1 00:00:07,133 --> 00:00:10,453 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Saturday Morning with Jack Tam podcast 2 00:00:10,573 --> 00:00:13,213 Speaker 1: from News Talks at be time. 3 00:00:13,013 --> 00:00:16,813 Speaker 2: To catch up with our sustainability correspondent Kate Hall, who 4 00:00:16,853 --> 00:00:20,053 Speaker 2: was focusing on the toothbrush dilemma this week. Good morning, Kate, 5 00:00:21,133 --> 00:00:24,613 Speaker 2: the toothbrush dilemma. I'm so glad you were talking about 6 00:00:24,613 --> 00:00:27,973 Speaker 2: this because I'm someone who takes dental hygiene extremely seriously. 7 00:00:28,373 --> 00:00:30,733 Speaker 2: Like I would say, it's not it's not an obsession, 8 00:00:30,773 --> 00:00:32,533 Speaker 2: but it's definitely a passion, you know what I mean. 9 00:00:33,173 --> 00:00:36,573 Speaker 2: Like it's I'm I'm a flosser, I'm an interdental brusher, 10 00:00:36,693 --> 00:00:40,733 Speaker 2: and I'm certainly a toothbrusher multiple times a day as well. 11 00:00:40,733 --> 00:00:44,213 Speaker 2: This is nothing like that freshmouth feeling, you know. But 12 00:00:44,333 --> 00:00:47,493 Speaker 2: here's the thing. But obviously toothbrushes are not necessarily the 13 00:00:47,493 --> 00:00:50,173 Speaker 2: most sustainable thing in the world. And yeah, I don't 14 00:00:50,213 --> 00:00:56,053 Speaker 2: know that using plastic dental tape or into dental brushes 15 00:00:56,053 --> 00:00:59,293 Speaker 2: are necessarily that sustainable as well. But you've got those 16 00:00:59,333 --> 00:01:01,853 Speaker 2: eco toothbrushes and it turns out that they're not necessarily 17 00:01:01,893 --> 00:01:02,853 Speaker 2: that sustainable either. 18 00:01:03,813 --> 00:01:07,173 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's toothbrushes are really hard on because we need them, 19 00:01:07,213 --> 00:01:09,933 Speaker 3: Like it's sustainable to brush your teeth. You know, it's 20 00:01:09,973 --> 00:01:13,893 Speaker 3: great when you have positive, you know, not an intense 21 00:01:14,053 --> 00:01:16,853 Speaker 3: dental hygiene. It's awesome when you're aware of that. But 22 00:01:17,053 --> 00:01:20,093 Speaker 3: you know, we're creating all these eco toothbrushes that some 23 00:01:20,173 --> 00:01:23,093 Speaker 3: of them are made from, you know, they'll say they're 24 00:01:23,093 --> 00:01:25,853 Speaker 3: made from plant based plastic materials. They will only break 25 00:01:25,893 --> 00:01:31,053 Speaker 3: down in certain composting commercial composting facilities, so they're still 26 00:01:31,133 --> 00:01:33,053 Speaker 3: ending up actually a lot of them, like on our 27 00:01:33,133 --> 00:01:37,293 Speaker 3: beaches when you see the beach clean up data, a 28 00:01:37,333 --> 00:01:39,253 Speaker 3: lot of the way, so there is toothbrushes. 