrush bristles prior to plasticization. In addition to its hardness and unevenness, pig hair is hollow on the inside, which means it can harbor bacteria if not properly cared for and cleaned between uses. Pig hair is dependent on animal farming, a practice with questionable and most likely negative impacts on climate change and land use.

Compared to conventional nylon toothbrush bristles, plant-based or bioplastic toothbrush bristles that are not derived from fossil fuels are softer and perform as well. In 2011, Brush with Bamboo introduced USDA Certified 100% Biobased 100% Plant-Based bristles for the first time.

Which toothbrush is the most eco-friendly?

A toothbrush made with bamboo handle and 100% bio-based or 100% plant-based bristles would be considered the most eco-friendly toothbrush. With USDA Certified 100% Biobased Bristles, an FSC® Certified Bamboo Handle, and 100% compostable packaging, Brush with Bamboo manufactures the most eco-friendly toothbrush in the world.

It is also possible to brush your teeth and mouth with eco-friendly neem sticks or miswak sticks. Both of these trees have traditionally been used to brush your teeth because of their naturally antifungal and antibacterial properties. Neem comes from India, while Miswak comes from the Middle East and Africa. Due to their extreme abrasiveness, modern dentistry does not recommend either for use on a daily basis.

How can I recycle my old toothbrushes?

If you’re using a conventional plastic toothbrush, the best way to dispose of it is to send it to the Terracycle® Oral Care Takeback program. Otherwise, most of these brushes are destined for landfills in western countries and can end up in waterways, landfills or even out in open areas if you live in a developing country. Sadly, 91% of the plastic waste we put into recycling bins isn’t actually recycled. This means your discarded toothbrush will more than likely become environmental waste and linger for thousands of years. It’s very possible that your descendants may even come across your old brush one day!

The bamboo handle of a bamboo toothbrush can be composted, as can the bristles of a Brush with Bamboo toothbrush if they are fully biodegradable.

Oral health in the future

The future of oral care must be sustainable. And the facts and realities of our current fossil fuel situation clearly indicate that future oral care will be sustainable. As the detrimental effects of drilling and using fossil fuels accumulate, eco-friendly toothbrushes will become an integral part of a renewable and regenerative future.

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