Can a Toothbrush Save the Planet?

Can a toothbrush save the planet? Well, not exactly, but the team behind WooBamboo, the maker of eco-friendly toothbrushes, floss and soon-to-be host of related products, believe it’s is a darn good place to start.

The Cape Coral-based company sprung from a stray comment uttered by an 80-something-year-old Australian woman to her son, Steve Hyde, while joking about her other son’s never-ending quest to build a bamboo bicycle.

“(Steve’s) mom goes, ‘You should do something with bamboo, like a toothbrush or something,’” recalls Hyde’s friend and business partner, Christopher Fous. Something about that clicked. Hyde took to Google, checking to see if such a product existed, found almost nothing and then called Fous, who responded, “That’s dumb.”

But then Fous, whose background is in media and design, started looking around. “I’m at Publix and I see this sea of toothbrushes … and then I realize, none of these would be our competition because all I see is plastic. Everything is plastic—future garbage. Every toothbrush that you’ve ever used and I’ve ever used in our entire lives is still sitting somewhere. It hit me—that eureka moment.”

Fous and Hyde roped in a third friend, Tom Burt, and the trio launched WooBamboo on Earth Day 2013, handing out 10,000 toothbrushes on the streets of New York. “People were freaking out. You would think we were handing out iPads. It was weird. We looked at each other and thought maybe we’re on to more than we thought,” Fous says.

As of last summer, WooBamboo had produced its millionth toothbrush, tallied 8,000 retail stores worldwide (including biggies like Target and CVS), developed a biodegradable silk floss and was close to launching a line of all-natural toothpastes with funky flavors: sweet cinnamon, vanilla mint, toasted marshmallow. Not bad for a trio of guys who had no knowledge of oral hygiene, no experience in international trade, no training in distribution channels.

“I think the fact we didn’t have any experience actually worked to our advantage because we didn’t know any better,” Burt says.

“If you don’t know the limitations,” Fous adds, “sometimes there aren’t limitations.”

The founding trio is meticulous in its sourcing and deliberate in the company’s growth.

“Before we even did business with (a Chinese manufacturer), we sent a friend of mine over that speaks fluent Mandarin but didn’t tell them he speaks fluent Mandarin, just to make sure they are on the up-and-up. We want to rise up, but not by stepping on anybody else,” Fous says. Hyde has twice paid follow-up visits.

Ostensibly, WooBamboo is a toothbrush company, but its core mission runs much deeper. The founders want the twice-daily habit of brushing teeth to remind WooBamboo users that small individual changes can amount to a big collective impact. They also hope switching to a biodegradable toothbrush triggers changes in other habits: food choices, energy use, purchasing decisions.

“I know we’re not a toothbrush company because toothbrushes are not what I’m obsessed about,” Fous says. “Floss doesn’t keep me up at night. But I’m obsessed with this idea of inspiring the world. Everything we do is geared toward that.

“Everyone can make a difference with the products they buy. Endorsing a product is like casting a vote. Every dollar you spend is a vote cast.”

Oh, Bamboo. You’re Awesome

Bamboo, in case ya didn’t know, is a super-fast growing plant (grass) with immense economic uses. Over the years, the bamboo plant has been put to good use in constructions, clothing production, furniture making, decorations, and culinary, among others.

The eco-friendly, biodegradable, and high renewable rate (it takes about five years to re-grow when cut down) of the bamboo has seen it play an important role in global action towards limiting the impact of household products on the 21st-century environment. These concerns have led to exploitation and use of the bamboo in oral care, construction, clothing, furniture, and other applications.



 

Of particular importance is the use of bamboo in oral care. More specifically, the production of toothbrushes with bamboo, which we do at WooBamboo. Tonnes of disused plastic toothbrushes fill up oceans and landfill sites worldwide. They are neither biodegradable nor are they eco-friendly. They, therefore, create a problem for the environment. There are over 7 billion people in the world. If half that population (conservative estimate) use toothbrushes with plastic handles, which they do, it gives you a picture of how much impact non-degradable products have on our environment.

Revolutionary products like the bamboo toothbrush have brought to the fore a unique use of the bamboo, never before explored. Aside from environmental considerations, the use of bamboo in oral care speaks of man’s ingenuity. The bamboo toothbrush is unique and handy, with a sleek feel.

