Are bamboo toothbrushes really sustainable and eco-friendly? Where do you make them? Are your toothbrushes made in China? Where does the bamboo come from? Where do you ship them from? Doesn't that have a huge carbon footprint? Why don't you use local British wood?
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These are all questions we have been asked more and more often in recent weeks. We want to be open and honest and answer these questions. So, here goes!
Yes, we make our bamboo toothbrushes with care in China. We aren't ashamed of this, and we don't try to hide the fact. Rather, we've made conscious decisions in order to make our toothbrushes as sustainable as possible environmentally, socially, and humanly.
We applaud customers who ask tough questions. Responsible consumers SHOULD be sceptical and ask questions to hold businesses to account for their choices - but we've also sometimes noticed a darker undertone of anti-China sentiment. Given what we know of our friends and partners in China, we feel this is very unfair!
At BAMWOO we make all our bamboo toothbrushes with care in a small family-run factory in Ninghai, China, a few hours on the bullet train away from Shanghai. We make them here because it is close to China's vast bamboo forests - the world's most sustainable source of mosu bamboo (side note: mosu is a tough and hardy species of bamboo which pandas DO NOT eat as they cannot digest it) - which means we don't have to transport the large poles far.
Despite the image some people in the West have of China, Ninghai is surrounded by beautiful nature, has some of China's first official hiking trails, and has hosted 5 Ultra-Trail World Tour running events.We source our mosu bamboo from China because it is a native species there, and grows incredibly fast without the need for extra fertiliser or water in the warm, wet, temperate climate - in fact it accounts for 74% of bamboo forest in China ().
Bamboo is a grass, not a tree, which is why it is a particularly sustainable material to use: it grows very quickly (the record is 90cm in 24 hours), matures within 3 years, and regenerates - so the plant is not destroyed and continues to grow after the poles are harvested. In fact, harvesting the poles on an annual cycle actually improves the health of the mother plant and forest, as the thinning allows more light through (important for photosynthesis) and creates room for further growth.
Caption: these bamboo poles will continue to grow
Why not grow bamboo in the UK or use local wood?
1. The species of bamboo we use does not grow well in the UK's cooler climate. It is possible to grow it on warmer and sunnier slopes in Cornwall, however even there it takes over 10 years to mature - it's simply less sustainable.
2. Trees grow even slower! Cutting down trees to produce toothbrushes would completely contradict our core 1 brush = 1 tree reforestation mission, and as a tree can absorb over 20kg of carbon dioxide per year, the reduced CO2 absorption would outweigh the emissions of shipping the finished brushes (see next section!).
3. Bamboo has natural antibacterial properties, and is simply more hygienic than wood for a product like a toothbrush, which will be twice-daily submerged in water and used inside your mouth.
We make our bamboo toothbrushes in a carefully selected facility in China, as it requires less resources to ship the finished brushes from there than it would to ship the whole bamboo poles, which can be many metres long (see section 4!).
The factory is small, clean, friendly, and family-run. Workers are paid at least double Chinese minimum wage, get several weeks of holiday per year, work normal 8 hour days with breaks - and critically for us have a fun and happy working environment!
Yes, this does mean our toothbrushes cost more than some others, but this is what we mean by social and human sustainability, which we consider just as important as environmental sustainability.
Caption: A happy and fun work environment in our family-run factory | ©Matt Clark/BAMWOO
I have personally visited and inspected the factory, and working conditions there are better than a number of places I have worked in myself in the UK and Europe. The notion that made in China = sweatshops, cheap labour and poor quality is simply not true!
We also take great care during production to minimise energy use and material waste. Much of the production is done by hand, and even the sawdust left over from shaping the handles is collected and re-used for cooking and heating.
Caption: Lots of ventilation in the shaping room ensures a comfortable work environment, and even the sawdust (visible on the walls and windows) from shaping the handles is collected and re-used | ©Matt Clark/BAMWOO
The absolute most important aspect of a toothbrush is how well it cleans teeth. It's no good making a biodegradable toothbrush if it is no good at cleaning teeth or wears out in a week - that is not sustainable.
Our key criteria for our bristles is proven cleaning effectivenesss and the best standards of oral hygiene, health standards, the durability to last at least two months of twice daily use (dentists recommend to change your toothbrush every two months), and affordability.
We made a decision to use BPA-free nylon-6 bristles for our toothbrushes, because currently there are no biodegradable options that meet the above requirements. The bristles therefore need to be removed before the brush is composted - find out how on our guide here: how to dispose of a bamboo toothbrush properly.
To give you some more detail, and the reasons for our decision:
The company is the world’s best Bamboo Toothbrush Supplier supplier. We are your one-stop shop for all needs. Our staff are highly-specialized and will help you find the product you need.
So in short, whilst not perfect, we feel we are using the best (and industry-standard) material available at the moment for the brushes' principle job of cleaning teeth properly, but we recognise (and are always looking for) that we need to find and use something better when possible.
