Eco friendly toothpaste is on the rise and there plenty of options to give you a greener smile (metaphorically speaking of course!)
From teeth whitening to tongue and gum health, shopping at your local supermarket will give you choices that might make your dentist happy, but won’t do much for the environment.
Like with many other everyday home items, you might not have given eco toothpaste much thought before and not considered the impact toothpaste ingredients and packaging might have on the environment – until now!
I was the same and have only in the past few months started to use a more sustainable toothpaste.
Here’s all you need to know about eco toothpaste and plastic-free toothpaste packaging options, so you can make a sustainable choice and take care of your dental health all at the same time! At the end we’ll list of the best eco friendly toothpaste types currently on the market.
Can you get eco friendly toothpaste UK?
Yes, you certainly can get sustainable eco friendly toothpaste in the UK.
There are many different types from all natural paste (like the one I’ve been using), plastic free toothpaste, zero waste, organic, flouride free, vegan friendly and many more still.
Choosing an environmentally friendly toothpaste to keep your gums healthy and your teeth pearly white is a more ethical choice that can help reduce your at home impact on our planet.
Why is traditional toothpaste not sustainable?
Why should you pick an eco friendly toothpaste? What’s the problem with traditional toothpaste anyway?
The issue with the sort of mainstream toothpaste brands you see at the supermarket comes down to two main factors:
- Environmentally harmful ingredients
- Single use, non-recyclable packaging
These two things together are not sustainable. It’s a similar story when choosing other bathroom products such as eco friendly shampoo and eco toilet cleaners.
The overwhelming majority of toothpaste formulas contain dangerous chemicals that end up washed down the drain as we’re brushing our teeth. This pollutes our waterways and can endanger local wildlife.
These ingredients include foaming agents and antibacterial agents like fluoride, SLS and triclosan, as well as the phosphor-based sodium pyrophosphate – this is known for actively promoting algae growth in our sewage system and releasing CO2 into our waterways as a result.
Some toothpaste brands previously used microbeads, which are a type of microplastic known for endangering wildlife when ingested and posing a threat to our health as well. Thankfully, these have now been banned by the UK government as of 2018.
Why is toothpaste packaging bad?
When it comes to packaging, traditional toothpaste is far from eco friendly.
Yes most toothpaste tubes come in biodegradable cardboard packaging, but this is as good as it gets. The vast majority of traditional toothpaste brands use plastic tubes and plastic lids. The tubes are layered and often combined with aluminium to give them the extra flexibility.
However, this comes at a cost as it makes the tubes virtually impossible to reuse and recycle. The layering of different materials is also why items such as coffee cups and coffee bags are so hard to recycle.
How to choose environmentally friendly toothpaste?
So, what makes for an sustainable environmentally friendly toothpaste?
Here’s a quick list:
- Natural ingredients
- No harmful chemicals
- Plastic-free toothpaste tubes and lids
Eco friendly toothpaste should contain no toxic and environmentally harmful ingredients. These eco formulas should opt for only natural ingredients, or at least, a minimal amount of chemical foaming agents.
From the image above on my Kingfisher natural toothpaste, they’ve listed all the ingredients and told you exactly where each one comes from and what it does for the toothpaste.
On top of that, eco friendly toothpaste tubes and lids should be fully plastic-free or made from recycled plastics or even a type of bioplastic.
Unfortunately, not all natural and chemical-free toothpaste brands are also plastic-free. But they made be made from recycled materials, which is a more sustainable choice.
So even though natural toothpaste alternatives are gradually becoming more mainstream, you’ll often have to search outside of your local supermarket or Boots to find a fully eco-friendly plastic free toothpaste.
Luckily, we’ve done a bit of research for you into the best toothpaste for the environment.
Best places to buy eco friendly toothpaste 2022
There are now many online ethical shops in the UK selling eco friendly toothpaste. Here are some of my favourite places stocking sustainable teeth cleaning solutions!
- Ethical Superstore – one stop eco shop selling a range of brands and dental products.
- Friendly Turtle – great ethical shop stocking a range of toothpaste, powder, tablets and soap.
- Georganics – a dedicated all natural and sustainable dental care company
- Green People – a personal care brand specialising in dental, skin, hair and body
- Big Green Smile – find natural dental care products including toothpaste, mouthwash and more.
