Review - Plastic Free Sanitary Wear

This is my 16th review on plastic alternatives. I hope these help give some ideas on alternatives you can use in your daily lives.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Sixteen - Chemical and Plastic Free Sanitary Wear

Why on Earth are sanitary towels made with plastic I hear you ask. But is this true? 

According to Natracare, they say, on average, there may be 36g of plastic in every packet of period pads. That’s 2.4g of plastic per pad, and 2.5g for the outer pack itself. That’s the equivalent of 5 plastic carrier bags per pack. They go on to say that the average woman uses 11,000 menstrual items in their lifetime. And that's just one person!

Discarded items sometimes wash up on beaches (menstrual products are the 5th most common item washed up on European shores). 

I'm sure the Marine Conservation Society weren't particular happy when they found 20 tampons and sanitary items per 100 metres of shoreline during a beach cleanup in 2016!

Despite the name, 'fat bergs' in sewers are mostly made up of personal care products:- According to the BBC wet wipes contribute to 93% and the other 7% included feminine hygiene products. Only half a percent was actually made up of fat!

According to friends of the earth tampons have plastic in them too – even in the string – and plastic applicators are made from polyethylene (PE) and polypropylene (PP). They say 90% of a menstrual pad can be plastic and 6% of a tampon.

If that's not enough to put you off how about this:- A recent study from the US found that non-organic rayon-based tampons contain nasty chemicals including Carbon Disulfide, a known reproductive toxin and Methylene Chloride which is a chemical found in paint stripper! (Carbon Disulfide was not found in organic cotton tampons thank goodness).

So What Can We Do?

Friends of the Earth recommend switching to menstrual cups (have seen them being sold in local supermarkets), or washable pads from online stores or look for the organic plastic free alternatives that are chlorine free.

With this in mind I have been switching to a brand called Natracare. Made from organic cotton and wood pulp, according to their web site, Natracare pads have been plastic free since 1995.

As well as Natura Care I have also tried a product called Flo which is a natural, plant-based product, biodegradable and hypoallergenic - they use materials like organic cotton and organically-grown bamboo. 5% of proceeds goes to charities, which includes providing sanitary wear for schools and asylum centres. 

According to their site the pads use plant based biowrappers although the pad backing, and tampon wrapper and applicator is made from plastic (they're currently working on compostable materials). I have noticed on ethical superstore that their FLO tampons now say the applicators are made from plant based plastic so looks like advancements are being made.

Their sanitary wear is free from chlorine, synthetics, chemicals and fragrance free which is an added bonus.

My Verdict?

I have tried the Natracare tampons with no problems to report. They are very much the same as my normal product, but I rest safe in the knowledge that these are plastic free, organic, chlorine free and are also biodegradeable.

The natracare pads I tried were soft and comfortable. A little on the short side but they do stick very well. (You need good muscles to peel them off after use!)

With the Flo sanitary towel I bought the night and day pack. You get more day time ones which makes a lot of sense. The product with wings has the wings about a third of the way up meaning you can't position the item centrally. I find this doesn't work as well as those that do position centrally (for me anyway!) 

I love the box - it says 'Hello Gorgeous' on it and was nice to think some profits goes towards charities. Having a product that uses bamboo is a nice change to try and help save the trees.

So my verdict for both Natracare and Flo products was a love from me 💗. You can order both brands from ethical superstores.

Check out this video, it may help you make the change!

https://www.natracare.com/blog/turning-the-tide-on-plastic-period-waste/

Green Wash and Wish Cycling

What the Heck is Green washing?

No I haven't made these terms up!

Per Wikipedia, based on the term whitewash, 'greenwashing' was coined in a 1986 essay regarding the hotels practice of placing placards in each room, promoting reuse of towels ostensibly to "save the environment." 

Author Westervelt noted that in most cases, little or no effort toward reducing energy waste was being made by these institutions. More money or time [may have] been spent advertising being "green" than is actually spent on environmentally sound practices.

An example of this practise is Kimberly Clark's claim of "Pure and Natural" diapers in green packaging. It gives consumers a sense that it is purely natural from the brand name. The product uses organic cotton on the outside, however they keep the same petrochemical gel on the inside.

In 2018, in response to increased calls for banning plastic straws, Starbucks introduced a new straw-less lid that actually contained more plastic by weight than the old straw and lid combination.

More on these plus references at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Greenwashing

I got Tripped up Too!

