Cutting Waste: How Toothbrushes End up in Landfill

While many of us are passionate about reducing the amount of plastic we use, reusing whatever we can and ultimately recycling anything else, these changes often don’t go far enough to address the amount of waste that ends up in landfill. Toothbrush landfill is a huge problem, not least of all due to the sheer numbers that we’re dealing with.

The average person should use four toothbrushes a year if they replace them as advised by manufacturers, and it’s estimated that around 3.6 billion toothbrushes are used worldwide. Plastic takes anywhere up to 1000 years to decompose, and the sad fact is that up to 80% of the toothbrushes that are discarded make their way into our oceans and end up harming wildlife.

One of the most shocking and sad predictions is that by 2050 there will be more plastic in our oceans than marine life.

An alternative to toothbrushes in landfill

The key to making a change is to consider using a toothbrush that is made from alternative materials, such as bamboo and charcoal. Organically Epic’s range of ethical toothbrushes are made from bamboo sourced sustainably and the handle is 100% biodegradable, allowing you a tooth-brushing option which won’t ultimately end up in toothbrush landfill.

Why bamboo toothbrush handles?

Bamboo grows incredibly quickly, which means that it’s the perfect material to be used in this type of manufacturing as it replaces itself in a very short time. It also means that you have the peace of mind of knowing that you and your family aren’t using harmful plastics and chemicals to brush your teeth.

Although the charcoal-infused bristles are nylon-based, they can be recycled, making our toothbrushes a top choice if you’re looking to cut down on the waste you and your family is producing.

Other natural bristle options

There are other natural options when it comes to toothbrushes, such as boar bristles or badger hair, and although these are less damaging to our planet than plastic, they don’t carry the vegan credentials of our bamboo toothbrushes. Dentists also believe that bristles which are derived from animals are too abrasive and can eventually damage your tooth enamel.

Our bamboo toothbrushes are available for both adult and children sizes, with bristles ranging from firm to medium to soft, making it one of the only sustainable, vegan toothbrush ranges that caters for the whole family.