10 Best Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes (2022)
Every plastic toothbrush ever made still exists on the planet. With more than 5 billion plastic toothbrushes being produced every year, that is a lot of waste. Every year, the United States throws away more than 1 billion toothbrushes creating 50 million pounds of waste.
This is where bamboo toothbrushes come into play. They are a sustainable, renewable, convenient swap to make. A bamboo toothbrush is made the exact same way a plastic toothbrush is, meaning there is no difference in functionality.
If you are looking to make the switch, there are many options out there for bamboo toothbrushes. This list is not extensive by any means, but here are a few companies, their sustainability practices, and the materials used in their wooden toothbrushes.
1. Brush with Bamboo
Brand Story
Brush with Bamboo was founded in 2011 and is the world’s first plant-based toothbrush. The company is stationed in Los Angeles, California. They are passionate about improving human and environmental health. Brush with Bamboo’s products is made with sustainably farmed bamboo and biobased products. None of their products contain fossil fuels. All of Brush with Bamboo’s products are Verified BPA-Free, Vegan, Non-GMO, Gluten-Free and Non-toxic.
Sustainability Practices
Brush with Bamboo thought of everything. The packaging is made with 100% paper and will biodegrade. They boast many certifications on their website, including USDA Certified Biobased, meaning their products are not made with fossil fuels. They are a Green America Certified Business meaning they conform to a high standard of “business ethics, social responsibility, and environmental responsibility.” They are an FDA Registered Business, Forest Stewardship Council Certified, and a Plastic Pollution Coalition Member.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The handle of the toothbrush is made entirely out of giant Moso Bamboo. The bristles are made from castor bean oil and are USDA Certified 100% Biobased. There are absolutely no fossil fuels in the bristles of this toothbrush. They also have a bamboo toothbrush travel case and a bamboo countertop toothbrush holder if you’re in the market for some accessories.
2. The Humble Co.
Brand Story
The Humble Co. was founded in 2013 by dentist Noel Abdayem. They are based in Sweden, but their products can be found in more than 40,000 stores and dental clinics worldwide. All of their products are designed and manufactured under the supervision of a team of dentists.
Sustainability Practices
They are certified vegan, cruelty-free, Forest Stewardship Council, and more. They are also an FDA Registered company. They created the Humble Smile Foundation to give comprehensive oral care to children around the world. They donate products and money to help children in lower-income areas receive the proper dental care.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The toothbrush handle is made from 100% sustainably-grown bamboo, and the bristles are made of nylon-6 bristles from Dupont. The bristles come in all different colors, so you can choose your favorite. The packaging is eco-friendly and can be composted.
3. EcoRoots
Brand Story
EcoRoots was founded in Aspen, Colorado. They offer a wide range of eco-friendly alternatives such as bamboo toothbrushes, dental floss, and safety razors. The company supports other small businesses by carrying their products on their platform.
Sustainability Practices
They are a 1% for the Planet member, meaning they contribute at least one percent of their annual sales to environmental causes. Their products are carefully analyzed. They are vegan, cruelty-free, and packaged in compostable or recyclable materials.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The toothbrushes they carry are made with a 100% bamboo handle with soft nylon bristles. Bamboo is naturally antimicrobial, anti-fungal, and anti-bacterial. It is also a fast-growing plant, making it a renewable and sustainable resource.
4. Isshah
Brand Story
Isshah is based in China. Their website says they began their low-waste journey when they saw pictures of plastic hurting animals. Now the website offers toothbrushes, dental floss, and cotton swabs.
Sustainability Practices
Their packaging and shipping materials are stated to be 100% recycled and biodegradable, but there is not much information about the company easily accessible on their website.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The toothbrushes are made with a bamboo handle and BPA-free nylon bristles.
5. Bite
Brand Story
Bite is a woman-founded company. Lindsay McCormick began looking for a more sustainable option for toothpaste in 2018. Since then, the company has grown to include more than the original toothpaste tablets. They now sell toothbrushes, whitening gel, dental floss, and deodorant.
“Bite was founded on the belief that a brighter smile doesn’t need to come at the expense of our bodies or the environment. Our daily habits matter and the small changes we make together can add up to something big.” – Lindsay McCormick.
Sustainability Practices
They use glass bottles for their toothpaste tabs, and the refills come in 100% home compostable pouches. The bottles and refills are mailed in either boxes or envelopes. The boxes are made of fully recyclable corrugated cardboard and sealed with paper tape. They use kraft envelopes padded with post-consumer recycled newspapers too.
Bite is certified cruelty-free, vegan, and palm oil-free. They are a carbon-neutral company and are in the process of becoming B-Corp certified, according to their website.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The handles are made from Moso Bamboo, a renewable resource that’s grown without any added chemicals or pesticides. Bite makes their toothbrushes with a detachable head for easy travel and less packaging. The bristles are m./ade of 100% castor bean oil.
6. Life Without Plastic
Brand Story
Life Without Plastic launched in 2006. They started with just a couple of products: glass and stainless steel baby bottles and a few stainless steel food containers. The company now offers more than 450 unique, plastic-free products.