I fell into this trap myself during my experiment to reduce or replace 50 single use items for my 50th year on this planet. 

I bought some teeth flossing harps (called floss picks) that were touted as mainly made from corn starch material. In fact when you look at the package it says corn starch in big letters. It was only after I'd ordered them did I realise only 40% was corn starch, the rest was PP (Polypropylene) materials (on the packet I bought), I've seen others say PLA plastics.

On their own website it says:

'Our floss picks are made primarily from corn-starch but are not fully compostable. In time, we hope to be able to find a solution to ensure the firmness and quality of the floss pick handle with a fully compostable material.'

This is not mentioned on the listing details so unless you dig through the FAQ you wouldn't even realise. Many folks reviewing the product are delighted they have found a fully natural and compostable product when in fact it is neither of those things!

Also the flossing part itself is made from nylon (they say for their bamboo toothbrushes for instance that nylon bristles should be removed before disposal).

The Good and Bad.. 

For me I do love that companies big or small are looking for ways to move away from petro chemical based plastics. BUT we have to be careful that folks are not being misled into thinking their product can be thrown into the compost bin which could then contaminate good compost material. I would assume industrial composters sift out final product anyway so it may be removed eventually, but I don't like the idea of plastics sitting in compost material leaching chemicals when we're trying desperately to keep fragments of plastics away from the natural environment.

It may also encourage consumers to choose one product over another believing they are doing right for the planet thereby giving the companies that do use greenwashing techniques the upper hand. Oh they do love a gullible consumer!

Do I Have any Solutions? 

Not really, other than be informed, look for alternatives and reduce your waste. You will be tripped up from time to time. If the companies aren't honest, for instance putting corn starch in big letters at the front when you realise it's only 40% corn starch which you don't see until you look at the back after purchase, I would say this is misleading. Even more misleading when the company does not give you the option to take a look at the back of the packet on their website, or at least paste their FAQ in the buying section to let consumers be aware of what they're buying and how to dispose of it properly!

Here's a wee video on greenwashing if you have a spare moment..

 

What is Wishcycling?

According to Recycle Nation 'Wishcycling is the process of putting items in a recycling bin instead of the trash even if you’re not sure whether they are recyclable or not.'

Seems pretty harmless right? Surely someone somewhere will figure out what to do with it! Trouble is, recycling machines notoriously get tangled up. 

Loose plastic bags for example don't want to be in with the plastics recycling, they are better off being dropped off at your local supermarket bag collection point where they can turn them into new bags. 

Meanwhile card items covered in grease (say from a pizza) may end up contaminating paper stock making a batch worthless. 

Recycling centres do have staff that help to sift through some of the stuff and machines can hep sift through others but due to the sheer volume some items can get missed and end up contaminating a whole batch.

What about Biodegradeable?

Another example is the introduction of biogradeable or compostable plastic. Recycle Now site says these should not be added to supermarket bag recycling. (A list of what can and can't be recycled can be found here.) So the consumer is mighty confused as to what goes where.

They say, 'Only non-biodegradable plastic can be recycled, regardless of whether it is fossil-based or bio-based. Compostable plastics can be composted at industrial scale composting facilities, so you can put these in with your green waste but only if it goes to one of these facilities - your council will be able to tell you where your green waste goes. 

'Compostable plastics should not go in with your dry recycling as they cannot be recycled in the same way as non-biodegradable plastic.'

Recycle Now site is a great resource to help you find what can and can't be recycled in your local area.

https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/how-is-it-recycled/plastics

Be a Recycling Detective

I guess we need to do our own research, for instance, I had been throwing tetrapacks regularly into our household recycling bins for collection only to find out our local sorting centre doesn't even process them. 

Tetrapacks were not shown in the picture of our laminated card sent out by the council on what can be recycled which made me wonder. I enquired and was told, no, we don't take any carton packs at all. That was news to me! So finally I got the right product in the right place after a bit of research and found a local drop off point for Tetrapak cartons. 

Other areas meanwhile may have no problem with tetrapak being picked up by household collection. My mum's laminated guide sheet in a different area, lists tetrapacks as a collected item. So the consumer has to be vigilant and try and figure it all out. What is the norm for collection in one area maybe different to another.

Should I Still Bother?

I really think it is still worth recycling, the points above are not meant to put any of you off. 