The bamboo is also widely used in construction due to its ability to resist compression and tension, which it does better than wood and concrete. There have been houses made entirely of bamboo. The high renewable rate of the bamboo ensures there is a constant supply as demanded. In rural Asian and African societies, the bamboo is used in constructing bridges. It is also employed for scaffolding when constructing high-rise buildings. If you need to reinforce concrete, consider the bamboo a quality option.

Bamboos provide a good material for flooring. When properly treated, it lasts as long as wood does. If you want something unique and beyond the traditional, you need to give serious thought to bamboo floors. Bamboos are used in flooring due to its durability and strength coupled with its ability to resist insect attacks and moisture. The bamboo goes through a few processes such as being sliced into thin strips, boiled, dried, and glued before it gets ready to be used for flooring. To the eco-friendly person, bamboo floors are a beauty to behold.

Are bamboos used for clothing? That sounds strange. However, as a testament to human ingenuity, the bamboo is a raw material for the textile industry. Rayons (regenerated cellulose fibres) are made from bamboo fibres, which are short. However, this process involves different stages of chemical additions.

With global concerns over rapid deforestation in world’s forests, the bamboo provides an alternative to hardwood in furniture construction and decorations. Its rapid regenerative and renewable rates make it a viable option. Unlike hardwood that is a tree, the bamboo is a grass that grows pretty fast. Bamboo furnitures are durable, and resistant to swelling and shrinking. Do you have an eye for aesthetics? Consider bamboo furniture and decorations. It’s a mix of art and construction.

As research progresses, it is certain that more applications will be found for the bamboo. At present, its applications are beautiful. The bamboo toothbrush is eco-friendly, biodegradable and sleek; and WooBamboo, is eco-conscious and eco-compliant.

How to choose an eco-friendly toothbrush.

One product we use on a daily basis which is nearly always manufactured from plastic is our toothbrush. typical plastic toothbrushes weigh around 18 grams. On average, we every use some 300 toothbrushes throughout our lifetime. This means, that every folks throws away five kilos of plastic into the rubbish, that then winds up contaminating the environment.

In Europe, around two billion toothbrushes are sold annually, these be converted into some thirty six,000 tonnes of non-recyclable waste. Therefore, choosing an eco-friendly toothbrush made without plastic could be a approach of doing the environment a favour.

But it's tough to not wander away amongst the new and intensive type of eco-friendly toothbrushes on supply. varied sorts of questionable eco-friendly toothbrushes exist, except for us two main really eco-friendly choices stand out:

The wood toothbrush, 100% natural, plastic-free and biodegradable

The only toothbrushes 100% plastic-free and therefore truly biodegradable, as they're created completely of natural materials, are the toothbrushes made from beech wood with natural bristles from boar hair. they're created in germany and deliver an effective clean whilst taking care of your teeth. These are the most effective eco-friendly and plastic-free choice, but they're not suitable for vegans. Therefore, we would also prefer to discuss bamboo toothbrushes.

Bamboo and nylon toothbrushes

By far the majority of eco-friendly toothbrushes (or a minimum of labeled as such) comprises a bamboo handle and nylon bristles. These toothbrushes sometimes flaunt adjectives like 100% perishable or organic. However, it's necessary to denote that the nylon used for the bristles of those toothbrushes isn't extremely perishable, or a minimum of not as we tend to realize it once speaking of natural materials. Nylon is plastic and that we realize it somewhat deceptive to speak regarding organic nylon because it offers the impression that it's freed from artificial chemical substances.

So, before selecting the vary of vegetarian toothbrushes to supply available on our web site, we've done plenty of analysis. we've chosen to stock toothbrushes from My Boo Company as a result of they provide many blessings over alternative bamboo toothbrushes.

1. Their bristles square measure made of nylon-6 free from Bisphenol A (BPA), a compound that's harmful to our health that's gift in plastic toothbrushes.

2. The nylon-6 employed in these brushes doesn't contain fossil fuel derivatives because it is created from aperient.

3. For the exercise (of the nylon) and therefore the composting (of the bamboo), one will take away the bristles with tweezers or pliers.

4. Bamboo is biodegradable, compostable and has distinctive properties. for instance, it doesn’t need fertilizers, pesticides, or watering so as to grow. additionally, the My Boo Company toothbrush is created from Moso bamboo, additionally referred to as winter bamboo. This type of bamboo isn't consumed by Panda bears.

