Dentaid, a leading company in oral health, together with Grup Fedefarma, FEFAC and CM PLASTIK, has launched ‘Toothbrushes with a future’, the first toothbrush recycling system in Spain that places pharmacies as the key points to bring this initiative closer to citizens.
During this first phase, a hundred pharmacies distributed in different municipalities in the province of Barcelona and surrounding municipalities will set up specific containers where citizens can deposit their used toothbrushes, ensuring their transformation into new raw materials.
This is a sustainable solution to an urgent challenge. In Spain, more than 48 million toothbrushes are discarded every year, which is equivalent to 772 tonnes of plastic, a waste that until now had no specific recycling system. Thanks to this initiative, these toothbrushes can have a second life by being transformed into sustainable products such as approved pallets.
The wear of toothbrush filaments after three months of use, as well as a series of other factors, can be indicators that reveal the need to renew the toothbrush to ensure optimal oral hygiene. This is where ‘Toothbrushes with a future’ comes in, responding to this need to give toothbrushes a second life.
‘This project provides citizens with a simple and responsible way to recycle their toothbrushes. In this sense, once again, pharmacies act as key centres of connection with the public in terms of social and health impact’, explains Jordi Guzmán, deputy general manager of Grup Fedefarma.
Pharmacies' commitment to health and circularity
The toothbrush is the key element in maintaining good oral health, followed by a good brushing technique to ensure plaque removal. The ‘Toothbrushes with a Future’ initiative demonstrates the commitment of pharmacies not only as healthcare spaces by recommending toothbrush renewal, but also as reference points in the promotion of responsible and sustainable practices. This initiative provides communities with a practical solution for the management of everyday waste such as toothbrushes, reinforcing the role of pharmacies as close, reliable agents and promoters of the circular economy.
‘Pharmacies, because of their unique connection to the community, are a key point to lead initiatives like this. They are key players in sustainability and reducing environmental impact. This project shows that sustainability is a shared and possible priority,’ says Antoni Torres, president of FEFAC.
‘Our role in this project is to transform waste into resources, giving it a new life and closing the recycling cycle. This project demonstrates that collaboration between sectors generates a real positive impact on the environment,’ concludes Carlos Martínez, CEO of CM PLASTIK.
For its part, Dentaid continues to work on its commitment to sustainability, both in the production processes, reducing the carbon footprint in the manufacture of its products, and in their end of life, thanks to its alliance with other entities in the value chain.
‘At Dentaid we integrate sustainability into our processes, devising, manufacturing and distributing products in a more sustainable way every day. This initiative is a clear example of the company's commitment to sustainability and innovation. The project revolutionises toothbrush management and sets a circular economy standard in the oral health sector. The combination of health, environmental footprint reduction and innovation is the path to a better future,’ concludes Manel Vera, CEO of Dentaid.
With this project, pharmacies consolidate themselves as key points in the transformation towards a circular economy model, promoting not only health and oral health, but also a collective commitment to the future of the planet and environmental sustainability. The project aims to expand to other cities in Spain in future phases, seeking to become a global model for the sustainable management of plastic waste in the oral health sector.