We focus on producing the product in a manner that is as environmentally friendly as possibly. The only limits are technical feasibility or demands on hygiene. With regard to technical feasibility, it sometimes takes time and patience until the desired goal has been achieved. For example, right from the start, we wanted to use a bio-based plastic to manufacture the replacement head of the interchangeable brush head toothbrush. The brush head is disposed of when it is no longer usable, while the handle can be used over and over again. That is why, above all, the brush head was supposed to consist of alternative, more environmentally friendly materials. It took three years, and many trials and samples were needed until the right material for making the brush head was found. The brush head still had to fit in the opening of the handle and the snap-on function still had to work. The toothbrushes are manufactured right here in the Black Forest region. In addition to guaranteeing short supply routes, we can also be certain that environmental regulations will be observed here and that working conditions and pay are humane and fair. A comparison: Bamboo toothbrushes are completely biodegradable apart from the bristles. The wood grows in Asia and the production mainly takes place in China. In this case, long transport routes are unavoidable. However, the result is a nearly entirely compostable product. Ecologically sensible to us means evaluating the pros and cons and manufacturing the best possible product.
How much sense does it even make to pay attention to the materials used for a product as small as a toothbrush?
The numbers speak for themselves:
Let’s just look at the European market, where yaweco is primarily active, for which we can assume a total population of approx. 500 million. On average, toothbrushes are replaced twice a year. Most toothbrushes weigh between 17-19g. Some toothbrushes are electric. Regardless, a few hundred million toothbrushes are thrown away annually. The total amount of discarded toothbrushes is more than 10 tonnes.
Our goals can be summarised as follows:
- Continuous improvement of our product range, the products themselves and their packaging with the objective of protecting the environment.
- Fair trade with each business partner
- Consumer orientation, high transparency and a service mindset.
