Billions of toothbrushes are thrown every year. How can we brush our teeth in a more environmentally friendly way?
When I worked in an office, I kept a manual plastic toothbrush in the drawer of my office. My colleagues found it fun to see me rushed to the bathroom, toothbrush in hand, every afternoon, after lunch. At home, I had an electric toothbrush. I have always taken care of my teeth, but ask me about the brand of my toothbrush, the composition of its materials or its environmental impact, and I cannot answer you. My relationship with my toothbrush was limited to its ability to clean my teeth. I don't think I'm the only one. fiber bristle brush
According to the American Society of Dentaine Medicine, the toothbrushes must be replaced every three or four months, or even more often if the hairs are effilossed.
Given the omnipresence of the toothbrush (billions of brushes are used and thrown each year), a group of researchers from the University College London (UCL) Eastman Dental Institute and the Trinity College of Dublin recently published a Joint report aimed at comparing the sustainability of different types of toothbrushes. They compared manual plastic toothbrushes, manual plastic toothbrushes with replaceable heads, bamboo toothbrushes and electric toothbrushes, using a life cycle analysis (ACV) to take into account All the aspects of the "life" of a toothbrush, from its creation to its rebuilding.
Polypropylene, a plastic derived from fossil fuels, used to make the two types of plastic brushes, had the most important impact on the environment, when analyzing the life cycle of brushes. In its "global prospects for plastics", the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) estimates that around 380 million tonnes of plastic waste is produced each year worldwide, of which 43 million tonnes come from consumer products . About 14 million tonnes of this waste, or 3.7 % of the total plastic waste, consists of polypropylene.
As for the electric toothbrush, its impact on the environment is 11 times higher than that of the bamboo toothbrush, according to the analysis of the life cycle. It obtained the worst results in all categories, except one (water shortage), and transport (due to its higher weight) was the largest contributor to its global environmental impact.
But if the electric brush arrives in the last position, which brush comes first? Oral hygiene has not been taken into account in the equation, the report and the NHS saying that there is no evidence that a type of toothbrush is more effective clinically for cavity prevention , although the electric brushes are more effective in eliminating dental plaque, partly thanks to the technique, the integrated timing device and more agile heads. (To find out more about how to brush your teeth properly, read this article by Martha Henriques).
The study of the UCL and the Trinity College showed that manual plastic toothbrushes with replaceable head came to the lead, followed very closely by bamboo. It may seem surprising that the plastic toothbrushes - even those with a replaceable head - are more durable than those in bamboo, since bamboo grows quickly in difficult conditions and that it constitutes a natural carbon well.
"Bamboo toothbrushes can prevent the land from being used at a better escient, for example to increase biodiversity or to grow trees in order to compensate for carbon emissions," explains Paul Ashley, co -author of the study and Professor of pediatric dentistry at UCL, about these results. "It is therefore not necessarily the best option for the environment, contrary to what is generally believed. It is however important to note that its [impact on the climate] remains much lower than that of conventional toothbrushes and electric. "
Patrick Verkland, Managing Director of The Humble Co, a Swedish company that makes bamboo toothbrushes and plant -based, explains that working in close collaboration with its suppliers, he ensures that bamboo is cultivated in the Respect for the surrounding ecosystem and that it does not prevent on land essential for biodiversity or food production.
"The biodegradability of bamboo makes it a separate material for toothbrushes, because it decomposes naturally when you get rid of it properly," explains Mr. Verkland. "On the other hand, most plastic toothbrushes persist in the environment for centuries if they are not entirely recycled - a process that remains a huge challenge on a large scale."
About 60 % of the toothbrushes of The Humble Co are 100 % vegetable (the objective is that all the sleeves are fully vegetable in the next twelve months). The others have a small amount of plastic, while the hair is made with nylon, a plastic component that the company seeks to replace with other solutions, which it is currently studying, explains Mr. Verkland.
While trying to design a sustainable electric toothbrush, Gyve Safavi, founder and managing director of the Suri company, based in the United Kingdom, came up against a problem. He was looking for the possibility of recycling replaceable plastic toothbrush and, when he addressed different recycling sectors in the United Kingdom, they replied that "the heads can be recycled but that They are too small to be treated, and that they do not do it ".
