Photo: Instructables user Nairda
Hearteningly, some smart folks have been working on hacking the toothbrush in order to extract the motor inside so that it can be used for something else. Doesn’t it strike Oral B that something is wrong when people are making YouTube vids and Instructables photo sets about how to get more mileage out of their toothbrushes or reuse the parts at home?
It seems like this flood of hard, unrecyclable plastic is increasing, even as we become more aware about the lifecycle of products.
With companies winning “Product of the Year” awards for disposable crap (The Colgate Wisp, a one-time use toothbrush that includes toothpaste built-in is one such example), it seems like this flood of hard, unrecyclable plastic is increasing, even as we become more aware about the lifecycle of products (if you haven’t checked out Annie Leonard’s Story of Stuff, take a gander). If we are going to make disposable stuff, it should be biodegradable, compostable, or at the very least, recyclable.
[...] way that most electronics (and their concomitant accessories, additional parts and hardware) are packaged is really, really annoying. We’ve all had the experience of purchasing a shiny (or matte, if [...]
even worse is that manufacturers are pushing towards ever more shorter product use cycles. Products are not anymore made to last, and that causes even more impact on heavy disposal, than bad product design. But I couldn’t agree more, we don’t need a car to go shopping next block, neater a help for brushing our teethes.
What does it mean? That I, another little brick, make such an effort to enhance my good eco-acts and huge conglomerates aren’t giving a damn?
Paradoxical as it might seem, it motivates me.
[...] your life “easier.” But when conspicuous consumption trickles down to something as simple as brushing your teeth, you’d better believe something is awry. In this week’s installment of “Packaging the [...]
You think this Oral B thing is bad you have to see the new Sensodyne aerosol can toothpaste tube they are introducing soon. I am a Dentist and I was totally shocked at this metal shaving foam type can being used to deliver a more frothy type of toothpaste that of course is so much better just because it froths and gets into all the small nooks and crannies.I have never owned and electric toothbrush and have not had any decay for decades……laziness just seems to be the order of the day!!
Radius is a great company. Some of the first projects I worked on as a wee young designer were for them (personal cases). Another the team worked on, while I was working at Eldon Design Associates, was an “electric” toothbrush for Radius. It is essentially a timer embedded in the handle which helps kids know they are brushing long enough, and replacing the heads often enough. http://www.radiustoothbrush.com/intelligenttoothbrush.aspx
Thank you for this. Could not agree more. The Wisp in particular gets me so furious!
I am complete agreement regarding stupid packaging and the throwaway nature of our society HOWEVER I would like to point one thing out to the author… electric toothbrushes are not just for those too lazy to brush themselves and its somewhat offensive of you to say so. I have massive problems with sensitive gums to the point where I have to use aloevera toothpaste and a sonic type electric toothbrush. Using a manual toothbrush or even a regular rotating electric one for more than a couple of days results in bleeding gums. At home I have a rechargeable model but this is impracticable for travel so I use one of the oralB disposables you’re slagging off.
My point is that yes having a general disposable attitude towards products is extremely bad but sometimes these products are necessary for certain niche markets.
Brilliant – hack your toothbrush!
I always wondered about the connection between your 2-months of use and the compulsion to buy a new toothbrush. I love the idea of just buying a reusable head and I think the toothbrush looks more elegant too!
great post. i really can’t get over how wasteful society has become and how many unpractical, sloth inducing products are thrown at us under the guise of making our lives easier.