BLOG: Clean and Green – Dental Hygiene Reimagined… (this segment is made possible by DenTek)

Clean and Green – Dental Hygiene Reimagined

Oral care has a deep-rooted problem with plastics. Dental hygiene products are notoriously high in single-use plastic content. Dental floss is often made from petroleum-based nylon which takes between 50-70 years to break down. And that’s if it ends up in landfill. All too often, it ends up in the water system. Every year, an estimated 11 million metric tonnes* of plastic waste escapes into the oceans, a large percentage of which is from dental hygiene products.

DenTek are leading the way in sustainability and their eco range makes it possible to choose products that are both good for oral hygiene and kinder for the planet.

Jennifer Hudson, Senior Brand Manager at DenTek says, “Going green is one of the most important steps brands can take at the moment and as an industry we have a collective responsibility to reduce our impact on the environment. More and more consumers are considering the ecological impact of their purchasing choices and are looking to brands to show the same consideration. Our customers should not be forced to choose between the health of their teeth or the health of the planet.”

DenTek have made significant strides over the last few years to reduce the amount of single use plastic in their dental accessories’ portfolio. As a plastic alternative, DenTek have been using a bio-resin made from sugar cane plants to manufacture their Floss Pick range and Interdental Brushes. Using this renewable material reduces carbon emissions by up to 80% when compared to plastic creation. All outer packaging across the eco range is made from a minimum of 30% recycled material and is 100% recyclable.

“The manufacturing of dental hygiene products presents a unique challenge in that the most obvious way to reduce plastic consumption is to use recycled plastic,” continues Jennifer. “However, this is often not as eco-friendly as you may think. There are sustainable, planet-friendly options out there, we just have to think outside of the box, we are working with what we believe to be the best option at this moment, but who knows what alternatives there will be in the future. The upfront costs may be a little higher but in the long term, the savings are not only financial but environmental.”

DenTek gained industry recognition at the 2023 OTC Marketing Awards, winning Best Sustainable OTC Brand. The brand was also shortlisted for The Grocer’s 2024 Gold Awards in the Best Sustainability Initiative of the Year category.