But as the saying always goes, 'It's not easy being green!' A bit of detective work maybe required. Keep on keeping on. After all, the planet is in your hands!

Check out our other posts too: 

Is Paper or Plastic Best? / What does PLA mean? / Recycling Symbols Explained

What Does BPA, PLA, Phthalates Mean?

Some Plastic Terms Explained

What is BPA? 

BPA stands for Bisphenol A and used in resins since the 1950s and also used in plastics.

It can form a shiny hard plastic surface called polycarbonate and has been used in the production of plastic plates, microwaveable food trays, re-usable water bottles, sippy cups, canned foods, dental sealants & even some till receipts.

In a survey of 2,517 people 93% had detectable levels in their urine. It has been known to disrupt endocrine function affecting hormones in mice & has caused health concerns among many due to its estrogen mimicking effects. The FDA have since banned BPA in sippy cups and baby bottles. [BPA has also been banned in baby bottles in the EU.]

Source: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/science/2018/09/news-BPA-free-plastic-safety-chemicals-health/

How to avoid? 

The advice mentioned in the National Geographic article above is to avoid putting plastics in the dishwasher (which may encourage BPA to leach out during the hot wash) and avoid plastics with recycling codes 3, 6 and 7 which could have BPA compounds. 

(Some BPA free alternatives are available but the article highlights that some of these can also be problematic – check out the article highlighted above for more info).

Phthalates 

Phthalates are added to Poly vinyl chloride (PVC) plastic and helps to make it become more flexible. They can be used in paints, household cleaning bottles as well as vinyl floors. Due to its flexibility it can be used in cling film, catheters, IV tubes and children’s toys. Studies suggest it could affect hormones and also the fetus, so similar to BPA it can cause health concerns.

Source: http://www.babygreenthumb.com/p-115-phthalates.aspx

How to avoid? 

The website above suggests using wax wrap or parchment paper instead of cling film, avoid microwaving plastics and use ceramic or glass containers instead for storage. Buy cosmetics that are phthalate free. Plus avoid anything containing PVC.

Phthalates are commonly found in human urine samples. An analysis of 1999-2000 data found metabolites of DEP in all 2,540 samples and metabolites of DBP in 99% of samples. (DEP is a type of phthalate used in fragranced products, DBP can be found in nail polish). These 2 chemicals are now banned in cosmetics sold in the EU.

Source: http://www.safecosmetics.org/get-the-facts/chemicals-of-concern/phthalates/

What is PLA? 

PLA or Polylactic Acid is a plant based type of plastic usually made from cornstarch. Due to its natural backbone it is often touted as biodegradeable and sometimes compostable product. The downside it may need specific conditions to break it down effectively.

According to zerowasteman site they quote, ‘It is not recommended to put these PLA biodegradable plastics into your home compost, they might remain there for 100 – 1000 years.’

Source: https://zerowasteman.com/what-is-pla-plastic/

Industrial composters use a much higher heat setting, although it may not biodegrade at the same rate as your partially rotten food taken out for collection from the average household. Indeed, industrial composters may not accept any plastic based content whether natural or not. 

How to dispose? 

PLA bags are unsuitable for home composting and may also not be taken with your household food waste, so the natural solution is to recycle with normal plastic bags right? Sadly wrong! 

Recycle Now site states that plastic bag collections points at supermarkets cannot accept biodegradeable plastic bags. I’m guessing these bags are recycled into new bags, so they do not want biodegradeable content in it.

This can create a dilemma for the consumer – they want a non oil based plastic solution, one that breaks down as well, but at the moment it is not clear how best to dispose of them. 

Normal landfills may not have the right conditions to break them down quickly (as landfills are often hemetically sealed). Some household non recycling rubbish is sent directly to incinerators in energy recovery centres so the product may end up being incinerated at the end of its life instead.

Bioplastics 

Bioplastics is a term given to more natural, non petroleum based plastics. These may be derived from corn starch, sugar cane, vegetable matter, cellulose, wood chips or straw. I have seen mushroom based packaging also coming onto the scene using mycelium (they do say these are home compostable).

Wikipedia however states that,‘Not all bioplastics are biodegradable nor biodegrade more readily than commodity fossil-fuel derived plastics.’

They also state that the term ‘Bioplastic is misleading, because it suggests that any polymer derived from the biomass is environmentally friendly.' 

Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bioplastic

So similar to the PLA (polyactic acid, plant based plastic) above, some of these items may not be suitable for normal or even industrial composting.

