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Sustainable Living News

Creating awareness on the importance of sustainable practices.
EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, Sustainability, Chanelle Dupre, dental floss, plastic, non biodegradable, bamboo

The Wrong Dental Floss can Make You Sick

Dental floss, it keeps our teeth clean and many of us use it on a daily basis, sometimes more than twice a day. But did you know that depending on the brand you use, it could be toxic to your health? 

There are two issues with the typical dental floss in the market that is causing harm to us and our environment. First, the plastic container the floss sits in is tossed in the garbage and likely ends up in our landfill. Second, the actual floss, depending on the brand, is made with a toxic chemical called PFAS, while other brands offer nylon floss, which is a form of plastic.

PFAS is a Toxic Chemical in Your Dental Floss

A study conducted by Silent Spring Institute, a non-profit organization focused on women’s health and the environment, found that women who used the Oral-B Glide dental floss showed signs of having elevated levels of PFAS chemicals (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) in their blood. 

PFAS are used in various products such as fast food packaging, non-stick pans, waterproof clothing – things we use and consume from daily. For those women who participated in this study, a particular type of PFAS called PFHxS (perfluorohexanesulfonic acid) was discovered in their blood sample. Elevated levels of this toxin can lead to greater risk with kidney and testicular cancer, higher cholesterol, ulcerative colitis, lower birth weights of newborns, thyroid disease, and fertility problems.

PFASs are found in many products so dental flossing alone would likely not be the sole contributor to these elevated levels of toxins in their body. However, the study conducted in January 2019, identified a common thread (pardon the pun) linking back to a specific type and material of dental floss used by a segment of the group participants.

dental floss, plastic, non biodegradable, bamboo

Teflon as an Ingredient in Dental Floss

Many dentists are aware of the toxic chemicals used in dental floss and the risk associated with prolonged and excessive exposure to it but very few dentists, will offer alternative, eco friendly and healthier substitutes. They leave this research and discovery up to you. They will just tell you to floss often to maintain good gum health and fresh breath.

Teflon is a brand name used for a group of man-made chemicals, the most common of which is polytetraflouroentylene (PTFE) – the chemical name for PFAS. Some dental floss contain PTFE (or PFAS) or otherwise, Teflon. Its non-stick characteristic makes it an ideal ingredient for waxed dental floss. However, it has been linked to hormone imbalance, cancer, autoimmune disease, Alzheimer’s and neurotoxicity. 

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Petroleum and Nylon Used in Dental Floss

We all know that petroleum is a fossil fuel that harms the environment. What many of us don’t know is that petroleum is used to produce nylon, a synthetic fibre that dental floss is made of. Nylon is a plastic which, when disposed of into the environment, does not naturally decompose. It is non biodegradable and ends up in our ecosystem for hundreds of years.

You may think that small pieces of nylon floss are harmless, but because it is made of mixed materials (most of which is man-made) and it is too small to go through the regular recycling process, it slips into our landfills. Imagine the impact we are having by disposing of dental floss everyday. 

The health effects of petroleum in our bodies are also cause for concern. Petroleum is known to be an endocrine disruptor. These are chemicals known to affect our developmental and reproductive health and may cause immunity issues. Even at low doses endocrine-disrupting chemicals can cause biological and developmental issues.

Whether your floss is made of nylon or polyester, they are both petroleum derived and create negative effects on the environment and ultimately our health. With 22% of personal care products containing petroleum based substances, replacing our dental floss (which we use everyday) with more eco friendly, organic alternatives like silk or bamboo vegan floss with candelilla coating is the right choice.

dental floss, plastic, non biodegradable, bamboo

The Bamboo Dental Floss 

With its tensil strength fibers and its organic characteristic, bamboo made dental floss is the perfect alternative to the man-made synthetic versions. It’s not only healthier for you, but when disposed of, they decompose within 60 – 90 days. With naturally occurring products, like bamboo, you are eliminating your exposure to the harmful and toxic chemicals found in man-made materials.

In addition to reducing or eliminating the synthetic floss in our everyday ritual, you may also want to consider using a refillable and reusable stainless steel or glass container instead of the plastic container. Rather than throwing away the container that holds your floss, get a glass or stainless steel container that you can use for many months. 

