Our landfills are a graveyard for old, plastic toothbrushes. Last year, 495 million nonelectric toothbrushes were purchased in the U.S. They’re not recyclable, which means the vast majority get tossed or end up in the ocean. Colgate, which sells 30% of the world’s toothbrushes, is trying to cut down on this waste. Today, it launches Keep, a redesigned manual toothbrush that contains 80% less plastic. At first glance it looks like a traditional toothbrush. But upon closer inspection, you’ll see that the handle is made from aluminum, designed to last a lifetime. The brush head, which is made from plastic, snaps onto the handle and is replaceable, though not recyclable. Major companies have the potential to have a much bigger impact, and some are slowly beginning to roll out more sustainable products.
