Truly ethical and sustainable brands aren't easy to find.

 

When first faced with the challenge of making my daily cleaning and hygiene routine entirely sustainable, changing my toothpaste was not the first thing that came to my mind.

Covid-19 has given me more awareness of the products I am using that could be more sustainable. It has also given me more time to spend carefully sifting through all the options online instead of rushing to the shops and choosing what appears to be the most environmentally conscious item stocked in store.

Countless products are guilty of ‘greenwashing’ - a term coined to describe a product which is labelled with terms like ‘organic’ but which in reality is much less environmentally conscious than it claims to be. Online it is easier to check and research ingredients, production processes and the company’s ethical values.

One of the unsustainable products that I knew I had been ignoring was toothpaste. Always loyal to general famous brands, I have never really bothered straying to another brand - maybe the odd tube of Glister or Sensodyne but not exactly taking any risks. Before this year I certainly had never heard of any sustainable or even environmentally conscious toothpastes. With most personal care items, the environmental damage stems from three components of the product: the ingredients, the packaging, and how it is used.

Toothpaste is no exception. It’s ingredients often consist of many toxic chemicals like fluoride and high SLS percentage that are spat out and washed down drains where they cause water pollution. The squeezy toothpaste tubes are made from mixed materials that are difficult to recycle and end up in landfills. Any issues that toothpaste causes are multiplied by the billions of people around the world who all use it at least once, probably twice, daily. Teeth might be cleaner, but the environment is not.

So what sustainable toothpaste options are out there?

Firstly, it is possible to make your own toothpaste from general ingredients and coconut oil. However, this didn’t sound that appealing to me and I’m sure that the hassle of making something so easy and convenient to buy might be enough to put most people off.

There are few brands which offers sustainable toothpastes made from natural ingredients and packaged in zero-waste reusable and recyclable glass jars. These can cost up to ₹ 600.00 though and, unfortunately, the budget does not allow for such extravagant spending on toothpaste.

Of course, if you can afford to spend this then such brands might be a great option and they come in different flavours and have either mineral-rich or whitening properties.

Finding a balance between affordability and sustainability is not an easy one. The cheaper natural toothpastes that I found came at the cost of less sustainable packaging. 

BLACK PLATINUM by Gilko Herbal is such brand that use natural ingredients and aluminum tubes which are easier to recycle. Its herbal toothpowder comes in glass jar which is also recyclable.

                               

Black Platinum comes as toothpaste and toothpowder, which helps in maintain good oral hygiene. Black Platinum toothpaste and toothpowder has Nice aroma of natural herbs & good taste.

Black Platinum is also a mild foaming toothpaste, which reduces pollutions our water bodies. It only creates lather which is required for optimum cleaning.

As dental kit Black Platinum provides herbal toothpaste and toothpowder in a single pack.

I am aiming to make items that I have already purchased as sustainable as possible rather than creating waste by throwing them away.