With its various materials and components (looking at you, battery), it’s not hard to see why electric toothbrushes are worse for the environment than their manual counterparts. Compared to a sustainable bamboo toothbrush, the climate impact is 11 times greater.
But what do you do if your dentist recommends one for your sensitive gums?
Thanks to these sustainable electric toothbrushes, you can still get electrically pearly whites that have a much lower footprint.
And that’s exactly the kind of oral care tools we’ve curated in this list for you. And the brands that make them are not just focusing on responsible materials, but also on sustainable packaging and renewable energy-powered production.
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Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrushes We Use Twice Daily
We love Sustainable Tomorrow‘s electric toothbrush, with sensitive teeth we can set it to just the right intensity and reduce disposable waste by swapping out plastic heads with their compostable brush heads.
For a durable electric toothbrush that helps you cut down on e-waste, those from SURI are made with a repairable aluminum body and plant-based recyclable toothbrush heads (with medium/soft bristles that prevent our sensitive gums from any pain) that can be sent back to SURI for free proper disposal.
Index: Best Sustainable Electric Toothbrush Brands
- Sustainable Tomorrow Jump to brand
- SURI Jump to brand
- Primallife Organics Jump to brand
- Foreo Jump to brand
- The Humble Co. Jump to brand
- etee Jump to brand
- PearlBar Jump to brand
Sustainable Tomorrow
Price Range: $80
Sustainable Tomorrow sells home accessories and personal care products. Their toothbrushes feature 5 different cleaning modes, three intensity levels that reach up to 40,000 VPMs, and a 2-minute timer.
Each bamboo electric toothbrush comes with a year’s supply of compostable and biodegradable replaceable heads made from FSC-certified bamboo with castor bean oil bristles. They also sell bamboo heads for Philips Sonicare models.
Each FSC-certified bamboo brush head will last for three months and when you’re finished with it you can add it to your compost heap where it will decompose in around 6 months. Toothbrushes are packaged and shipped in zero-waste, sustainable packaging.
My Personal Review of Sustainable Tomorrow’s Electric Toothbrush:
“I personally own one and love the comfort of the gentle bristles and ergonomic feel of the handle that makes brushing a breeze. And thanks to various settings, I can set it to whatever type of clean I need at the time, including a slower, more gentle setting if I’m experiencing any tooth or gum sensitivity, which I often get from hot and cold drinks. I’ve found that it conveniently lasts for about a month before I need to recharge it, which is really impressive given other brands I’ve used last half as long. And it charges in just a few hours, taking minimal power to do so.”
Review by Deidre Maene, SJ Writer
SURI
Price Range: $95–$125
SURI, short for Sustainable Rituals, is “the last toothbrush you’ll ever need”.
Designed for a powerful deep clean, the body offers up to 33,000 sonic vibrations per minute to remove 3x as much plaque with two speed modes and a two-minute timer, powered by rechargeable batteries that last for over 40 days on a single charge. When that time comes, you can either charge via the slim and minimalist charging “pebble” base or in its travel case—which also includes a built-in UV light on the brush head to sanitize the bristles as needed. It kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in just one minute
Each SURI electric toothbrush features castor bean oil bristles attached to cornstarch brush heads, which you don’t even to worry about properly composting because SURI offers a brushhead take-back program to UK and US users. Just pack your used heads in the pouch included with your first order and mail it back using the attached prepaid shipping label. This return pouch is the only plastic packaging you’ll find in the set.
The steel components and waterproof aluminium body are designed to be recyclable, aided by the fact that the body opens easily to access these components or change the battery. If you purchased your brush directly from SURI, they’ll repair it for you for free, and if you acquired it elsewhere, they’ll still fix it for a small fee.
SURI is carbon-neutral via a partnership with ClimatePartner and is a Certified B Corp.
My Personal Review of SURI’s Recycleable Electric Toothbrush:
“With a genetic predisposition for gingivitis, I have very sensitive gums that are prone to receding if brushed too hard or with too stiff of bristles, so the medium/soft bristles are perfect for my gum’s needs. It delivers a crisp and refreshing mouth-feel, without leaving the gums feeling sensitive or in pain.
