Eco-Friendly and Biodegradable Floss For A Flawless Smile

Traditional floss is mostly made of nylon or plastic and is generally stored in a single-use plastic container.

These materials not only take a lot of resources to produce but they can't be easily broken down after we're done using them.

When we toss our nylon floss and containers away, they will accumulate in landfills for hundreds of years or enter our waterways where they might harm aquatic life.

Switching to environmentally friendly dental floss may appear to be a small change, but it adds up when you consider how much floss you use every year!

The good thing is that the dental floss industry is changing and new healthier and more sustainable alternatives are available.

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What Makes A Dental Floss Eco-Friendly?

A zero-waste dental floss will be made from sustainable, biodegradable materials and also be packaged in refillable or compostable packaging to make your flossing as green as possible.

What are some of the materials that biodegradable dental floss is made from?

Silk Floss

Silk is a natural material derived from silkworms. It's more environmentally friendly than regular nylon or plastic dental floss since it biodegrades.

While silk is a strong material, silk floss may be more likely to break than normal floss.

One disadvantage of silk is that it is frequently not cruelty-free because the silkworms are harmed while harvesting it.

However, there are a few eco-friendly floss manufacturers who utilize Ahimsa silk (also known as peace silk), which is cruelty-free.

Bamboo Floss

Another popular eco-friendly choice is bamboo floss.

Bamboo regrows very quickly and is biodegradable, making bamboo floss a great option. It is also a vegan product suitable for those who don't want to use silk floss.

Bamboo farming also consumes less water and energy than manufacturing plastic floss products.

Packaging

When shopping for an eco-friendly alternative, bear the packaging in mind.

Standard floss, which is non-biodegradable, is frequently packaged in a plastic container as well.

Eco-friendly dental floss comes in a refillable glass or stainless steel container which is a fantastic low-waste option because you only need to buy the container once and then reuse it with floss refills.

It is important to notice how the refills are packaged to make sure they don't add to excessive plastic waste.

Most brands use recyclable cardboard or compostable soy bags to package the refills.

You may also get eco-friendly flosses with single-use compostable or recyclable packaging.

Best Eco-Friendly Dental Floss

Tree Bird Biodegradable Silk Dental Floss

Tree Bird dental lace is made from 100% silk and coated with natural candelilla wax.

The dental floss comes in a reusable glass container with a metal lid that you can use for years to come with dental floss refills.

The floss is 100% biodegradable so you can put it straight in your compost pile.

The box that floss comes in is made from kraft paper and printed with soy ink which breaks down faster than petroleum-based inks.

The dental floss is mint flavored and very strong for a great and sustainable oral care.

Since the floss is made from silk it is not vegan. If you are looking for a vegan option, check out the bamboo dental flosses below!

Tree Bird Organic Bamboo Charcoal Dental Floss

Tree Bird bamboo floss is made from activated bamboo charcoal that effectively removes plaque and cleans your teeth. It also contains a small amount of polyester to make the floss strong enough. This means that the floss will take longer to biodegrade (3-5 years).

This is a good option to use if you are vegan and can’t use silk floss which is not vegan but will biodegrade a lot sooner.

This bamboo charcoal floss comes in a refillable glass floss container that you can use as long as you want.

The packaging is made of kraft paper and printed with soy ink and is 100% compostable.

Me Mother Earth Biodegradable Bamboo Floss

Me Mother Earth even goes a step further and brings us a biodegradable dental floss made 100% from bamboo fiber and coated with candelilla wax.

This dental lace is vegan and doesn’t contain polyester hence it will biodegrade fast.

This is a great option to try and it comes in a stainless steel reusable container which is a lot more durable than a glass container.

Me Mother Earth is a family-owned company and they donate 10% of their profits to ocean and environmental conservation.

Radius Natural Unscented Floss

RADIUS unscented natural silk floss is made from 100% silk and coated in carnauba wax for total protection of your teeth and gums.

The floss is packaged in 100% plastic-free packaging and the cardboard box acts as a dispenser for the floss.

The packaging and the floss itself are 100% biodegradable.

This floss also contains organic erythritol which helps fight cavities.

This is a great biodegradable option but, of course, it is not vegan as it is made from silk.

SmartLifeco Biodegradable Dental Floss Picks

SmartLifeco is making compostable dental floss picks that have a 100% compostable straw wheat handle and a nylon thread.

The thread is unfortunately not compostable but it is really small so it would still be better to use the dental floss picks with a compostable handle vs the traditional plastic ones.

The floss is coated with candelilla wax for a smooth glide without shredding and the handle is designed to be used as a toothpick.

This dental floss has a minty taste and comes with a 100% guarantee - if you don’t like the product you will get your money back, no questions asked.

Now that you've got your biodegradable floss, check out Best Zero-Waste Toothpaste To Try in 2022 for a plastic-free brush.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is floss made of plastic?

Traditional dental floss is certainly not an eco-friendly product. The dental floss itself is made of nylon which is a form of plastic made from crude oil. And the packaging is also made of plastic which is often not recyclable.

The good news is that we have plastic-free floss options at our disposal today. We can opt for a biodegradable floss like silk floss or bamboo floss. They also come in reusable or compostable containers.

Is there an eco-friendly dental floss?

You can find zero-waste floss options now on the market.

The floss itself is made from biodegradable silk or bamboo and the packaging is either reusable or compostable.

Is silk floss compostable?

Yes, silk floss is compostable.

Is bamboo floss compostable?

Bamboo floss is vegan and can be composted.  Beware that some bamboo flosses (not all of them) contain a small amount of polyester. You can still compost bamboo dental floss with polyester but it will take longer to biodegrade - about 3-5 years.

Can dental floss be recycled?

Dental floss cannot be recycled but silk or bamboo floss can be composted as they are biodegradable.

Some plastic floss containers can be recycled (but not all of them) - please check the information on the packaging.

All in all, if you want to change your dental routine for the better, opt for a zero-waste floss like the ones we recommend above.