Another plastic product that almost all human beings use and for which there are more sustainable alternatives is the toothbrush. One disturbing fact that I was recently reminded of is that every plastic toothbrush that has been created since 1938 still exists on this planet. On a personal note, this means that every toothbrush I used since I was kid is somewhere in the environment.
As such, I began searching for a greener option a few years ago. I found that the most popular alternative toothbrush material (excluding the bristles) is bamboo, but questions have also been raised about the sustainability of bamboo since it is becoming increasingly popular for a wide range of products. The following video provides a good introduction to this topic in terms of the advantages and disadvantages of bamboo.
An important point to make regarding bamboo (as well as almost all other bamboo, wood, and paper products) is that there is the risk that production of such products causes the clearing of virgin forests as well as land that may be important to various types of wildlife (e.g., panda bears) and indigenous populations. Look for bamboo toothbrushes that are certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (labeled as FSC-certified) to ensure the bamboo was sustainably grown and harvested. Also, the bristles, which are typically made of nylon, still need to be removed (using pliers) and disposed of prior to composting or burning a used bamboo toothbrush. Some toothbrushes are certified as containing bristles that are 100% bio-based (derived from non-fossil fuel sources) by the USDA.
On that note, there are several options for purchasing bamboo toothbrushes available on Amazon. If this is the first time you are using a non-plastic toothbrush, it will take one or two weeks to get used to the feeling. My family and I have been using them for the last few years, and we have no desire to go back to plastic. One fear regarding bamboo is that you will get splinters; none of my family has gotten one splinter in the time we have been using them. The toothbrushes we are using now are from "Brush with Bamboo" and are both FSC-certified and 100% bio-based certified and come in adult and kids sizes. And if you are also looking for a non-plastic option for floss, Brush with Bamboo has a natural silk floss in a glass container that works great. There are a number of other brands available as well; a quick internet search will reveal several different options.
Objective: Your objective is to purchase a bamboo toothbrush and try it out for at least one month. If you are ambitious, try silk floss as well. Both of these steps will help you get close to having a plastic-free bathroom. Good luck!
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