Planet Bamboo: Ecological toothbrushes for a healthy planet

As a strong supporter of the idea of 'brands with a conscience', I am parcimonious when it comes to product reviews and promotions. On my blog, I am always supporting products and companies that are not always tempting from the visual and price point of view, but who are generally supporting projects aimed to create a positive impact in the society, be it environmentally or otherwise. This is how I've found at the beginning of this year Planet Bamboo, a Stuttgart-based company creating ecological toothbrushes made of bamboo that accepted to send me for testing their products. 

Created in November last year, Planet Bamboo aims at challenging the harm made by plastic by offering the alternative of a material that has a limited environmental risk: bamboo. As one of the founders, Anton, an engineer by profession, told me earlier this year in a phone conversation, the company was created having in mind the idea of 'making the world a cleaner place', by avoiding the plastic polution risks. 

The tooth brushes, produced in China, were delivered in a nicely looking brown paper boxes featuring a panda brushing his teeth, with a short description in German of the main features of the products and a website address. My testing lot included 2x toothbrushes: 1 for adults and 1 for children. My testing time was of around 2 intensive weeks, using them twice the day, both me and my 20-month year old son.

The first thing you notice about the toothbrushes is how light they are. You can hardly notice you are holding something. Especially for small children, they are a very good start for practising their tooth brushing skills. As for now, the products do not have the approval of any local dentists' association. Cleaning the teeth is very easy and efficient, the brush being robust and soft, and easy to move too.It makes the brushing early in the morning a very easy work, not only for the little ones. 

The products themselves are permanent work in process, as since the first launch of the product, an improved variant was already offered, in less than one year. The tooth brushes are BPA-free, 96% biologically built, vegan and ecological. 

Personally, I was very happy with the product and I can strongly recommend to anyone. Well, maybe the colours of the brush aren't so attractive, but I definitely loved the lightness of the brush body and its features.

You can check their website: www.planet-bamboo.de for the various offers and price discounts.

Disclaimer: Although the products were offered for review by Planet Bamboo, but the opinions are, as usual, my own

Understanding 'Brands with a conscience'

We are living in a world overwhelmed by brands and the appeals to consumerism. The more the better. However, a new movement is developing aimed at promoting responsible consumer behavior and healthy investment. A couple of weeks ago, I've read a very interesting book introducing Brands with a conscience. It introduces famous brands - such as Adidas or Dr. Hauschka or H&M - which decided that success must be based on an ethical set of values. The authors, Sandra Horlings and Nicholas Ind, made me the honor of an interview about the topic of their book and the challenges faced by brands in the next decade. Here are the answers of my questions - sent and answered via email.
Brands With A Conscience is available to purchase from Kogan Page RRP for £19.99. Get 20% off by using discount code BMKBB20 at the checkout.

What is the biggest challenge for big brands in the next decade? 

The overall challenge for brands in general is to stay relevant. At this moment in time a major societal challenge in society (and thus for brands) is the trend of sharing information that is not necessarily ‘true’: not ‘true’ in the sense that the rational measurements and comparisons don’t apply any more. And the way facts are presented has become rather subjective. Which feeds distrust and insecurity. Brands have a way of framing ideas and facts in an emotional way, which gives them the opportunity to reach and activate large groups of people. And Brands with a Conscience take this responsibility serious. These brands are aware of their role and impact in the world and live up to this responsibility in a positive, solutions based way. 

What future do small and new brands have in the current marketing context? 

Larger brands may have been more experienced in following the signs of the time. However, the same principles apply for large, small and new brands. We believe brands that are built inside-out; that have clarity of purpose and live that through in strong principles, are best fit to stay relevant. At Medinge, we look at brands from a broad perspective; as a means of interacting with all stakeholders in a marketing context as well as a societal (employment, good neighbourship) and financial context. 

What do they need to do in order to answer the sophisticated needs of their current and potential customers? 

Brands with a Conscience follow their own principles and actively share their ideas with stakeholders. Since they are actively aware of their role and impact, they are also open and receptive to the ideas of others. They listen, respond to suggestions made by specific stakeholders and also promote a way of living that they believe can make better the world better. 

Will 'brands with a conscience' become a trend? Why and how can the examples you mention in the book be emulated, without a significant financial loss? 

Since 2004 when we started to recognise Brands with a Conscience, it has been our belief that brands that engage with consumers and other stakeholders in a conscientious way can be a force for good. In the book the majority of cases show that there is financial gain in acting in a conscientious way. And there are multiple surveys available that are mentioned that show the Brands with a Conscience can be, and are, financially succesful. In our view it is not a trend, although there is a growing interest in a more responsible way of doing business - that may be explained by the growing evidence that business originating in the post industrial era comes at a cost for both planet and people. 

How can brands keep their social relevance in time of financial crisis and turmoil? 

Being principles driven, acting human and humane, including all stakeholders: constantly interacting with people in and around the brand to educate and cultivate conscious leaders and followers. 

What are, in your opinion, the most successful 'brands with conscience' in the European market, and why? 

We’d prefer to define successful here as adding to the betterment of society. In our book we have made a selection of leading Brands with a Conscience originating in a diverse range of businesses: such as chocolate brand Tony’s Chocolonely, Dr Hauschka, Cosentino, adidas, French concept store Merci and Handelsbanken. There are more brands with a Conscience. They come from all over the world. All these are brands with a massive transformative purpose and strong leaders, that live clear, actionable principles.