- Bower Collective – discover many eco friendly dental care brands
What does sustainable toothpaste look like?
So, where can you find plastic-free, sustainable toothpaste in the UK?
There are more and more independent brands offering zero-waste, plastic-free toothpaste options that contain no environmentally hazardous chemicals.
These come in a variety of ingenious forms from convenient tablets to tooth-cleaning powders.
If powders and tablets are a step too far for you at the minute, other varieties can look just like traditional toothpaste. For those who are unsure, this is a good first step into the world of eco toothpaste.
Top 5 environmentally friendly toothpaste alternatives
Here are five of the best alternatives you’ll find for replacing your go-to toothpaste with a greener, plastic-free toothpaste!
We’ve listed out the different toothpaste types and given you a couple of online shop options of where you can buy these eco toothpastes from – these are the best eco friendly toothpaste types you can get.
1. Natural toothpaste
You can also find natural toothpaste in its most traditional paste form. Many different brands offer charcoal-activated formulas to promote whiter teeth and delicate formulas designed for sensitive teeth.
Whatever your dental health needs, you’re guaranteed to find an eco friendly, organic formula coming in reusable glass jars!
Places to buy natural toothpaste:
2. Toothpaste tablets
Toothpaste tablets have become one of the most convenient options for eco-friendly consumers. They are a great alternative to classic toothpaste when travelling and are made from 100% natural ingredients.
While some brands like LUSH’s toothy tabs which do come in plastic containers, you can also find brands that have ditched the plastic altogether and embraced glass packaging and biodegradable, compostable cornstarch packaging instead.
Places to buy eco toothpaste tablets:
3. Natural toothpaste in plastic-free tubes
If you’re looking for an eco-friendly toothpaste that resembles the plastic tube packaging you’re used to, just without the carbon footprint, there’s now a number of independent brands to choose from offering all-natural, sustainable toothpaste in a convenient plastic-free tube.
Most plastic-free tubes are made out of aluminium, which is generally considered one of the most sustainable metals due to the circular nature of its lifecycle. While others are simply made of recycled plastic, so make sure to read the fine print!
Places to buy eco toothpaste in plastic-free tubes:
4. Zero-waste toothpaste powder
Finally, a zero-waste, natural toothpaste powder can help you replace your traditional toothpaste and reduce your water use at the same time. It will last considerably longer than traditional toothpaste options too!
Brands like Procoal offer natural toothpaste powder that comes in recyclable plastic packaging, but you’ll have no problem finding eco-friendly powder formulas coming in reusable glass jars.
Places to buy zero-waste toothpaste powder:
5. Plastic-free solid toothpaste
If you’re looking for something truly different, why not give solid toothpaste a try?
While there is only one brand currently offering organic, eco-friendly solid toothpaste, we can easily see how it could take off very soon: Convenient, plastic-free, and long-lasting. The solid paste is made from calcium carbonate with a few drops of essential oil to give a fresh taste!
Solid toothpaste might take a minute to get used to, but can save you quite a lot of money in the long run.
Places to buy plastic-free solid toothpaste:
And don’t forget your eco friendly toothbrush!
Once you’ve found the perfect eco-friendly toothpaste for your dental health needs and smile goals, all you have left to do is pick up an equally environmentally friendly toothbrush to make your brushing routine as green as can be.
Bamboo toothbrushes have become an instantly recognisable symbol of environmental sustainability, so you’ll have no problem picking up your next toothbrush at your local store or online. Do make sure the bamboo is sustainable sourced though.
And if none of the above plastic-free toothpaste options feel like the right fit for you, you can always DIY your toothpaste by mixing some natural, everyday ingredients you might already have around your home!
Coconut oil, baking soda, and either lemon juice or peppermint oil make for the easiest formula to try out if you want to keep your brushing routine as low waste and inexpensive as possible — just don’t forget to consult with your dentist first!
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I’m the Creator and Editor of Tiny Eco Home Life. I write and publish information about more sustainable, environmentally friendly living in and around the home. Alongside this website, I love spending time in the natural world, living a simple life and spending time with my young family (Murphy the dog!) I round up my thoughts and recent blogs on the Eco Life Newsletter.
