When you hear the phrase 'zero-waste', what is the first thing that comes to mind? We are guessing a lot of people think about things like curbside recycling and avoiding foam coffee cups. Certainly, such thoughts are valid. But here at EcoFam, our thoughts are more centered on eco-friendly oral care.
Our eco-friendly products also qualify as zero-waste oral care. We believe they are an excellent choice for any family looking to practice a zero-waste lifestyle. If you are looking to minimize your impact on the environment in both big and small ways, zero-waste oral care is something to consider.
The Zero-Waste Mindset
The zero-waste lifestyle is anchored by a certain mindset, a mindset focused on reducing one's environmental impact by minimizing the amount of waste produced. It is a mindset that reaches nearly every aspect of daily life – including oral care.
Our daily oral health routines generate waste. It is unavoidable, at least to a certain degree. But zero-waste oral care keeps the waste to a minimum. That's our philosophy here at EcoFam. We follow the '5 Rs' of the zero-waste concept:
- Refuse – We refuse to participate in generating unnecessary waste by avoiding single-use plastics at every opportunity. Likewise, we keep plastic out of our compostable toothbrushes.
- Reduce – Wherever possible, we reduce our overall consumption of plastic. This applies to both our company and the people who make it work.
- Reuse – The zero-waste mindset encourages reusing materials whenever possible. EcoFam contributes through certain packaging materials that are fully reusable.
- Recycle – When recycling is both possible and practical, we do it. We encourage our customers to follow suit by packaging with materials that are recyclable.
- Rot – The 'rot' principle is all about composting. A zero-waste mindset looks to compost whenever possible. We take advantage of it here at EcoFam in both our products and our packaging.
It has been pointed out by more than one organization that the 5 Rs are hierarchical. This is to say that refusing to participate in generating unnecessary waste is the first and most important principle. It lays the foundation for all the others.
Tying It Into Oral Care Choices
The zero-waste mindset is probably attractive to most idealists who believe in sustainability and environmental protection. But how do we turn ideals into daily practices? By thinking through our choices. For example, we all make choices when it comes to oral care.
One of the more visible choices is the products we choose to clean our teeth. Traditional toothpaste is still the go-to choice for most consumers. But toothpaste is sold in single-use plastic tubes. When a tube is empty, it becomes part of the plastic waste stream.
EcoFam toothpaste tablets, sold in glass containers, are a better choice. Glass is both reusable and recyclable. It does not have to be thrown in the trash bin along with everything else. So as a choice, EcoFam toothpaste tablets are a better alternative to traditional toothpaste in tubes.
Plastic Packaging Is a Big Deal
What is known globally as the 'plastic problem' is related mainly to single-use plastics. Packaging plays a significant role in the problem. Plastic packaging is cheap to produce, durable enough to protect products, and easily molded into an endless number of shapes. But like the toothpaste tube, plastic packaging is a single-use product. It becomes waste as soon as the product in question is removed.
The EcoFam family believes strongly in a zero-waste lifestyle. If you agree, we encourage you to check out our oral care products. Our products represent zero-waste oral care we believe you can trust.
