There are over 22 million people in Australia. If each of them uses a toothbrush and changes it just twice a year, that's 44 million toothbrushes being (most likely) sent to landfill. If they weigh just 15 grams each, that's 660 tonnes of toothbrushes going to landfill each year. This is most likely a very conservative estimate. Most of these toothbrushes are made from plastic, which will not break down for centuries and is a waste of space and resources. The toothbrush might not have been something that you thought there would be 'eco' products for, but there are. In this post we'll look at the two different brands I know of that are available in Australia, and look at what they are made from and where you can get them from. It is important to also consider where they are made, how they are packaged and how far they are shipped as these are also things that impact the environment. I hope that you can find a toothbrush below that suits your needs while helping reduce our impact on the environment. Also remember to replace your toothbrush every 3 months minimum, or after you've been sick, to keep you and your teeth healthy! Talk to a dentist to learn more. The Environmental Toothbrush Made of: The handle and head are MOSO bamboo grown by 'local farmers' (in China). The bristles are made of a BPA free polymer. Packaging: Recycleable cardboard Disposal: Place it in the compost or in the bin, it will biodegrade. Options: Adult Soft/Adult Medium/Child Soft Cost: $36/12 ($3 each), free postage in AUS and NZ Website: http://environmentaltoothbrush.com.au/ Invented by: A Brisbane dentist The photo is of one of my Environmental Toothbrushes, I've been using them for over a year now. Jack n Jill Made of: The handle is 100% corn starch. The bristles are nylon. I am not sure where they are made or where the materials come from, however their silicone toothbrushes are made in China and their toothpastes are made in Australia (info based on their facebook page comments, screenshots below). Packaging: Recycleable cardboard Disposal: Break the head off, try to recycle it. Compost/throw out the handle. Options: Hippo/Rabbit (for children) Cost: $4.95 each plus postage Website: http://www.jackandjillkids.com/ Invented by: A Melbourne family Know of another brand that I haven't mentioned? Let me know in the comments or in a message and I'll add it to this list!
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Keira's Blog
This blog contains posts about my personal life, as well as feminism, gender, comics, eco-friendly products and other things I find interesting. My fiction/poetry works can be found here. All posts are written by Keira Edwards-Huolohan and belong to me. Please credit me if you share them. My pronouns are they/them. Archives
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