May 27, 2020

Solid and natural toothpaste, what are the advantages?

In the solid cosmetics family, I ask for toothpaste. 
Brushing your teeth is the daily gesture of the French par excellence. When thewe know that we go through the sink 2 to 3 times a day, for almost 2 minutes, and this since the age of our 2 years, it is easy to imagine the amount of plastic waste that this routine generates. Not to mention the multiple industrial and harmful components present in our tubes of toothpaste which find themselves in direct contact with our mouth, and which in the long term can have harmful consequences on our health.

Yet, there are Today there are many alternatives and solutions to brush your teeth without putting yourself in danger. Because if the advantages of using a solid and natural toothpaste are above all ecological, the positive effects are especially valid for our health.

In this article you will discover why adopting a solid and natural toothpaste is certainly the best decision to make when you begin your journey back to nature. 

A new hygienic and plastic-free routine 

Every year, the French buy nearly 194 million tubes of toothpaste. This represents nearly 3,000 tonnes of plastic in our trash according to the statistics site Planetoscope . Just like that of toothbrushes, the plastic from toothpaste tubes is very poorly recycled and generally ends up in the oceans. This waste will then join the 8 million tonnes of plastic that humanity dumps into the seabed each year.
It takes 450 years for a plastic bottle to degrade. If it is submerged, this time is almost infinite. You should know that these plastics never completely degrade. Rather, they will slowly turn into micro-plastic. Once in this state they spread throughout ecosystems and are then ingested by fish. These effects of pollution are in fact found in our food and expose us too to serious consequences.

As a reminder, every year, no less than 100,000 marine mammals and nearly a million seabirds die as a result of ingesting plastic. A finding that is all the more alarming when we know that in 2050 we will find more plastic in the oceans than fish.

As evidenced by this photo from 2015 where we discover a Hermit Crab having taken up residence in a toothpaste cap. A worrying cliché which warns of the sustainability of plastic and its omnipresence in marine environments.

Refuse waste 

The plastic tube is also one of the worst forms of packaging in terms of waste. In fact, 4% of the toothpaste used remains in the tube when it is thrown away. This represents a waste of 70,000 tonnes of toothpaste each year worldwide. The packaging of these products is also generally made of plastic and represents the vast majority of plastic pollution on the planet.

Refuse to poison yourself 

In addition to this ecological disaster, did you know that 2/3 of conventional toothpastes on the French market contain titanium dioxide ? This white dye, which is used to make toothpastes opaque, is used to give a more “hygienic” appearance, which is considered more popular by manufacturers. However, this component, when ingested, can create serious damage to the intestinal immune system and cause the development of precancerous lesions.

A survey conducted by the Agir pour l'environnement association and published in 2019 shows that this component is present in half of children's toothpastes. Worse still, analyzes revealed that titanium dioxide was present in nanoparticle form, the dangers of which are even more worrying.

To find your way around, the association has set up a directory of toothpaste brands that contain this component. The association is fighting for its ban in the same way as in the food industry where its use will soon be illegal.

What solutions? 

There is an urgent need to act to transform this small daily gesture into a responsible and conscious eco-action. 

First, to overcome the problem of processing this plastic waste, there are collection points where you can drop off your old toothbrushes and empty toothpaste tubes. This collection program specifically linked to waste that is difficult to recycle is organized by the company Terracycle. Today there are 648 collection points in France, there is certainly one near you. This collection willallow this waste to be better processed. Once recovered in sufficient quantity, they will be crushed then extruded into plastic granules and will then be melted to be transformed into everyday objects.

Then, once you have put your old plastic accessories in a safe place, you can get your new natural products. At Sloe we preferred to swap plastic for a natural bamboo toothbrush , a noble and biodegradable material. And for the toothpaste, we opted for solid, in an infinitely refillable container. These two alternatives are, in our opinion, the best, both for our health and for the Earth.

7 good reasons to adopt natural toothpaste in tablets 

  • Plastic free

  • Without preservatives or harmful components 

  • Infinitely refillable format

  • Airtight, space-saving container ideal for travel

  • 100% certified natural ingredients

  • Gentle on gums and teeth.

  • For visibly smoother and shiny teeth 

What are our natural toothpaste tablets made of? 

Sloe toothpaste tablets are guaranteed to be plastic or micro-plastic free and are made in Europe, using ingredients of 100% natural origin.

They have tested and approved our tablets 

 

Sources:

Association acting for the environment
 Planetoscope statistics site.
Terracycle company.
 

Written by Fanny Marc