If you are interested in sustainability, you probably know that toothpaste tubes are difficult to recycle and more often than not end up in landfill. So you might be curious to know if there are any alternatives to toothpaste tubes.
On my journey to a more sustainable and eco-friendly life, I made an interesting discovery. We often use products that are packaged in plastic, even if that is not necessary.
Shampoos and Bodywahses are an obvious example of this. And toothpaste is another example.
While shampoo and shower gel bottles are generally recyclable, toothpaste tubes aren’t. At least not through our household recycling system.
If you want to know how to recycle toothpaste tubes, read our article about this topic.
But while recycling is a good thing, I believe that we have to reduce our reliance on plastic. That’s why I’m looking for plastic-free alternatives wherever possible.
In this article, I will tell you what eco-friendly alternatives to toothpaste tubes there are.
Toothpaste In Plastic-Free Packaging
The easiest way to get rid of plastic is by swapping to brands that use plastic-free packaging.
The good news is that there are plenty of small UK businesses who have made it their mission to get rid of plastic toothpaste tubes.
This means that there is a good choice for alternatives to toothpaste tubes out there.
Glass Jars
Unlike plastic, glass can be recycled infinitely. That means that as long as it’s put into the recycle bin, it will never reach landfill.
Combined with an aluminium lid, which can also be recycled forever, galss jars make perfect eco-friendly alternatives to toothpaste tubes.
And I am very pleased that there are many UK-based small businesses offering toothpaste in eco-friendly glass jars.
If you have read some of my other articles you will know that here at EcoHomeLife we prefer to use products from UK companies.
From an environmental point of view, this is the most eco-friendly way, because your products are not shipped around the world. That means their carbon footprint is smaller.
So whenever possible, we will buy from a UK-based business to reduce our own carbon footprint.
Here are some of these UK businesses who offer eco-friendly, plastic-free toothpastes.
Georganics
If you want to be spoiled for choice, this is the brand for you. They have a range of mineral toothpastes and fluoride toothpastes.
Both types come in a glass jar with an aluminium lid, so are 100% recyclable.
The mineral toothpastes are 100% natural and don’t have any nasty chemicals added to them.
They are free from SLS and glycerin. Because it only contains natural ingredients, it does not foam. So that’s something to get used to.
There is also no fluoride in the Georganics mineral toothpastes, which is something you should be aware of.
Fluoride is a naturally occurring mineral that is added to toothpaste and drinking water because it can help prevent tooth decay.
But if, for any reason, you want a fluoride-free toothpaste, then the mineral range is a good option.
They do also offer toothpastes with added fluoride. These are still 100% natural and therefore non-foaming. But you have the added benefit of fluoride.
Both ranges have different flavours, so you are sure to find the one for you.
However, these plastic-free toothpastes are not the cheapest, compared to the traditional toothpastes you can buy in the supermarket.
Truthpaste
Another UK-based company that offers toothpaste in a 100% recyclable glass jar is Truthpaste.
They offer different tastes and even ones for children.
All the ingredients in Truthpaste are 100% natural, which are antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. Their inspiration comes from Ayurveda.
While they don’t add fluoride, they say that their toothpaste prevents plaque and decay-causing bacteria, due to their careful choice of ingredients.
Because it’s 100% natural, the Truthpaste toothpaste doesn’t contain any cleansing agents, such as SLS. Therefore, it’s a non-foaming toothpaste.
Again, it’s not as cheap as a toothpaste tube you buy in the supermarket, but you get a 100% plastic-free item that can be recycled endlessly.
Another great option, if you are looking for a plastic-free alternative to toothpaste tubes.
Metal Tubes
Toothpastes that come in metal tubes are rarer. This is probably because aluminium tubes are more expensive than plastic tubes.
However, there are some UK-based brands that offer them, which is great news.
And if you also get a handy squeeze key, you can be sure you get every last bit of toothpaste out of the tube, which is even better for the planet.
Waken Mouthcare
This is a relatively new UK company, which was founded in 2019.
Waken offer a range of fluoride toothpastes, including a whitening one and one with strawberry and mint flavour, which makes me want to try them. Sounds so yummy!
Not using nasty chemicals, such as SLS, it doesn’t foam much (some people said, not at all), but that isn’t a problem.
The tube is made from 100% reused aluminium that can be recycled endlessly.
