Frequently Asked Questions
Simply put, a bamboo toothbrush is far better for the environment.
Our brush is naturally biodegradable, antibacterial, water resistant and BPA free.
Simply Bamboo uses a cradle-to-cradle design, meaning that our brush returns to the soil from which it originally came to grow new bamboo, making it a completely renewable resource.
Bamboo also does not result in any deforestation.
Our brush is also proudly South African designed.
Our bamboo toothbrushes are manufactured at our factory in Yangzhou China.
Our brush handles are made from MOSO bamboo, which is sustainably grown and its harvesting does not adversely impact the local environment.
Our long-term aim is to produce our toothbrushes in South Africa, where there are currently no toothbrush manufacturing facilities.
We only settled, when we were confident that we had found an honest factory with good working conditions and sustainable practices.
No, they are made of charcoal-infused nylon and need to be removed from the brush before disposing of it, as they are not biodegradable. Some manufacturers claim their bristles are biodegradable, but this is not the case.
Unfortunately, the only completely natural bristle alternative is pigs' hair, which would make our brush less environmentally-friendly due to animal cruelty concerns in harvesting the hair.
Our bristles are BPA free.
We hope to find sustainable alternatives for the bristles in future.
Yes, our toothbrush handles are 100% biodegradable, as they are made from 100% natural MOSO bamboo and can be composted at the end of their useful life.
In an effort to make our product as sustainable as possible we try to minimise packaging and use no plastic. Each brush comes in its own individual kraft paper carton – this is also compostable in your home compost heap. Our packaging is secured with folding techniques to remove the need for any glue.
No hardwood trees or forests are damaged in the manufacturing of our brushes.
Although it has properties comparable to hardwood, bamboo is not wood. It is actually a type of grass that grows back amazingly quickly - sometimes up to 1m day! This makes it the fastest growing plant on earth. It is a natural, fast-growing alternative to many other materials and is more sustainable than wood.
We use MOSO bamboo for our toothbrushes. This species of bamboo is widely available and not an endangered bamboo variety. It is also not consumed by Pandas. That is why our bamboo is also FSC Certified.
Harvesting the bamboo has no adverse effect on the forest or natural ecosystem and causes no deforestation. Unlike trees, which would die after harvesting, the bamboo plant just grows back! In fact, the trimming stimulates growth. It is a completely renewable and sustainable resource. Up to 25%of the poles in a bamboo forest can be harvested per year.
Download our wholesale price list to view our rates.
You can also contact us at info@simplybamboo.co.za to discuss wholesale rates.
- MOQ is 50 brushes
- You will need to bear the shipping cost
Currently our brushes are available for sale online on our website and Faithful to Nature.
Here are some of our physical retailers:
In South Africa:
At all Checkers and Checkers Hyper outlets nationwide!
Cape Town: Nude Foods in Zonnebloem, SANCCOB
Johannesburg: The Refillery in Morningside, Cedar Square and Linden
In Namibia:
Windhoek: Zero Waste CC
In Zimbabwe:
Waste Me Not
In Mozambique:
Natural Moçambique
We hope to supply more local retailers in the near future.
Shipping is free for all online orders over R300. Otherwise shipping costs R130 across South Africa and delivery can be expected within 2-3 working days in main hubs. If you are in a smaller town, it will take 4-5 days.
Deliveries are not made on weekends, so if you order on Friday, your parcel will only be shipped on Monday.
Refer to our Returns Policy for more detail.
Store your toothbrush in a cool dry place. Long-term exposure to moisture will shorten the life of the toothbrush.
If you notice the occasional bristle falling out, there is no need to panic. This is due to the bristles being secured by pressure and not glue (one of the reasons the handle is 100% eco-friendly)
When brushing, do so gently as you would with any regular toothbrush.
Dentists recommend that you replace your toothbrush every three months, after an illness or when the bristles become frayed to preserve good oral hygiene.
Packaging can simply be added to your regular paper recycling or compost.
When disposing of your brush, we recommend that you remove the bristles, as those are not biodegradable and should be sent for recycling. Simply pluck the bristles from the handle with pliers.
Although the handle is biodegradable, we recommend that you upcycle your brush by finding alternative uses (e.g. use as cleaning brush for grout, jewellery, sneakers etc., painting, a label for your home grown vegetable garden, or sawing off the head and making it into handy letter-opener)
Share your upcycling ideas with us on social media.
Dentists recommend that you replace your toothbrush every three months, after an illness, or when the bristles become frayed to preserve good oral hygiene. However, the brush lasts far longer - as long as your standard plastic toothbrush.