Sustainability Practices
They are Green America Certified. They also have extensive information about the sustainability of every product they carry on their website.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The toothbrushes sold on Life Without Plastic’s website are 100% compostable. They are made from sustainably harvested beechwood and disinfected boar hair. The wood handle is preserved with linseed oil. The boar’s hair is a byproduct of the meat industry in China and is thoroughly disinfected before being made into toothbrushes.
7. Georganics
Brand Story
Georganics was founded in 2014 as an all-natural toothpaste company. Since then, the company has grown from a stall at a farmer’s market to a brand known worldwide. They now carry a large selection of non-toxic and sustainable oral care products.
Sustainability Practices
Georganics boasts many certifications on its website. They are certified vegan, cruelty-free, and members of 1% for the Planet, just to name a couple. All of their packaging are plastic-free and biodegradable, recyclable, or reusable.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
They carry two types of toothbrushes. One is made of beechwood and BPA-free nylon bristles. The wood can be composted, and the toothbrush head can be broken off and recycled with Terracycle. The other toothbrush they carry is electric. The handle is made of plastic; the bristles are made of BPA-free nylon and a lithium battery.
8. Me Mother Earth
Brand Story
Me Mother Earth is a husband and wife team that started the company with a collapsible straw kit. Their website now has many more products available, and they say they are continuing to add new products.
Sustainability Practices
Antonio and Amanda test out all of the products they sell before putting them on the shelves, and Me Mother Earth donates to ocean conservation and other environmental organizations. All of their products are planet-friendly and shipped in compostable packaging.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
Their toothbrushes are made from 100% renewable bamboo. The bristles are made from castor oil and infused with charcoal. They are packaged in a kraft paper box.
9. Mama P
Brand Story
Mama P started the company with bamboo toothbrushes and a mission to offer affordable, eco-friendly alternatives to everyday products while also supporting environmental and social justice groups. The lineup of their products has expanded from toothbrushes. They now offer an array of products, including shampoo bars, laundry detergent strips, and dishcloths.
Sustainability Practices
Pick your color; pick your cause. Every purchase gives back 5% to ocean conservation, mental health resources, saving pollinators, women’s health, resources for LGBTQ+ youth, and criminal justice reform. They are 1% for the Planet members and offset their carbon emissions.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
The toothbrush handles are made with bamboo and are 100% compostable at the end of their life. The bristles are nylon bristles and should be thrown away or recycled with Terracycle. All of the packagings they use in their products and for shipping is plastic-free. Mama P also carries cotton travel cases for their toothbrushes. They are great for travel because the material “breathes,” allowing the toothbrush to dry out between uses, and they can be tossed in the washing machine.
10. Greenzla
Brand Story
The website does not have a clear brand story. The about page has information about their sustainability practices and how those make them different from other companies, but it does not say anything about where the company is based, who runs it, or how they got started.
Sustainability Practices
They have a lot of information on their website about the zero-waste movement and their participation in reducing waste in our world. However, it looks like these bamboo toothbrushes can only be purchased on Amazon. If that’s what you’re looking for, then great. Amazon is not known for having the best sustainability or ethical practices, but it does have almost everything a person could think of to order.
Materials Used in Toothbrush
Greenzla uses sustainably sourced bamboo for its toothbrush handles. The bristles are made from BPA-free nylon and infused with activated charcoal. You can also add a bamboo toothbrush travel case to your order to make sustainable travel easier. Their packaging is also listed as recyclable and biodegradable.
Final Thoughts
There are a plethora of options when it comes to choosing a bamboo toothbrush. This list is by no means comprehensive, but hopefully, it will give you a few good options to choose from.
Billions of toothbrushes are thrown away every year. The American Dental Association recommends replacing your toothbrush every three months. That is four toothbrushes per person, per year, every single year. This does not include the waste from toothpaste.
More than 50 Empire State Buildings worth of toothpaste tubes are tossed in the trash every year. Many of the companies listed in this article will have sustainable toothpaste options too.
Bamboo toothbrushes are a more sustainable option than plastic, but most of them are not completely waste-free. When a bamboo toothbrush is at the end of its life, the heads with nylon bristles should be broken off and thrown away. The handle can then be composted or burned.
If you are looking to get more use out of your bamboo toothbrush, there are a few ideas out there. Old toothbrushes are great to clean small, hard-to-reach places. They also make great all-natural plant markers to use in a garden. Break off the bristles, use a marker to write the name of the plant, and stick the handle in the dirt.
Many of these companies use the same or similar materials to make the toothbrushes, so choosing where to buy your products comes down to more than the raw goods. Many consumers are starting (or have for years) to pay attention to more than just the products but to the company itself. Having a page about sustainability practices and how a company is working to save – or at least not harm – the planet is becoming more commonplace.
Jane Goodall said it best: “You cannot get through a single day without having an impact on the world around you. What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” We, as consumers, have so much power to choose what type of world we live in. We vote with our money every day. Let’s vote to make the world a better, less plastic-filled place.