“The rapidity of its vibrations also makes it perfect to use with my favorite zero waste toothpaste, since it quickly induces a foam from the waterless tablets. Plus, the two minute-timer is so useful to know I’m getting in the full recommended brush time.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
Primallife Organics
Price Range: $250
At 35,000 pulses per minute, Primal Life Organics‘ plastic-free electric toothbrush uses top-tier modern tech to deliver a powerful clean that far exceeds primal dental standards.
It features a bamboo handle and for brush heads, you can either opt for those that work with their own Real White Sonic Bamboo Toothbrush or those compatible with any Phillips Sonicare 3, 6 & 9 Series. Either way, they’ll be made of FSC bamboo, a cornstarch center, and binchotan charcoal soft bristles, all of which they claim will break down in a home composting environment in 6 months.
Foreo
Price Range: $129–$215
Swedish brand FOREO brings to market the world’s first sustainable sonic toothbrush made of durable silicone.
The ISSA™ 3 has 16 adjustable intensities, a smart memory feature, and a low battery indicator LED light—though don’t expect to see that very often considering their ultra efficient battery only needs to be charged twice per year. While the front of the brush head cleans teeth and gums, the back cleans your cheeks and tongue, taking care of all your oral hygiene needs.
There’s also a mini version (perfect for zero waste travel) and an ultra-small head electric toothbrush for kids and babies, making sustainable scrubbing possible for the youngest members of the family, too.
Made from durable silicone, both the ISSA™ and ISSA™ mini come with Foreo’s 10-year quality guarantee. The long-lasting brush head is made from a combination of medical-grade silicone (for gum massage) and PBT polymer bristles to clean off your plaque. They only need to be replaced once per year. That’s as tough as they come (er, gum?).
FOREO’s factories run on solar power and no products are tested on animals, including the cruelty-free electric toothbrush.
The Humble Co.
Price Range: $20
The Humble Co doesn’t offer a full-fledged electric toothbrush, but they do offer sustainable replacement heads that are compatible with over 50 different Philips Sonicare® models—and since hanging on to your existing electric toothbrush is the most sustainable option, we so appreciate companies like this doing their part to making existing industry players more eco-friendly.
These sustainable electric toothbrush heads contain 88% less plastic than standard brushheads, considering the only plastic involved is in the BPA-free nylon-6 bristles. That does mean you’ll need to use pliers to remove them from the bamboo heads if you plan on composting.
They also make a “Plant-Based” line featuring 77% plant-based bioplastic, but since these aren’t compostable like the bamboo, we recommend sticking with those.
The Humble is certified both vegan and cruelty-free. Through their connected Swedish non-profit organization, the Humble Smile Foundation, every purchase contributes to provided free dental care to children in need around the world.
etee
Price Range: $19
etee is a one-stop zero waste online store for cleaning, personal care, and home essentials and while they no longer sell the electric toothbrush body they used to, you can still find eco-friendly electric toothbrush heads if you got lucky enough to score one while they still offered them.
The heads are made from bamboo with castor-bean oil bristles. Altogether, they’re 98% compostable. Unfortunately, they do say these are designed to work with their brushes only and can’t be guaranteed to work with other toothbrush bodies, but even if you missed boat here, they sell plenty of other dental essentials, like eco friendly floss.
etee’s factory is powered by renewable energy, they alway ship plastic-free, and donate to several organizations, including the Mississauga Food Project and WestCoast Children’s Clinic.
PearlBar
Price Range: $120
PearlBar will help you look after your pearly whites. Their sonic-powered eco toothbrush has five brushing modes and three cleaning speeds, including the quiet and gentle “clean” setting. But you can get even more specific with each toothbrush head designed for a different function: whitening, sensitivity, and plaque removal.
Each unit comes with 3 replaceable heads made from bamboo and a 1-year warranty.