Other alternative floss packaging available include craft boxes (again, biodegradable and eco friendly) which you can refill and dispose of guilt-free. This combination of products – bamboo or silk floss and reusable and refillable container, is better for your body and the environment. 

Making the Right Choices Despite the Retail Options

You may wonder why retailers offer such limited non eco friendly choices in the market when it comes to dental products like toothbrushes and dental flosses. We can only conclude that profit and cost are key factors in their product assortment decisions. After all, they have to run a business and they will stock items that generate the best profits. 

But as consumers, we can be proactive in making more educated choices that will lead to better health and to a more livable planet for future generations.

 

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EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, Sustainability, dental, bamboo toothbrush, Chanelle Dupre

How the Unassuming Toothbrush is Killing our Planet

Millions of people have plastic toothbrushes. We’ve been using them since we were kids. We were taught at home and in school that maintaining a healthy dental hygiene is important. It’s a daily routine that we do everyday. For some of us more than once a day! 

Good oral health is important in preventing serious diseases that could affect our cardiovascular or digestive system. In keeping up with our healthy dental practice though, we should be brushing at least two times per day. With higher frequency and usage of dental products, we tend to cycle through more – buying, using and disposing of our plastic toothbrush. 

Soon, we will create landfills of non-biodegradable toothbrushes that will take years, maybe even centuries, to decompose. We forget to consider the impact we have on the environment when we dispose of plastic dental products. 

The Origins of the Toothbrush

The concept of a toothbrush has been around since 3000 BC. In ancient times, they used chew sticks much like dogs do now to keep their teeth clean. But the first mass produced toothbrush invention in the world was in England in 1780 by William Addis. Then a century later, an American, named H.N. Wadsworth patented the toothbrush in 1857. 

In 1938, the toothbrush was mass produced and sold commercially in the US. It became an essential household product and daily ritual for many families in the industrialized nations. Its introduction into our daily lives was influenced by military personnel coming home from the war effort and trained to maintain good dental hygiene and oral health. 

Since then, dentistry became an important branch of medicine and the dental industry grew to generate billions of dollars in dental product sales.

Ecoluxe Dental2

EcoLuxe Dental 1

 

The Non-biodegradable Nature of the Toothbrush

While we mass produce the toothbrush, we mass dispose of them as well and for centuries, they have been sitting in landfills or other places on the planet to decompose. 

For the past few decades, toothbrushes have been commercially mass produced using plastic and synthetic materials. The handles are formed using molds with plastic poured into them. The most common plastics used are polypropylene (PP) and polyethylene. In some cities, Polypropylene, known as PP5, can be recycled. While in other cities, PP5 is not currently accepted for recycling. Its tough, lightweight and heat resistant properties make it ideal for use as a handle for toothbrushes. 

Polyethylene, on the other hand, has 3 different types of recycling classification – recycle number 1, 2 and 4.  Polyethylene number 1 or PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) and number 2 or HDPE (high density polyethylene) can be recycled and are widely accepted by recycling companies. However, polyethylene number 4 or LDPE (low density polyethylene) is not widely acceptable for recycling and is the most commonly used materials for the toothbrush handle.

Handle Design

The four broad classes of toothbrush handles are straight, contra-angle, non-slip grip and flexible. These designs offer diversity to meet the various preferences, shapes and sizes of both hands and mouth. 

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Are Bristles Biodegradable?

The bristle is also another part of the toothbrush that has evolved over the years and has been introduced in the marketplace with variations in material and design. Some prefer soft bristles for more sensitive gums, while others prefer harder bristles to get rid of plaque more easily. 

Bristle pattern can also play a part in providing more effective cleaning of your teeth. Common varieties include wavy, crisscross, tapered and circular. The head of the toothbrush where the bristles sit come in various shapes – round, square or even diamond to help provide better reach inside the mouth.

In the past, bristles were made of boar hair but because it has been known to retain bacteria, it is not commonly used for toothbrushes that are mass produced for public use. Instead, nylon, with its antibacterial properties, is the preferred material and considered the most effective in cleaning away plaque and build up.