The Waken toothpaste is similar priced to the bigger brands, such as Sensodyne, Colgate and Oral-B. This means you don’t have to break the bank to switch to an alternative to toothpaste tubes made of plastic.
If you buy more than one, you can save money.
Happier
Another UK business that offers toothpaste in a metal tube is Happier.
Like the other brands, they don’t use SLS, which means their toothpaste is low-foaming.
They explain in much detail what goes into their toothpaste and I love that. Because that way you can see that it has been carefully formulated. With the planet in mind as well as the health of your teeth and gums.
Happier only offers one flavour, which is a bit of a shame, but mint is the most common flavour.
The other downside is the price. A tube of their toothpaste is more than double what the big brands in the supermarket cost.
You can reduce the price by buying in bulk or subscribe to their subscription service, but it will still be on the more expensive side.
Alternatives To Toothpaste
As we have seen, there are eco-friendly alternatives to toothpaste tubes available.
But there are also alternatives to toothpaste, which all use eco-friendly packaging. In fact, the alternatives themselves are more eco-friendly, because they are all made with less water.
Like a shampoo bar, toothpaste bars, tablets and powders are the concentrated form of the paste.
Water is an extremely precious resource, which we and our planet need to survive. In recent years we have seen more draughts and hot weather in the UK due to climate change.
This shows that we need to be more careful about how we use water in future.
Swapping to personal care and hygiene products in concentrated form is a small step we can all take to reduce the pressure on this vital resource.
Toothpaste Tablets
This is probably the most known toothpaste alternative.
One tablet equals the amount of toothpaste you need. You just put it into your mouth and chew it. Your saliva will then cause the tablet to foam up, and you can brush your teeth as normal.
Because these tablets don’t contain water, they are lighter and smaller, which means transporting them has a lower carbon footprint than tubes with paste.
And making them saves water, because you use your saliva to foam them, rather than it being added at production.
Plus, toothpaste tablets tend to come in eco-friendly packaging, such as glass jars or aluminium tins. These you buy the first time, then you buy refills, which come in compostable packaging, so no plastic.
One advantage of tablets is that you don’t have to worry about how much to use, as they are already measured out for you.
Quite a few UK companies offer them, so you have a good choice. Here are two of these.
Truthtabs By Truthbrush
Their toothpaste tablets come in a cardboard box, so no plastic in sight.
You can then put them in a nice-looking glass jar that will look great in your bathroom. They do sell an apothecary-style jar, but any jar will do.
The Truthtabs contain fluoride, so they will be effective against tooth decay. But the tablets don’t contain SLS or other nasty chemicals.
Unfortunately, they only have one flavour, wild mint. But then most toothpastes have a minty flavour.
In terms of price, they are about the same price as the bigger brands you buy in the supermarket, such as Oral-B, Colgate or Sensodyne.
If you go for a 3-month supply, it’s actually a bit cheaper than the above-mentioned brands. And if you opt for the year’s supply you can reduce your costs even further.
This is assuming that one average tube of toothpaste lasts one person about one month, when brushing twice a day. An assumption that some toothpaste tablet sellers have made.
However, I did my own experiment and calculations. It’s rather difficult to get an accurate result, but I found that a 100ml tube of toothpaste should last one person about 2 to 2.5 months, if they brush their teeth twice a day.
I used a pea-sized amount that weighs about 1g for my experiment. Not sure if this is the correct amount, but it’s what I use.
Using these results, the tablets are more expensive than a tube of Oral-b or Sensodyne.
Of course, how long your toothpaste lasts will depend on how much you use and how often you brush your teeth. So it’s difficult to determine exactly what the price difference is.
But this is where you have to make a decision as to what being more eco-friendly and reducing your plastic waste is worth for you.
And if you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative to toothpaste tubes, then the Truthtabs are a great option.
EcoLiving
Another UK-based brand offering toothpaste tablets is EcoLiving.
Their tablets come in a 100% recyclable aluminium tin, which can hold a supply for one month for one person.
After that you can buy refills, which come in a home compostable bag. The refills contain 125 tablets, which last one person for two months, given they brush their teeth twice a day.
The tablets contain fluoride, but are free of SLS and other chemicals. The EcoLiving toothpaste tablets come in three flavours: peppermint, orange and raspberry.
While slightly cheaper, they are still more expensive than your ordinary toothpaste tubes, if you use my experiment and calculations.
Toothpowder
This alternative to toothpaste tubes is less known and less readily available.
