Why Compostable Toothbrushes Are Better for the Planet

Plastic toothbrushes are almost as ubiquitous as teeth. If you are like most people, you grew up using a plastic toothbrush. When it wore out you simply threw it away and asked your mother to buy you a new one. But there is a better way. That better way is the compostable toothbrush.

A compostable toothbrush is a biodegradable product that easily breaks down within a reasonable amount of time. Compostable toothbrushes are a greener choice for oral hygiene. We will explain why that is but let us first explore the environmental impacts associated with plastic toothbrushes.

Plastic Is Not Environmentally Friendly

There are more and less environmentally friendly ways to brush your teeth. A plastic toothbrush is on the less friendly side of things. Believe it or not, an estimated 1 billion plastic toothbrushes are thrown away in the U.S. every year. They all represent plastic waste going into landfills and incinerators or ending up in waterways.

Generating unnecessary plastic waste is only the beginning. Here are some of the other environmental impacts associated with plastic toothbrushes:

• Plastic toothbrushes don't break down very easily or quickly. Complete composition could take 100 years or longer.
• Due to their small size and odd shape, recycling plastic toothbrushes is very difficult. So we throw them away.
• Manufacturing relies on petroleum-based materials. Petroleum manufacturing contributes to greenhouse gases.
• Manufacturers consume a tremendous amount of energy and water to do what they do.

It's safe to say at this point that plastic toothbrushes are not environmentally friendly. In everything from manufacturing to transport to use and eventual disposal, plastic creates a number of challenges for nature.

Compostable Toothbrushes Are Greener

Whether it is EcoFam or another brand, compostable toothbrushes are a greener alternative to their plastic counterparts. They are less harmful to the environment from start to finish. Here's why:

• Biodegradable – By their nature, compostable toothbrushes are made using materials known to break down quickly. Cornstarch is but one example.

• Less Plastic – Consumers making the switch to compostable toothbrushes are taking plastic out of the waste stream. You can never go wrong by reducing your contributions to plastic waste.

• Greener Production – Manufacturing compostable toothbrushes relies on choosing certain materials. Renewable materials like bamboo and cornstarch are perfect.

• Fewer Emissions – Generally speaking, composable toothbrush manufacturing has less of an impact on the environment, especially where greenhouse gases are concerned.

Because compostable toothbrushes are made with natural materials, disposal doesn't have to be a headache. Anyone can toss a toothbrush into a compost bin as easily as tossing it into a garbage can.

The Start of a New Mindset

One of the things we like to remind customers of is the fact that switching to our products isn't just a choice. It is also an opportunity for you to begin a personal care revolution. Truly, switching to compostable toothbrushes could be the start of a whole new mindset for you.

A compostable toothbrush may seem terribly insignificant under the light of all the damage we do to the environment without thinking. But once you've been using a compostable toothbrush for a while, we're guessing that you'll start looking at some of your other product choices. Maybe there are other products you can swap out for more sustainable options.

Don't think that a single compostable toothbrush is of very little value. It's not. In fact, it can be a great steppingstone to help people get from a waste-oriented mindset to a mindset based on sustainability and eco friendliness. The EcoFam team is already on that journey. Will you join us?