Unfortunately, nylon bristles are not biodegradable. They are synthetic materials made of carbon-based chemicals like coal and petroleum. The creation of nylon itself is not a sustainable practice. It requires a lot of water and energy to cool the plastic fibers. The water absorbs pollutants from the fibers and then released into the environment again through whatever water supply is for dumping waste. 

During the manufacturing process, nitrous oxide, a greenhouse gas is emitted into the atmosphere contributing to the carbon pollution that is linked to global warming and climate change.

 

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The Alternative

Plastics and synthetic nylon used to produce toothbrushes offer the durability, flexible design possibilities and antibacterial properties that are essential considerations for an effective dental product. But unfortunately, the materials are not only non eco-friendly but also the manufacturing process doesn’t apply sustainable practices.

So why do we use plastic based toothbrushes that contain non-biodegradable materials that can’t be broken down to other reusable materials? 

Well, manufacturers produce products that fulfill consumer needs and they design them in such a way as to fulfill the regulatory requirements to meet safety and health standards. 

If we were to make an impact on preserving our planet, we need to do it one toothbrush at a time and choose a more eco-friendly alternative made of bamboo and plant-based bristles. Although not yet widely sold in stores, you can find them online and buy them for yourself or as a gift.

If you’re a business and you want to consider distributing or selling bamboo toothbrush made of biodegradable material, fill out the form.

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EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, Sustainability, Chanelle Dupre, Plastic waste, Eco-friendly, recycle, packaging, biodegradable

The Movement Towards Zero Plastic Waste

Plastics pose one of the greatest threats to our environment. The chemicals used to produce plastics and the chemicals released are both harmful and have long term effects on humans, the environment and wildlife. Thousands of sea animals, birds and other marine mammals are killed each year after ingesting or getting entangled in plastic waste that we dispose of.

According to Sea Circular, an organization that inspires market-based solutions to solve marine pollution, more than 700 species of marine animals were discovered with traces of plastics in their digestive tracts. 

How Plastics End Up in Our Bodies

It’s a fact that microplastics (1 – 5mm plastic diameter) and nanoplastics (200 nm in diameter) have been found in animals we eat. Microplastics enter an animal through its gills, nose or mouth and ultimately, they end up in our food and our bodies. 

An estimated 4 – 12 million tons of plastics are disposed of in our oceans annually and 94.4% of tap water samples taken in North America were found to contain plastic fibers – the highest in the world. It seems to correlate with our excessive consumerism and our use of plastics in our everyday life.

It is predicted that by 2050 there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish. With that dark outlook, it’s definitely time to recognize the issues and make the right choices.

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Canada’s Commitment to Zero Plastic Waste

Canada has moved towards a ban on single-use plastics particularly those that have alternative substitutes. The country has a commitment to have zero plastic waste by 2030. Every year, Canadians dispose of about 3 million tonnes of plastic waste and only 9% gets recycled.

It’s been reported that Canadians use 15 billion plastic bags annually and close to 57 million plastic straws daily with up to 1% of all plastic waste re-entering the environment. It may not sound like a lot, but if we consider the millions of tonnes of plastic waste and the fact that plastic takes hundreds of years to decompose, we should have heaps of concerns about the growth of our landfills. 

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The Alternative Choice to Save the Animals and the Planet

There are alternatives to the plastic version of our household products. Though some may not be perfect substitutes, they are acceptable. Remember, back in the olden days, people did not have the luxuries we have now and yet they managed to survive. Perhaps we need to dial back our greed for more consumption and start reusing, replacing or just go without.

Regulations and new policies will force us to change our habits whether we like it or not. Canada’s ban on single-use plastic has been introduced with a graduated approach. The ban identifies 6 product categories that meet the following criteria: 1) the product is not being effectively recycled and traces of the product have been found in the environment and 2) there are alternatives or substitutes available. 

These products are the first to be phased out. Many businesses and municipalities have followed suit. 