5. Originally from China, the bamboo utilized by this complete comes from associate degree FSC (Forestry office Council) certified crop. this implies it's cultivated environmentally responsibly with respect for the forests, animals and other people within the region.

6. And eventually, the complete logo is written with a laser to avoid the use of chemical dyes.

For these reasons, we tend to believe that following the wood toothbrush, the My Boo Company bamboo toothbrush is that the best eco-friendly toothbrush on supply within the current market.

We hope we've helped you in your hunt for associate degree eco-friendly toothbrush. it's potential to seek out an eco-friendly various to plastic toothbrushes and it's a awfully great way to cut back each your use of plastic and your waste.

Old Toothbrush, New Ideas – WooBamboo!

OK, I’ve spent three months brushing my teeth with a WooBamboo toothbrush,

Now What?!

Well, first, you replace your toothbrush with a NEW WooBamboo toothbrush!

Now it’s time to do some cool stuff with your used bamboo toothbrush starting with the bristles. Your bristles are made of recyclable material – Recycle Them!!

Step 1: Go find your tweezers or (better yet) a pair of pliers. We’ll wait til you come back…..
Ok, good, you’re back.

Step 2: So you don’t lose the bristles, get something plastic that you are going to recycle already and put the bristles in there! It’ll keep them confined.

Step 3: Pull the bristles from your toothbrush by grabbing just a few at a time with your tweezers or more with pliers. Once the process starts, it gets easier!

Welcome to Your Multi-Use Bamboo Handle!

Green Thumb?

Our favorite thing to suggest to plant enthusiasts is to use the handle as a growth guide for new plants! Set it vertically in the soil next to a plant and watch the plant grow tall as the bamboo staff helps keep the plant from drooping over! Since the bamboo is all-natural, it won’t cause harm to the roots!

Crafty?

• Drill a hole in one end, add keys and never lose a set of keys again!
• Drill a few holes across and hang some cool things for a small wind chime
• Make a toilet paper, yarn, thread spool or tape dispenser by fastening the handle to a bamboo (preferred) or wooden disk acting as the base
• Candle making enthusiast? Use the handle to tie the wick on while your candle dries
• 4 handles will make an attractive picture frame

Got kids, or are you a “kid at heart”?:

• Hey! Building a Science Experiment and you need something 7-1/4” long, sturdy, safe and reliable?
• Speaking of science experiments…. Bury your handle in the garden or yard and check on it every month. Watch the biodegrading process!!
• Orchestrate a small symphony with your new baton
• Attach a bell, rattle or frills to the end for a toy you can shake
• Use it as part of a Lincoln Logs set
• Set it in a cup of kool aid, freeze it and out comes a popsicle on bamboo
• Glasses or a mustache on a bamboo handle makes for a fun mask
• Does your daughter have dozens of play rings? Keep them all organized by putting them on the bamboo handle
• Art project! Markers and imagination can decorate a beautiful handle

Pets! Don’t forget our furry friends!

Pets love bamboo! Bamboo is incredibly strong and non-toxic to dogs, cats and horses! WooBamboo toothbrush handles have been cut, shaped and sanded, so NO splinters! Instant toy for those bonding moments!

• Throw the bamboo handle for a fun game of “go get it boy!”
• Dogs will chew on the bamboo as a safe alternative to plastic chew sticks
• Hey, cats will chase and chew on anything you throw down the hall!
• Drill a hole, feed some string and hang the handle for something to swat

How to Raise an Eco-Conscious Kid – WooBamboo!

As parents, it’s your responsibility to teach your kids values. Parents teach children how to respect others, be grateful, and appreciate what they have. But, one thing that is often forgotten is teaching kids how to live sustainably and protect the environment.

Why is this important? Kids will inherit the Earth from their parents one day, so how they treat it now will greatly impact it’s future condition. If you can teach kids how to live sustainably at a young age, they will carry these green habits into their adulthoods and lessen the damage they do to the fragile environment. How can it be done? Follow these tips to make your kids more eco-conscious:

Explain its importance.

Kids won’t jump into a green lifestyle without some sort of explanation about why its so important, so take the time to explain it to them. When you see something on the news about global warming, talk to your kids about the dangers of this phenomenon and what it means for their future. Make sure you end every conversation on a positive note—after all, they’re only kids—by explaining how they can help right now by becoming more eco-conscious.

Recycling.