Once the nylon bristles and cornstarch plastic insert in the brush head have been removed, the rest of the bamboo replacement toothbrush heads are 100% biodegradable and can be composted at home. The “bamboo-look” of the main body and charging dock are thanks to recyclable plastics and metals.
How To Properly Recycle Electric Toothbrushes
If everyone in the US replaced their toothbrush every 3-4 months (the recommended time frame), over one billion toothbrushes would be thrown away every year—the majority of which are plastic.
Unfortunately, going electric as 55 million US brushers have isn’t the solution. The main body is usually made of plastic and most replacement heads are also plastic with nylon bristles, meaning it’s almost impossible to recycle an electric toothbrush.
While it’s true that some components can be recycled, many Material Resource Facilities (MRF) won’t be too pleased with teeny-tiny components—especially if they have to dismantle it themselves. Even TerraCycle has yet to accept electric toothbrush heads.
Then there’s the battery which requires difficult-to-mine metals like lithium (with often questionable workers’ rights) and it isn’t always easy to recycle either. Design Life-Cycle did a lifecycle analysis on electric toothbrushes and flagged various issues regarding materials, energy use, and waste.
Disposing of electronics properly is important, so first consider if it can be repaired either through the company or at a local repair shop. If you enjoy a challenge, have a go at a DIY repair (with YouTube’s help). If repair efforts fail, try recycling through the following options:
- Check to see if the company offers a recycling service.
- Check for local recycling options. You might have a local drop-off point (or you can start your own and raise money for schools or charities).
- Visit your local recycling center to see if they have an electronics recycling bin. Some electronic stores also have bins you can use.
Why Choose An Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrush
If everyone in the US replaced their toothbrush every 3-4 months (the recommended time frame), over one billion toothbrushes would be thrown away every year—the majority of which are plastic.
Unfortunately, going electric isn’t the solution. The main body is usually made of plastic and most replacement heads are also plastic with nylon bristles. A compostable manual toothbrush is still the best option for eco-friendly toothbrushes.
But can’t you recycle an electric toothbrush? While it’s true that some components can be recycled, many Material Resource Facilities (MRF) won’t be too pleased with teeny-tiny components—especially if they have to dismantle it themselves. Even TerraCycle has yet to accept electric toothbrush heads.
Then there’s the battery which requires difficult-to-mine metals like lithium (with often questionable workers’ rights) and it isn’t always easy to recycle either. Design Life-Cycle did a lifecycle analysis on electric toothbrushes and flagged various issues regarding materials, energy use, and waste. With around 55 million US brushers using electric toothbrushes, the toothbrush industry is in desperate need of a sustainability overhaul.
How We Found The Best Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrushes
We’ve previously discussed ethical electronics and answered what is sustainable technology?
The same considerations apply to sourcing electric toothbrushes with a lower environmental impact. Admittedly, the options on this list aren’t perfect and there’s a long way to go to create a truly sustainable electric toothbrush. That said, some brands are moving things in the right direction.
So, what makes an electric toothbrush sustainable?
Compostable/Recyclable Materials:
Sustainable electric toothbrush heads that are mostly made of compostable materials help to curb the amount of plastic waste going to landfill.
Like bamboo electric toothbrushes. Although the castor-oil bristles used by some brands aren’t technically “compostable” (because they take too long to break down in your home composter), they are at least plant-based and biodegradable and will eventually break down without leaving microplastics behind.
Fully recyclable plastic heads (which can be sent back for recycling) are also a more eco choice. The main body of the toothbrush needs to be easily recyclable so that it doesn’t add to the growing amount of e-waste. Metal is the current best option, followed by recycled plastic.
The jury’s still a little out on the eco-friendliness of silicone. To a large extent, it depends on how it was manufactured. It’s potentially a great way to cut down on plastic waste, as it’s much more durable. But would the other components of the toothbrush last this long?
If not, silicone isn’t biodegradable, nor is it widely recycled.
Minimal Charging:
Long-lasting and rechargeable battery life is a big plus. The most energy-efficient brushes only need to be charged twice a year.
