Introduction
Every week that passes I continue to notice a rise in the amount of people I know and even those I don’t, such as celebrities and influencers, becoming more environmentally aware and taking steps to restore our ecosystem to its full glory.
It’s hard to imagine that every time you purchase a plastic toothbrush you are contributing to a huge global waste crisis. It is estimated that by 2050 our oceans will be filled with more plastic than fish, with an average amount of toothbrushes being thrown away being around 260 million annually in the UK should this really come as a surprise to us?
It takes up to 1000 years for a plastic toothbrush to completely decompose. So, if you think about it, the toothbrush you had as an infant is probably still sitting around in a landfill somewhere.
Do you want to reduce your eco footprint but are unsure where to start? Well look no further because here at Go Eco Love we have the perfect tool to help you out. Bamboo toothbrushes are an effective way to put a stop to the number of plastic toothbrushes you have been disposing of throughout your lifetime.
Origin and Growth
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, and it doesn’t need the assistance of fertilisers or pesticides in order to help it grow. This elegant plant grows in certain Asian, African and Latin regions. However, China is the largest producer as well as exporter of Bamboo.
This doesn’t seem like much of a coincidence when you find out that around 800 years ago the Chinese constructed the bamboo toothbrush using animal hairs as bristles.
Environmental and 5 Health Benefits
- Unlike plastic, bamboo is a plant, so it doesn’t take hundreds of years to decompose. In fact, if you were to put it in a home composting bin it would only take 4 months to completely decompose. This could really help fight the large amounts of wastage created by plastic toothbrushes.
- Bamboo toothbrushes can be manufactured with a range of different bristles therefore can be suitable to a variety of people with different needs. Some bristles may contain low percentages of plastic, others can be nylon, and some are manufactured with the hairs from boars.
- Bamboo toothbrushes are more hygienic than their plastic rivals as they possess antibacterial properties. As long as you allow your brush to dry properly bacteria will not be an issue.
- Toothbrushes made from bamboo are generally BPA free. This means you won’t have to worry about harmful chemicals affecting your health.
- Certain types of bamboo toothbrushes have activated charcoal in their bristles which will help leave you with whiter teeth.
Bamboo toothbrushes are available to purchase from the product section of Ego Eco Love’s store. Just as a regular toothbrush your bamboo toothbrush still needs to be replaced every 3 months or when you can see that the bristles are becoming damaged. If you feel like making your first step towards a sustainable lifestyle, check out our shop now!