Check out these sites for more: recycling biodegradeable coffee cups / how to dispose of your PLA based cup / how plastics are recycled (mentions compostable/biodegradeable).

Summary 

It’s great that other plastic alternatives are out there but the consumer does need to be aware that it may not be as easy to dispose of, despite the impression by some of the products listing them as eco friendly or compostable. 

I think for the moment, re-use them as many times as you can, then put them in your normal bin and at least the basis of the product was less reliant on petroleum based chemicals.

Even better, try and switch to plastic free alternatives, for example re-usable tote bags, mesh bags for weighing and carrying vegetables, and covering foods with wax wraps, brown paper or tin foil, or buying bulk items in glass jars so there’s less need for plastic wrapping or bags.

Check out my reviews and homemade section for more ideas on making that plastic swap!

Related articles – what the recycling codes mean. 

The article below looks at recycling symbols and numbers; also what HDPE, PET etc means and how these are recycled. 

https://www.lovelierplanet.com/2019/10/recycling-codes-explained.html

Review - Soap Nuts for your Wash

This is my 9th review on plastic alternatives. I hope these help give some ideas on plastic reduction or alternatives you can use in your daily lives.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Nine - Eco Laundry Soap Nuts

I am always on the look out for natural products and how lovely it is to find an alternative for large plastic bottles of washing detergent for your clothes. I will be honest, this product does have a plastic looking bag inside (although it's described as a biodegradeable liner) to keep the soap nuts fresh and dry. The outer bag is made from unbleached cotton with vegetable ink dyes and comes with a mini fabric bag to put your nuts into!

So what are Soap Nuts?

According to Green Frog Botanic 'Soapberries, also called soapnuts, are actually a small fruit. They are the fruit of the Sapindus Mukorossi tree which is found naturally growing in the foothills of the Himalayan mountains.'

The soap nuts are organic, antibacterial and antifungal and can be used several times. Used up nuts can be disposed of in the compost heap which is an added bonus too.

How to Use Your Soap Nuts?

Place about 5 shells into the small pouch provided and tie the drawstring at the top (don't tie it too loose as sometimes the nuts fall out!!) 

Place the bag in with your washing and wash in a warm wash cycle. If using cold water the soap nuts will need soaking first, as they activate using warm water.

Once used take out and leave to dry and then re-use up to 3 times. You can discard any used up shells in with your compost.

The end result is washing that smells of clean linen. There are no scents to it but you can add essential oils if wanted. Green frog says adding lemon juice can help to whiten whites. 

I have been experimenting with using orange scented vinegar (watered down, not straight vinegar) as a fabric conditioner. It helps clean the machine and adds some softness to the clothes. If you add the vinegar in the conditioner drawer it runs in cold water during the rinse cycle, so hopefully won't compete with the soap nuts as they work best when warm.

My Verdict?

Great idea and it's really fab that 5 soap nuts can be used 3 times. It's estimated that your pack of 500g of soap nuts should last over 150 washes. I love the froggy logo on the front and the natural cotton bag. Some new things take a while to adjust to but I didn't find the change too scary, as long as my washing looks and smells clean then job done! (See bottom of post for product links).

For woollen washes I do sometimes use liquid detergent with regular fabric conditioner. I buy Ecover for this which is a natural product you can try. I will be covering natural products with recycled or plant based plastic contents in a new blog post soon. 

I will also show you how I make scented orange vinegar solution, which is great as a kitchen and bathroom cleaner as well as a fabric conditioner and dish washer rinse aid.

Organic Soap Nuts I ❤ love and will continue using them in the future!

Review - Scrubbies Unsponges

This is my 8th review on plastic alternatives. I hope these help to give you some ideas on plastic reduction or alternatives.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Eight - Scrubbies 'Unsponges'!

What a lovely name - Scrubbies! But what is it? 

Scrubbies also known as an 'unsponge' is a natural biodegradeable cloth as an aid to cleaning your dishes without the use of plastic coated scouring pads. They have a fabric animal design on the front with hessian backing, so you can choose either side for cleaning. 

Made from 100% Organic Cotton, with Anti bacterial Bamboo lining and Hessian backing. Wash at 40C. Compostable and Biodegradeable.

They are pricey BUT the real good news is you get a pack of 2. They are very cute, made in the UK and washable as well, so as well as being plastic free they should last a long time.