Like the tablets, it’s a concentrated form of the paste. This means they contain no water, which makes them more eco-friendly.
Toothpowder tends to come in glass jars or other non-plastic packaging.
To use it, you simply dip your clean toothbrush into the powder and start brushing. Although it can take a while to get used to it.
One advantage of toothpowder is that it is more effective in getting rid of stains, according to research. But at the same time, it can be more abrasive for your teeth.
It’s a question of preference and trying it out, I guess.
While not many brands offer toothpowders, there are some small UK brands that do.
Planet Detox
This UK-based company puts our planet first, which is an attitude I love.
They only use natural ingredients and plastic-free packaging. The Planet Detox toothpowder is free of fluoride and also does not contain SLS or other chemicals.
They use natural foaming agents, so the powder will foam as you brush.
You can buy the powder in three flavours: peppermint, spearmint and cinammon & clove.
They offer a 100g glass jar, which you can refill once empty. The Planet Detox toothpowder refills come in cardboard tubes, which can be recycled.
Because you don’t need to use that much of the powder, it will last longer than toothpaste. That means it’s cheaper.
A 100g jar can last close to 12 months, depending on how much you use. That makes it cheaper than buying toothpaste tubes.
Georganics
They make a wide range of zero-waste oral care products, including toothpowder. The powder comes in a glass jar with an aluminium lid, both of which are recyclable.
Unfortunately, Georganics don’t do refills, so you need to buy a new jar every time. But because the jar and lid can be endlessly recycled, it’s still better than buying a non-recyclable toothpaste tube.
Their powder does not contain fluoride or any nasty chemicals. But you can get a wide range of favours, including orange, peppermint and eucalyptus.
The Georganics toothpowder is priced similar to the Planet Detox one, so it should be cheaper than regular toothpaste.
Toothsoap
The final alternative to toothpaste tubes are toothpaste bars or toothsoap.
They are basically like soap for your teeth. But of course, it’s made for brushing your teeth. Who would want soap in their mouth?!
It’s probably the least known alternative to toothpaste, and therefore there aren’t many UK brands around offering them.
To use them, you just wet your toothbrush and rub it against the solid toothpaste. Then you are ready to brush. It’s very simple really.
Georganics
This brand has such a good range of zero-waste oral care products, that they are a great place to start your journey of swapping to plastic-free products.
Georganics offers two different solid toothpastes. One infused with charcoal for extra whitening and one with peppermint flavour.
The main ingredients in the Georganics toothsoaps are olive oil and cocoa butter, as well as peppermint oil for flavour.
You won’t find any SLS or nasty chemicals. They only use 100% natural ingredients. But the soap also doesn’t contain fluoride, which you should keep in mind.
The Georganics toothpaste bar comes in recyclable packaging in the form of an aluminium tin.
One toothsoap bar lasts one person about 3 months, if they brush twice daily.
Keeping that in mind, the bar doesn’t cost more than regular toothpaste, so won’t break your budget.
Which Alternative Is Best?
There is so much choice when it comes to alternatives to toothpaste tubes. You might wonder how to decide.
The first thing you need to consider is that some alternatives don’t contain fluoride.
As many dentists say that fluoride helps to prevent tooth decay, it might be worth checking with your dentist before switching to an alternative that doesn’t contain this mineral.
Because you don’t want to risk the health of your teeth and gums. And there are plastic-free options that do include fluoride.
After that it’s down to your preference and budget.
Some alternatives are more expensive, so it will depend on how much money you are able or are willing to spend.
You should keep in mind that it’s often small businesses who invest in making eco-friendly, plastic-free products.
Because they can’t buy the same quantities of ingredients as big corporations, they don’t get them as cheap.
But they tend to be more ethical and less driven by making money, which is one reason I prefer to buy from small companies rather than the big ones.
I also believe that it will be the small businesses that will make the difference. The big corporations have no incentive to change the practices, as it would cost them a lot of money.
While all this won’t make much difference to you when you are on a budget, it is worth keeping in mind.
Preference is an important criterion when choosing to which alternative to toothpaste tubes to switch.
Some will need more getting used to, like the powder or the soap.
My advice would be to give them all a go, if you can. This way you will be sure to find the one that works for you.
Now that you know all about the alternatives to toothpaste tubes, you are ready to make the switch yourself and rid your bathroom and your life of some plastic.