Longevity/Durability:
Like battery life, the most eco-friendly electric toothbrushes should last a long time. Warranties are a good indicator of durability and how willing a brand is to stand behind its products.
Recycling Programs:
Whilst not all brands have one yet, those that do offer a recycling program make it easier for customers to properly recycle their old units.
The Future Of Eco-Friendly Electric Toothbrushes
So, is there an eco-friendly electric toothbrush?
Compared to conventional electric toothbrushes, yes, but there’s a lot to unpick here. The ecological impact of electric toothbrushes can’t be brushed off easily.
And to tell the tooth, there’s a fair bit of greenwashing in the world of toothbrushes. We’d love to see brands being open and honest about the trials and tribulations of creating an eco electric toothbrush so that there can be more conversation to further the eco-efforts in the industry.
These are the changes we need to see to achieve the tricky task of (almost) perfecting a truly environmentally friendly electric toothbrush.
Materials:
Innovations in sustainable materials—like moving away from plastic to bio-based and biodegradable heads—makes the most sense for consumable parts like toothbrush heads.
If plastic is used, it needs to be recycled plastic that’s non-toxic and easily recyclable.
The main body of an eco-friendly electric toothbrush needs to be as durable and long-lasting as possible—and ideally compostable, biodegradable, or at least 100% recyclable.
Whether that’s bamboo, stainless steel, or something else, a true zero waste electric toothbrush must be able to be responsibly disposed of at the end of its useful life.
But given the difficulty of recycling a lithium battery and other electronic components, there is no such thing as a truly zero waste electric toothbrush (yet?).
Supply chain & labor practices:
Eco-friendly electric toothbrush brands are generally quiet regarding manufacturing and supply chains. We’d like to see more information about material sourcing, factory-specific details, and codes of conduct.
Green business practices:
To keep e-waste to a minimum, repair services are essential for prolonging the life of electrical appliances. Compared to other electronics, the small size of electric toothbrushes mean they’re much easier to send back for repair.
For when repair isn’t possible, brands need to be offering recycling services, even for compostable components because not everyone has access to composting.
Offsetting carbon emissions via carbon offset programs, plastic-free packaging, and use of renewable energy encourages us to brush for at least two minutes. We’re seeing some of this already, but more is always encouraged.
Community & charitable giving:
Nearly all brands on our list donate products and/or profit to charitable organizations, making us grin a little wider.
Final Thoughts On Sustainable Electric Toothbrushes
So, is an electric toothbrush eco-friendly?
Well, just like you might dread a dental appointment, our planet isn’t a big fan of electric-powered brushing. That said, if you’re wondering “what can I use instead of an electric toothbrush?”, the answer’s simple.
A plastic-free manual toothbrush that is compostable or biodegradable is hands-down a better deal for the planet. If you already have an electric toothbrush, keep it in use for as long as possible by repairing, reselling, and finally recycling it.
If you’re looking to buy, second-hand or refurbished models on platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace are a good start. Maybe one that’s compatible with biodegradable bamboo toothbrush heads is better still. If you’re buying new, consider brands that are making conscious efforts to reduce their products’ environmental impact.
We’ll grin from ear to ear if you share this article with family and friends. Let’s spread the word about the eco-considerations involved with keeping our planet as squeaky clean as our pearly whites.
Jenny is a UK-based sustainability writer and tea-drinker extraordinaire who has a Masters in Social Anthropology from the University of Edinburgh. Her travels have taken her to organic permaculture farms in the UK and Nepal but you’ll mostly find her working on the veg patch with a garden fork in one hand and a cup of tea in the other. Jenny writes for ethical brands and purpose-powered publications on a broad range of sustainable living and conscious consumerism topics. She is passionate about organic and regenerative farming, nature reconnection, and the small things we can do each day to better care for our planet.
It’s important to know that FOREO has a 2-year warranty rather than 10 years. I had one and year 3, it stopped working properly. It’s very expensive to only last 3 weeks.