Maybe a Stocking filler for Christmas perhaps? 

I bought my scrubbies from a lovely eco-living company called Floral Fox. They donate a tree with every order (you can add extra tree donations too to aid the Eden Project) and they will send your order in a recycled box with a lovely card, which is a nice addition. 

It's lovely to support a British company and their produce is made in the UK too, such as a plastic free deodorant made in the Isle of Wight. They also make soaps which I have bought, as I'm trying to move away now from buying body washes in plastic bottles now.

The photo below is just one of the designs (foxes - quite apt as it came from Floral Fox!) Also whales, turtles and all sorts of other animals are available so you can choose your fave.

My Verdict?

The cute design, washability and bio-degradeable material makes it a huge win for me ❤!

Check out Lovelier Planet's Etsy store 

for homemade cloths.

Cuppa? Hold the Plastic!

The Danger of Hidden Plastics in Tea 

Back in 2010, consumer group Which published details about the regular use of plastic in tea bags. 

Many tea bag companies seal the bags with polypropylene. Coupled with plastic tags and wrappers that some use, it can become a problem. Tags & wrappers can be removed of course, but the hidden plastic in the bag themselves, meant that many teabags were sent to compost heaps around the world, contaminating the compost in the process. 

Some sites suggested ripping open the bags & composting just the contents. How many people (like me) weren't even aware that tea bags had plastics in them in the first place? A recent study in McGill University in Canada used tea bags that HAD been cut open but still found alarming amounts of micro and nano plastic particles in the hot brew. 

Thankfully, tea manufacturers have taken notice of the environmental concerns of plastics in tea. Some are using organic based plastics instead. 

Clipper Tea

According to Dorset based Clipper Tea: 'We are so proud to have launched the world’s first plastic-free, unbleached and non-GM pillow tea bags. Our special tea bag paper is made from a natural plant-based material. It’s a blend of abaca (a type of banana) plant cellulose fibres and PLA from non-GM plant material.' 

Look out for their organic unbleached and green tea boxes (see pic below). It's worth mentioning that although it says plastic free on the box, the BBC say as plastic made from plant material is used it is still classed as plastic. Clipper say the teabags can be composted but industrial composting only. More on the BBC article here.

P.S. - As an update, we have tried the organic, unbleached tea by clipper and can attest that they make a really good brew. Enough for two cups from just one bag!

Co-op

Co-op joined forces with Typhoo to come up with a biodegradeable tea bag. Jo Whitfield, CEO of Co-op Food said in a 2018 interview, “Many tea drinkers are blissfully unaware that the teabag from their daily cuppa is sealed using plastic. Even though it’s a relatively small amount, when you consider the six billion cups of tea that are brewed up every year in the UK, we are looking at around 150 tonnes of polypropylene – that’s an enormous amount of accumulated plastic waste that is either contaminating food waste compost collections or simply going to landfill.' 

I was trying to find an update on this but can only find links to the 2018 blog post linked above but I understand their own brand 99 range will be biodegradeable.

PG Tips

PG tips announced in 2018 they will remove plastic from all its tea bags after more than 200,000 signed a gardener’s online petition. The Unilever-owned brand announced its tea bags will be made from a new plant-based material that is 100% renewable and biodegradable to help reduce the environmental impact of their products. 

On checking their site today I found a box with 100% biodegradebable bags - they say 'We’re committed to moving all our pyramid® bags to a new fully biodegradable, plant-based material. We’ve already made over 1 BILLION!' Wahay 😊

Pukka

Meanwhile Pukka, the organic tea company state on their site 'Tea companies have recently come under scrutiny for the use of polypropylene, a plastic used to heat-seal the edges of teabags. Pukka doesn’t use this kind of material. 

'Instead, we use a simple stitch of organic cotton and a unique folding process. This means we don’t need to use polypropylene to hold our teabags together and our teabags are therefore free from plastic. We were the first company to ever use organic strings to hold our teabags together without the need of a metal staple or polypropylene.' 

Tea Pigs

Teapigs say 'We're the first tea brand to be awarded the Plastic Free Trust Trade Mark'. 

Tea temples (pyramid shape) are made from corn starch and paper that are biodegradeable via council food waste collections but not suitable for home composting. Or there's clear bags which are made from Natureflex (made from wood pulp) that are biodegradeable and also suitable for home composting. More details on their site. 

