
Frequently Asked Questions
1. What is your bristles made of?
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Once upon a time, for our very first batch of production in 2016, our bristles were made of Bamboo fiber and Nylon 4. These are 100% biodegradable and compostable material. However, the process to achieve the combination of 100% biodegradable handle and 100% biodegradable bristles have proven to leave much more carbon footprint than we want to. We had to produce the bristles and the handles in two different countries, fly the bristles to where the handles are produced to put them together, then fly them to United States where we are based. These multiple shipments cost a lot of carbon footprint. To remedy this problem, we have decided to source both bristles and handles from one manufacturer, and this reduces our carbon footprint by roughly 30%. However, the manufacturer cannot provide biodegradable bristles as they are not available in the area.
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If you order your brush on March 23rd 2017 onward, your bristles is not biodegradable. They are made of activated-charcoal infused BPA-free nylon. The handles are biodegradable, however the bristles are not- and you would have to pull them out with pliers before composting the handle.See question #8 for suggestions on how to handle the britsles trash.
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We are still working towards producing 100% biodegradable toothbrushes again (handle and bristles)
2. Where do you source the material for your toothbrush?
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We sourced the first batch from Hongkong, Mainland China, and Indonesia. We put them together in China- where the handles are made. However, after calculated considerations, we are moving all production to Mainland China- where the type of bamboo we use (Mao) are in proliferation- to minimize our carbon footprint. UPDATE: We are partially sourcing and producing in Indonesia starting 2019.
3. Is your packaging eco-friendly too?
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ABSOLUTELY! We have Zero-Waste packaging. We package the toothbrush in a recycled paper box, and ship them to you in a 100% recycled paper envelope, secured with paper tape. All material are fully recyclable and pulpable.
4. Where can we find you in a physical store in Canada, US, or Mexico?
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Visit our Stockist page to see where you can find us around the world.
5. Do you offer toothbrushes for kids?
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Yes! We launched our kids toothbrush line on July 1st 2017. Please find them in our shop!
6. Where are you based and where do you ship to?
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We are an American company based in the city of Oakland, California. We currently ship to United States, Australia Canada, the Netherlands, UK, and Mexico. We re gearing up to expand to other countries in the future. We are also available on Etsy and Amazon if you are more comfortable shopping in these market places.
7. What do you mean by vegan toothbrush?
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We simply mean that there are no animal parts on our toothbrush. Some organic toothbrushes use animal bristles (pig or horse hair). It also means that our toothbrushes are not tested on animals or use animal parts in any of its production processes.
8. Can I recycle the bristles?
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Yes, go to www.earth911.com to find the closest recycling centers near you that take Nylon bristles. In Oakland/ East Bay area, California, where Natboo is based, you can send them to East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse at 4695 Telegraph Ave.Oakland, CA 94609 and your bristles will be given a new life as part of an artwork!
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Another option is include it in an ecobrick to upcycle them. For more info on Ecorbicking, click here
9. My toothbrush handle is cracking. Is this normal?
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Yes if you have used it for at least 3-4 months. Bamboo is organic and like all other organic matter, will biodegrade. If you live in a colder and dryer climate, it will tend to crack faster. The American Dental Association recommends that you replace your toothbrush once every 3 months, so if it cracks on the third month, it's a good sign that you need to replace your brush.
10. We're a retail shop/ wholesaler- can we stock you?
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OF COURSE! We LOVE getting our toothbrushes in more places so that Natboo can be accessible to more people. Also when Natboo is in-stores, customers who live around the area where the store is will save on shipping! Everybody wins. For wholesale price-list, please email to sales@natboobrush.com
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Please note that Natboo will only allow 2 stockists at most within 1 city limit to avoid too many competition between stockists.
11. Are these all the colors that you offer?
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Stay Tuned! We are offering limited edition color selections for the holidays!
12. What is the best way to care for my bamboo toothbrush?
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The best way to ensure that your brush is long lasting is to keep it clean and dry. After you brush, rinse thoroughly with warm water, make sure there's no leftover toothpaste on the base of the bristles on the toothbrush head. Shake away all water residue vigorously, and if possible- wipe dry the handle. Let it dry naturally in an upright position. DO NOT place it in a cup or anything cup-like without any drainage that can collect water on the bottom as this condition will encourage mold to grow (not just for bamboo toothbrushes, but for plastic and silicone ones as well).