Safavi encountered the same obstacle when he looked for manufacturers capable of creating a toothbrush that can be opened by users. The manufacturers were first incredulous, not understanding why he wanted a reparable toothbrush.
But he found solutions to these two problems. Suri toothbrush heads are made from corn starch and its hair from castor oil. Customers can return the used heads to Suri in a prepaid envelope so that they are recycled. The brand will also take up all the brushes at the end of life. "We have designed our brush [with a battery] which lasts two to three times longer than most conventional electric toothbrushes on a single load. This means that it must be recharged less often, which considerably extends the duration of the battery life and, therefore, that of the toothbrush, "explains Mr. Safavi. "We demonstrate them and recover all possible materials. The batteries cannot be reused, but we can recycle them to obtain the best raw components possible." According to a report by British magazine which?, Suri "seems to have one step ahead of other products on the market in terms of environmental respect".
Sophie Thomas, expert in circular design and invited teacher at the Royal Academy of Engineering, UCL, believes that "the SURI rechargeable electric toothbrush is undoubtedly a step in the right direction, with better recharge, repair services - A great way to understand the current failures of these products - and a head recycling system ".
"The carbon impact of an electric toothbrush is mainly linked to engine and battery materials, so that longer they will work and will be repaired, the better it will be," she explains.
In their current plastic form, toothbrushes will never enter the large -scale recycling system, adds Ms. Thomas. On average, a plastic toothbrush is made up of four types of co-mounted polymers that cannot be recycled in the same flow.
"Recycling is always a matter of economy," she explains. "The toothbrushes are made from PEHD (high density polyethylene), which are so cheap that they have no value. We must stop depending on plastic and find real replacement solutions for products for single use and short lifespan.
Brett Duane, associate professor in public dental health at Trinity College, and principal researcher of the report, says that even recycled plastic is problematic.
A 2023 study revealed that 13 % end in the form of microplastics in wastewater after the recycling process, according to him. "We need a product [made from materials] which can be cultivated naturally and then recycled several times to allow land use for other purposes, and recycling of non -fossil fuel products is So the way to follow, "explains Mr. Duane. "I think plastic recycling still poses important problems."
In my local supermarket, looking at the rays filled with toothbrushes, there were no electrical versions making environmental declarations and only the Sonic Lite (£ 35, $ 45) rivaled with Suri (£ 75, $ 97) In terms of design. Regarding manual brushes, the two brands that are distinguished from the majority of plastic products are The Humble Co, which offers two brushes for £ 3 (around 2,500 CFA francs) with a handle made from a mixture materials of vegetable origin and polypropylene, and nylon hairs. Another option offered a "100 % biodegradable bamboo handle from sustainable culture" and nylon hair for £ 4 (around 3,000 CFA francs). For £ 6.95 (approximately 4,200 CFA francs), Tepe Choice offers a manual brush with a reusable wooden handle, replaceable faces made from plants and hairs made from castor oil - and "80 % less plastic waste ". I decided to try the latter because of its reusable round and its replaceable heads (the type of brush that came at the top of the study), but without all the plastic, and I was satisfied with the results .
I now find it difficult to justify the purchase of a plastic toothbrush - even with replaceable heads - while there are much better options on the market. It is true that the consumer must demonstrate a certain vigilance, in particular by checking the references of bamboo or other materials not using fossil fuels.
Even the authors of the UCL and Trinity College report have admitted that, since they started their study, new materials for toothbrushes have appeared on the market and that it is therefore necessary to continue research. They pointed out that electric toothbrushes with aluminum handle rather than plastic were the next generation of electric brushes. In addition to its renewable materials and recycling capacities, which struck me in the overrier toothbrush, it is its well thought out design. With its fine aluminum body, it represents a third of the size of a standard electric toothbrush. And even bamboo toothbrushes are more aesthetic than those in plastic. Perhaps if more brands took more care to their toothbrushes - whether it is to reject the status quo of fossil fuels in favor of better materials or to create a desirable product - then more consumers would attribute them A value, rather than considering toothbrushes as the disposable articles that they are so often designed to be. I will not fail to do it.
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