Toothbrushes, revealed Agricultural entrepreneur Yogesh Shinde to Better India (the online portal), are among the most significant contributors to plastic waste, following plastic bags. He said that over 150 million plastic toothbrushes are discarded every month. Since the handles, as well as the bristles, are made of petroleum-based plastic, they remain on the earth for thousands of years.
The question is what can we do about it? Fortunately, social entrepreneurs have been looking for answers to this question around the world and have come up with solutions:
Recycled toothbrushes
They are made from recycled plastic (the handles) and can be re-recycled. Ultimately they still have the disadvantages of plastic and will eventually end up in a landfill. The packaging may also include plastic unless the organization you are buying from has taken this into account. The heads of some of these brushes are replaceable and often, recyclable.
Radius toothbrushes (at $4 upwards) are a good place to begin. They ship to India as well .
Toothbrushes with biodegradable handles
There are some companies that make toothbrush handles out of bamboo while working on including bio blends into the bristles (such as plant-based oils, like the one made by Brush with Bamboo), which may not be biodegradable.
Brush with Bamboo toothbrushes, which come in a paper box, are available at over Rs 1,278 for a pack of four. There are also toothbrushes made from compostable bioplastic or cellulose, which is a type of plastic generated from plants and vegetable-based nylon bristles. Radius has these brushes as well, but they are known to be packaged in plastic. These are also available (made by Bamboo India) at Amazon.com for Rs 100 upwards (per brush).
Plastic-free toothbrushes
The only totally biodegradable, plastic-free toothbrush that is available in the markets today is one made with sustainably harvested wood and pig hair (not recommended for vegans and vegetarians). The packaging on this is also eco-friendly. And the only completely eco-friendly (non-toxic, biodegradable, Carbon footprint-free) option for vegetarians is a chewable neem stick. This is a practice that has been followed by our ancestors, for centuries. The pig hair brushes are available at Life Without Plastic and will include shipping charges for India. Neem sticks, on the other hand, are available on Amazon for Rs 70 upwards.
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