From our factory, we then ship the finished brushes to our UK HQ in Norfolk, using an environmental-award-winning logistics company with their own carbon neutral commitment. Roughly brushes fit in a 1mx1m box - much less space, and therefore emissions, than shipping the full bamboo poles!
From our UK premises we post to customers using Royal Mail - firstly to support the beleaguered yet essential British postal service, and secondly because as RM deliver daily to most streets anyway we avoid the emissions of sending extra traffic by special courier.
All the packaging we use is recycled/able - even the padding in our envelopes is made of recycled paper fibres. No plastic bags, no plastic bubble wrap, just paper and card.
Our bamboo toothbrushes are a great step and easy change to reduce plastic waste, but reforestation and our 1 brush = 1 tree mission are also one of our biggest drivers.
We plant a tree for every single toothbrush that we sell, each of which can absorb over 20kg of carbon dioxide per year for every year of their life - that's WAY more CO2 in a single year than was involved in producing and shipping our brushes, multiplied by decades or potentially even hundreds of years. To date we have planted 72,232 trees, which sequester approximately 1.5 million kilograms of CO2 per year.
Caption: planting new trees in Nepal with our partners
When shopping for a toothbrush, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. So many shapes, colors, materials, and types. Do you stick with manual or go for electric? Plastic or bamboo? When thinking about all the different options, it’s easy to forget about the actual bristles of the toothbrush. You know, the part that’s making contact with your teeth, tongue, and gums.
Well, we’re here to tell you: your bristle choice matters.
Not all bristles are created equal, and not all should be used daily on your enamel and gums (especially if you brush too hard)! That’s why we’re taking a moment to cover why bristle quality and firmness makes a huge difference in your daily oral care routine, and why a bamboo toothbrush is the best option to sustain nature+you.
First, when picking out your bamboo toothbrush, you want to make sure you’re choosing soft bristles. Medium and hard toothbrush bristles can scratch your enamel, creating abrasions that leave your teeth more vulnerable to sensitivity, cavities, and gum recession. If you’re an aggressive brusher, this advice is even more important. We also recommend practicing mindfulness during your oral care routine, so you can focus more on easing up the force behind the brush.
Second, bristle quality is also essential. Many manufacturers out there will take shortcuts to increase production speed and decrease cost, and the result is low-quality bristles with sharp edges that can do major damage. If you’re using low-quality bristles, you’ll probably realize it right away. You may notice soreness around your gums, bleeding, or general discomfort as you brush.
Don’t worry, you can brush in peace knowing the soft bristles in our premium bamboo toothbrush are high-quality bristles that work to gently “exfoliate” and polish your teeth, distributing the amazing, bacteria-fighting and enamel-restoring ingredients of our toothpaste.
Davids premium bamboo toothbrush contains soft, high-performance, BPA-free bristles derived from castor oil while most toothbrush bristles on the market are made of plastic derived from petroleum oil. (Side note: many other self-care products such as lotions, lip moisturizers, and even candles contain oil derived from fossil fuels. Check out this article to learn how to spot these petroleum-based ingredients and start to clean up your self-care routine.)
What is castor oil? It’s an oil that’s derived from the seeds of a castor plant and contains numerous health benefits. It’s most famous for its soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. Simply applying it to your middle abdomen can aid your body in healing, digestion, and detoxification.
By using toothbrush bristles derived from castor oil, we avoid the potentially harmful effects that petroleum oil may have on your health and the health of the planet. We believe one of the easiest, most efficient ways to care for yourself and the planet is to ensure the products you use daily are actually sustainable for your health.
Along with being derived from a healthy plant source, the bristles in our bamboo toothbrush are also very soft and gentle, leaving your teeth feeling clean, fresh, and polished without any pain, discomfort, or long-term damage....even for you who brush hard!
In addition to the soft, high-performance bristles, the rest of our premium bamboo toothbrush packs some pretty amazing benefits too.
To make the most of your premium bamboo toothbrush, it’s important to prioritize proper care. For example, it’s important to rinse your bamboo toothbrush bristles thoroughly before and after every use. Be sure to store it in an open-air holder that’s positioned in a dry area. Closed containers may give the illusion that it’s “protecting” the toothbrush from outside bacteria, but closing your wet toothbrush in an airtight container can actually allow bacteria to fester after use. Let your bamboo toothbrush air dry! Lastly, try to resist brushing too hard. The soft, high-quality bristles will go a much longer way if you let them do the work. Plus, your gums and enamel will thank you!
If you still find yourself brushing too hard or experiencing general sensitivity, we highly recommend brushing with our sensitive + whitening hydroxyapatite toothpaste. The nano-hydroxyapatite (n-Ha) particles penetrate and bond to your enamel, filling any holes, scratches, or imperfections that might lead to your tooth’s center nerve (causing sensitivity). The nano-hydroxyapatite particles remineralize weakened areas to strengthen your enamel against daily wear and tear.
Our premium bamboo toothbrush + hydroxyapatite toothpaste can work wonders for your long-term oral and overall health.
Contact us to discuss your requirements of Microfiber Toothbrush. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.