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This is a sponsored post with Reswirl: The world’s only returnable, sustainable and remouldable plastic toothbrush.
When I first started to make sustainable changes in our home I focused all of my attention on our bathroom, mainly because we seemed to produce quite a bit of waste in there. I spent over a year researching and making sustainable swaps until I was finally happy. I was then able to get rid of our bathroom bin completely as we didn’t need it anymore.
I choose to switch to bamboo toothbrushes as that was the only sustainable alternative at the time. Today I’m going to tell you about a new sustainable toothbrush that you might be interested in.
But first…
Why Make The Switch From Plastic Toothbrushes?
The first toothbrush was made in the 1930s. To begin with, they were made from natural materials which could break down. Then during the early 20th-century toothbrush manufacturers started using nylon and other plastics instead.
Because plastic never really fully breaks down it means nearly every single toothbrush made since the 1930s is still out there. Around 3.5 billion toothbrushes are sold worldwide each year. 99% of those are plastic (Reswirl) The average person will get through around 300 toothbrushes during their lifetime.
Most toothbrushes cannot be recycled because of the composite plastic in then which can be hard to separate. Toothbrushes often find their way into our seas where marine life mistake them for food. During a recent beach clean in Cocos (Keeling) Islands, which has a population of just 600, marine scientists found 373,000 toothbrushes washed up on their beaches. In Hawaii, it’s not uncommon to pick up anywhere between 20 to 100 toothbrushes.
That is a big problem, however, the good news is that you can help to reduce your personal toothbrush waste.
Reswirl
Reswirl is the world’s only returnable, sustainable and remouldable plastic toothbrush. The Reswirl toothbrush looks like a toothbrush and performs like a toothbrush but has been made from a biodegradable plastic that is easy to melt down and remould into new toothbrushes.
The body is made from an alternative plastic that is fully biodegradable. It looks and feels like any other plastic toothbrush but unlike their plastic counterparts, Reswirl brushes won’t stick around and become a problem for future generations.
Why Choose Reswirl?
Unlike ordinary plastic toothbrushes, you can send back your Reswirl brush when you’ve finished with it. Reswirl then removes the bristles for separate recycling before the handles are ground down to be moulded into new ones. They compost any material they don’t need, returning it to natural elements rather than cluttering up a landfill or polluting the oceans.
How Is Reswirl Made?
The Reswirl toothbrushes are made from a bio-based, biodegradable material called PHA. (Polyhyeroxyalkanoate). PHA is biodegradable even at low temperatures in a home composter or the sea. It’s made through a special microbial fermentation of crops like corn or cassava (all non-GMO) and prepared as pellets for injection moulding.
Reswirls manufacturing partner who is based in the UK has nearly 100 years experience in brush making.
Sustainable Packaging
For hygiene reasons, the toothbrushes arrive sealed in a 100% compostable bag. There are sent out in cardboard packaging which is made from 100% recycled and recyclable cardboard.
The 5 Step Reswirl Sustainable Cycle
Step One:
The toothbrushes are made from PHA bio-based plastic through microbial fermentation.
Step Two:
Reswirl sends you a new toothbrush at your chosen timeframe.
Step Three:
You use your new brush.
Step Four:
You send your old brush back to Reswirl in the same packaging that the new one is sent out to you.
Step Five:
The materials in the returned brushes will be separated and recycled.
Buy On A Subscription Basis
The Reswirl toothbrushes will be available to buy on a subscription basis. There are two main reasons for this…
Firstly, from a hygiene perspective, it’s advised that we replace our toothbrush every three months, but we rarely remember to. With Reswirl you’re automatically sent a new toothbrush every three months.
Secondly, Reswirl wants to encourage people to send their old Reswirl toothbrushes back so that the manufacturing process can start again. The bristles are removed and ground down so that they can be made into new bristles. The handles are also melted down and remoulded into new toothbrushes.
Reswirl On Kickstarter
The Reswirl toothbrushes will be launching on Kickstarter very soon. If you are interested in the toothbrushes then go to the Reswirl website and sign up to their mailing list to be kept updated of the launch.
About Gina Caro
Gina is a content creator and award-winning blogger. Her aim is to help you live a more sustainable & simple life. Her blog covers zero waste, minimalism, wellbeing & thrift. She currently lives in Cornwall with her partner, two kids and Charles the dog.
Collaborative Post
This is a collaborative post with Reswirl.
As always, I only ever recommend products or services that I either use myself or I feel will help you to live a more sustainable lifestyle.
For more info visit my terms & conditions page.