How to Responsibly Dispose of Your Bamboo Toothbrush

If you're reading this blog, it likely you've recently found out how many plastic toothbrushes are thrown in the bin each year. If you didn't already know, it's a lot. For reference, in the US alone, 1 BILLION are thrown out each year. That's just ONE country!

We all brush our teeth every day - twice a day if you're doing it right. For good hygiene and oral health, it's recommended that we swap out our toothbrushes every three months. At that rate though, we're on track to go through 300 toothbrushes in our lifetime. 

Plastic toothbrushes cannot be recycled because their small parts get stuck in machinery, and since plastic never fully biodegrades, it means that every single plastic toothbrush ever created is still on this planet today, and will remain on this planet forever.

So. Time to swap to a Bamboo Toothbrush, eh?

Here's what you need to know. 

You can compost the handle!

Our Kappi Bamboo Toothbrush handles are sustainable sourced as well as both Biodegradable and Home Compostable. That means that when it's time to change your toothbrush, you can pop the handle straight into your compost bin, garden or even use it as a plant stake!

The paint used on the bottom of our toothbrushes is a non-toxic water-based paint that won't effect your toothbrush's ability to biodegrade and it won't effect the soil either.

Your bristles might not be biodegradable. 

We spoke recently about choosing the lesser evil. This is one of those times -here's why. 

There are currently three types of bristles used in bamboo toothbrushes - Nylon, Boar and Biodegradable Vegan bristles. After much research and sample testing we opted for Nylon bristles instead of biodegradable bristles for their durability and value. While we would have loved to use vegan bristles, they actually start to break down after just 10 days of use. As Vegans, boar (pig) bristles weren't an option for us as they don't align with our ethical and sustainable values. So, Nylon bristles it is. 

We recommend snapping the head off your old toothbrush or pulling out the bristles when it's time to swap to a new toothbrush.

Bamboo is Sustainably sourced.

When grown in the perfect environment, bamboo (which is technically a type of grass) thrives and grows at a rate faster than most tree types. Certain crops can be replenished within a matter of months and its uses are extremely versatile, including construction, fashion and hygiene products such as the humble toothbrush. 

At Kappi know that being passionate about the planet shouldn’t always mean compromising on everyday luxuries. It’s just about doing things differently and with thoughtfully designed products that can help you live a more sustainable life for your benefit as well as the planet’s. All it takes is a few small steps to make a big difference and now is the perfect time to transition from a plastic toothbrush to the more eco friendly solution of bamboo.