Teapigs are also committed to making their offices plastic free too! If your office is thinking of going plastic free there's a few tips on how they achieved it here. 

Tetley

According to this 2018 article Tetley has confirmed it will begin trials at its manufacturing plants to use new tea bag tissue that will be “100 per cent biodegradable and free from polypropylene".  

According to the FAQ on their site checked today however, their teabags currently do still contain some plastic.

Yorkshire Tea

Yorkshire Tea began switching to renewable plant-based material in its tea bag seals after a successful trial run in May. All tea bags in the UK will be biodegradable by the end of 2019, according to the company.

This article reported a few problems in some batches where bags would split open. The company say they are "testing and tweaking" the new bags to improve them further.

A little update on progress can be found here.

Summary

This is just a handful of developments being made by tea companies, of course things do change so check with the manufacturer if you are not sure. Some products clearly stamp 'plastic free' on the box to help you (for instance the clipper, unbleached organic tea). 

Bear in mind that although some manufacturers have already made the change, older production lines may still be in store. Great to see at least that consumers have plenty of choices going forward! Meanwhile, others prefer to ditch the tea bags altogether and buy loose leaf instead. 

Hope you enjoy your cuppa anyway, without the plastics of course!

Related links: 

http://moralfibres.co.uk/is-there-plastic-in-your-tea/

https://naturaler.co.uk/plastic-free-tea-bags-uk/

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2217483-plastic-tea-bags-shed-billions-of-microplastic-particles-into-the-cup/

Review - Bamboo Cotton Buds

This is my fifth review on plastic alternatives.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Five - Plastic Free Cotton Buds

Per the Cotton Bud Project site, 'In the UK alone it is estimated that we use 1.8 billion, mostly single use plastic, cotton buds every year. During a Marine Conservation Society’s Great British Beach Clean in 2018, 22 cotton buds were found for every 100 meters of UK beach surveyed.'

The sad thing is that not only can the plastic breakdown into micro plastics but also marine life can accidentally ingest it too. I still have awful flashbacks of a turtle with a cotton bud wedged deeply into its nasal cavity. Truly awful and causes needless suffering to wildlife.

I decided to make the switch to bamboo cotton buds (bamboo grows quickly and absorbs CO2 as it grows making it a popular plastic alternative). Added with the knowledge too that it can compost down when disposed of it seemed like a natural choice (better to throw in compost heap rather than bin as items in items in landfill are usually sealed due to toxic waste and will not break down into nature as intended.)

I bought Alyn Organic Bamboo Cotton Wool Buds from Amazon online and found the personal touch you get from small companies is lovely too. The box comes in recycled card plus a welcome message from the company.

My Verdict?

For me it's a good product on multiple levels. It's organic, comes in plastic free box and the cotton buds themselves are compostable and sustainable. There's no added glues or hidden plastics and vegan friendly too.

I found even the cotton ends were really soft and silky, more than my normal shop bought cotton buds for babies! So for me it's another keeper! ❤

Review - Eco Friendly Toothbrush

This is my third review on plastic reduction or replacements. 

To help you follow my progress so far, I have started a section called reviews in the right hand menu which will build up over time.

Scoring system: 

❤ = Will keep, I love it / 👀 = Not sure, will try some more / 😐 = Oh dear, it's not for me

Review Three - Plastic Free Toothbrush

When I decided to go plastic free I decided that things like throw away plastic razors and plastic toothbrushes had to go. 

After reading up about alternatives, I came across brushes made from bamboo. Bamboo is super fast growing and has become popular as a plastic alternative. 

The added bonus is being able to compost down any used up products (although you'd need to pull off the nylon bristles first).

I found a great product, by My Green Vibes, a set of four toothbrushes with bamboo handles, each presented in a card box which is useful for travelling. 

Each box has a coloured dot at the end which matches the different coloured heads on the brush. 

Excellent for family members to choose their own colour and remember whose is whose.

The bristles are very soft. At first you do have to get used to the friction of wood against your cheeks as you brush, although wetting the brush first can help with this. 

I have found so far that the brush heads do seem to last well. 

At the end of its life I was able to pull the bristles out with pliers (with some force) and placed the handle in the compost heap. 

My Verdict?

I am giving these a big thumbs up. I like that the brush handle is compostable. It comes in recyclable card packaging which cuts right down on the plastic and even the little fish on the end is a nice added touch, so it's a ❤ love from me!