The Alternative Choice to Save the Animals and the Planet There are alternatives to the plastic version of our household products. Though some may not be perfect substitutes, they are acceptable. Remember, back in the olden days, people did not have the luxuries we have now and yet they managed to survive. Perhaps we need to dial back our greed for more consumption and start reusing, replacing or just go without. Regulations and new policies will force us to change our habits whether we like it or not. Canada’s ban on single-use plastic has been introduced with a graduated approach. The ban identifies 6 product categories that meet the following criteria: 1) the product is not being effectively recycled and traces of the product have been found in the environment and 2) there are alternatives or substitutes available. These products are the first to be phased out. Many businesses and municipalities have followed suit.

Bamboo as a Good Alternative for Packaging

As a biodegradable, eco-friendly alternative, bamboo is an ideal solution for many plastic products in the market. To make the biggest and most immediate positive impact on the environment, we prioritize the substitution of packaging materials for more eco-friendly ones.

Restaurants and the hospitality industry are huge contributors in disposing of non-biodegradable plastics. As food delivery services and online ordering become the new norm, the use of packaging has increased exponentially and our landfills are piling up.

Containers, boxes and take away materials do not need to be made of plastic or styrofoam. Other biodegradable, organic materials can be effective replacements of all forms, sizes and types of food packaging and can accommodate keeping food hot or cold for at least one hour. If your food is taking over an hour to deliver, you probably shouldn’t be ordering from that restaurant anyway so think about the choices you are making.

In the same way, disposable plastic stir sticks, straws and cutlery can be functionally replaced with bamboo products. Use bamboo stir sticks instead of plastic ones. Use paper or reusable stainless steel straws and choose biodegradable cutlery instead of plastic ones. 

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Your Actions Contribute to Keeping Climate Change at Bay

Aside from the impact plastics have had on animals and people, they also contribute significantly to climate change. Greenhouse gases are released at every stage of the plastic life cycle: starting from the extraction of fossil fuel and its transport to the facility for production, then onto the plastic manufacturing of it, then to managing plastic waste after its use, and finally, the end-of-life disposal of non recyclable microplastics back into the environment. 

Although we still have a long way to go to reach zero plastic waste, we can start now by consciously making the right choices to use eco-friendly products over plastic ones. 

Learn more about the types of products you can substitute in your home.

 

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EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, dental, bamboo dental floss, Sustainability, Chanelle Dupre

1 Significant Ecofriendly Impact Dental Industries Can Make Now

The dental industry needs to be aware of the environmental impact they have with distributing plastic vs eco-friendly dental kits.

EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, bamboo personal care, hotels, toiletries, plastic pollution, Sustainability, Chanelle Dupre

5 Definitive Ways Hotels Contribute to Plastic Pollution

Single -use toiletries are a popular keepsake found in hotels. Thought they are a convenient little luxury they are a huge source of pollution that can be replace by eco-friendly alternative products and practices.

plastic containers

The 5 Types of Plastic that Create a Negative Impact on the Environment

Companies use plastic for their products or packaging because it’s durable and cheap to make and has desirable traits such as its versatility and durability. But unfortunately, it’s harmful impact on the earth is life changing. 

EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, plastic pollution, hotels, Sustainability, Chanelle Dupre

Plastic Pollution Caused by Single Use Hotel Supplies

Hotels need to become more eco-efficient in delivering services and goods while minimizing ecological impact to the planet.

environment, plastic, hotels, single use, sustainable, ecofriendly, biodegradable, chanelle dupre

3 Industries that Cause a Negative Impact on the Environment Today

From the shampoo containers in hotels to the take out styrofoam packages from restaurants -plastics are everywhere and used widely by various industries. 

EcoLuxe Products, Sustainable, plastic, cutlery, Sustainability, Chanelle Dupre

Consumer Attitudes have Harmful Impact on the Environment

The health of our planet is changing because of human behaviour. The human race is now facing new risks of food security, extreme weather conditions and new types of diseases that we can’t fight – like the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19).

bamboo, ecofriendly, renewable, environment

5 Reasons why Bamboo is the Perfect Ecofriendly Alternative to Plastic

Bamboo’s ability to grow between 1 – 4 inches per day and be harvested every three years makes it the number one renewable and sustainable resource.