One of the easiest ways for kids to practice greener habits is to begin recycling. Teach your kids how to separate recyclables and non-recyclables and then put a bin in each of their rooms. Check their bins at the end of each week or month to make sure all the items are recyclable and reward them for recycling with a night off from chores or a trip to the zoo.

Remember to reuse.

After you get kids involved in recycling, show them that this is not the only way to reuse things you no longer need. Parents should teach their children that reusing items can limit the amount of waste produced, which will benefit the environment. Show kids the old clothes they no longer fit into can be donated to local charities instead of thrown in the garbage. Buy reusable water bottles so kids can see there’s no need to use countless plastic bottles throughout the day. When you go grocery shopping, fill up reusable bags instead of disposable paper or plastic ones. The more kids understand the importance of reusable materials, the better off the Earth will be.

Teach kids how to choose green products.

One day, your kids will be shopping for products on their own, so make sure you have taught them how to look for the greenest option available. Kids should learn to always look for products made from recycled materials instead of harmful ones. For example, parents should show kids how choosing the WooBamboo Kid’s Toothbrush, which is made from biodegradable bamboo, is much greener than buying a standard plastic toothbrush. Small decisions like these make a big difference when it comes to saving our environment. 

 

Replace light bulbs.

Teaching your children to be more eco-conscious is all about emphasizing how easy it can be to live a green life. Show your children how the simple act of replacing burnt out light bulbs with energy efficient bulbs can save a ton of money and help the environment, too. If your kids are old enough to handle bulbs on their own, put them in charge of changing out bulbs to energy efficient styles as the old ones burn out. Kids love having this type of responsibility, and it will get them in the habit of paying attention to how much energy they use.

Going green may seem like a tough topic to talk about with your kids, but it doesn’t have to be. These kid-friendly tips will make it much easier for parents to instill eco-conscious habits in their little ones!

Woof! Here’s to Pet Health

My owner loves me. They brush my fur every day to clean out the itchy dander, clear out all the knots I get from rolling around on the carpet and sometimes put a classy collar around my neck to make my appearance presentable! I’m usually ready for a night out on the town! But wait, what’s the point of looking good if, when I smile, my teeth and gums appear as if I’ve just soaked them in black licorice and caramel that my owner left on the table? Yummy, but now I have a problem! My tongue can’t reach under my lips to clean my teeth! My gums hurt! My smile is ugly! How do I tell my owner that I need a good teeth cleaning?! 

I know…I found this really cool bamboo toothbrush in a package with a dog’s picture on it on the counter. If….I….can……just…….GOT IT OPEN!! I’m just going to put it in my mouth and take it to my owner! I heard on the TV (when they left me alone yesterday) that I can’t chew through this WooBamboo Pet toothbrush! The bristles were made just for me and the handle is made so my owner can get a good grip! I bet my breath smells better when my teeth are clean and I know I’ll live a longer, happier life! Lastly, I need that spot…….right there……….aww yeah. Good scratch!

Top Seven Things that Stick To or Stay Between Your Teeth with Solutions

Hey, everyone does lists of ‘Top Five’ or ‘Top Ten’. Not us! Here’s 7 things that stick to your teeth:

• Popcorn
• Flax and Poppy Seeds
• Bread
• Berry Seeds (Raspberry, Blackberry…)
• Sticky Hard and Gummy Candies
• Caramel
• Spinach

Everyone has that friend that WON’T tell you if something is in your teeth, even when you ask! Not a good wing man or woman (Yeah, women have wing people, too). As smooth as you can, you resort to slyly using your tongue, your fingernail, your earring post, ANYTHING because you can feel something in there! THEN, walks up…..…..your ex. You don’t smile. Immediately, they think you’ll never change and walk away. You should have chanced that big spinach smile!

We know what could have helped. First, don’t eat where you ex eats. Next, don’t eat any of the above foods while out and about. If you must, then keep a big glass of water near you. A little non-descript swishing goes a long way. Drinking water with your meal will minimize ultimate stickage or chewing sugarless gum after eating will help, too! No bubble blowing. Be cool.

When you get home, don’t forget to brush with a WooBamboo natural toothbrush, floss with WooBamboo’s new Natural Dental Floss, rinse with an alcohol-free mouthwash and not only will your teeth and gums thank you, but great oral care reduces the risk of damage.

Damage? Who said anything about damage?!

That’s for another conversation……over dinner……of soup. Soup doesn’t stick to teeth, right?