29 00:01:39,773 --> 00:01:41,413 Speaker 1: They're so gross. Yeah. 30 00:01:41,533 --> 00:01:44,213 Speaker 3: Yeah, and then if that plant based plastic ends up 31 00:01:44,213 --> 00:01:46,053 Speaker 3: in landfill, it's not going to break down, you know. 32 00:01:46,373 --> 00:01:49,253 Speaker 3: So all of the toothbrushes you have used are still 33 00:01:49,413 --> 00:01:54,253 Speaker 3: existing out there today. Globally, we throw away twenty three 34 00:01:54,413 --> 00:02:01,053 Speaker 3: billion toothbrushures each year, like just approximately. Yeah, so yeah, 35 00:02:01,093 --> 00:02:03,933 Speaker 3: it's something it's something we can't just cut out of 36 00:02:03,973 --> 00:02:06,213 Speaker 3: our lives. You know, we can't just say no, which 37 00:02:06,413 --> 00:02:08,213 Speaker 3: I think with sustainability often you can be like I 38 00:02:08,293 --> 00:02:12,013 Speaker 3: actually I don't need that. Yeah, we do. We do 39 00:02:12,173 --> 00:02:15,653 Speaker 3: need to be brushing our teeth, so even the compostable ones, 40 00:02:15,693 --> 00:02:18,173 Speaker 3: you know, the wooden ones. Yeah, you know, they're they're 41 00:02:18,213 --> 00:02:22,213 Speaker 3: great because you know, it's often they're just literally just 42 00:02:22,253 --> 00:02:24,573 Speaker 3: made of wood and you can use that on your 43 00:02:25,173 --> 00:02:28,653 Speaker 3: fire in the winter time, or I use them as 44 00:02:28,893 --> 00:02:32,213 Speaker 3: like I write on what vegetables are planted and use 45 00:02:32,253 --> 00:02:35,573 Speaker 3: them as little you know, little planter labelers things like that. 46 00:02:35,573 --> 00:02:40,933 Speaker 3: They're great. Yeah, easy to repurpose, but even then it's 47 00:02:40,933 --> 00:02:43,933 Speaker 3: still a single use kind of item that we're replacing. 48 00:02:44,613 --> 00:02:47,253 Speaker 3: You know, you should be replacing several times a year. 49 00:02:47,293 --> 00:02:49,573 Speaker 3: I'm not sure if everyone does repace their truth brushes 50 00:02:49,613 --> 00:02:53,373 Speaker 3: as much as didn't just recommend us, but we have. 51 00:02:54,573 --> 00:02:58,053 Speaker 3: We have some new ideas around toothbrushes that are coming 52 00:02:58,053 --> 00:03:02,893 Speaker 3: in which I recently switched to, which is a it's 53 00:03:02,893 --> 00:03:06,573 Speaker 3: basically like choosing your Harry Potter wand because technically the 54 00:03:06,733 --> 00:03:10,053 Speaker 3: reasonable toothbrush that I have should last me my lifetime, 55 00:03:10,733 --> 00:03:14,773 Speaker 3: so that the stick the handle of your toothbrush that 56 00:03:14,853 --> 00:03:18,053 Speaker 3: doesn't all went out. Right, when we're throwing out a toothbrush, 57 00:03:18,133 --> 00:03:19,973 Speaker 3: you're throwing it out because all the bristles are worn out. 58 00:03:20,013 --> 00:03:20,573 Speaker 2: Yeah, of course. 59 00:03:21,253 --> 00:03:24,933 Speaker 3: So this one Funky is the brand and they're super new. 60 00:03:25,413 --> 00:03:28,853 Speaker 3: They're here in Auckland New Zealand. You just pop out 61 00:03:29,013 --> 00:03:31,413 Speaker 3: the head. So that does need to go to Lancel, 62 00:03:32,333 --> 00:03:35,733 Speaker 3: a little plastic thing, but we haven't. Again, unless you're 63 00:03:36,013 --> 00:03:40,613 Speaker 3: using different sustainable toothbrushes that are made from like boar 64 00:03:40,733 --> 00:03:44,733 Speaker 3: bristles or you know, different things, that head does do 65 00:03:44,893 --> 00:03:46,933 Speaker 3: need to go. It's a very small little head, but 66 00:03:47,053 --> 00:03:50,773 Speaker 3: again for sustainability for our house, that's currently the technology 67 00:03:50,813 --> 00:03:52,853 Speaker 3: we have. But yeah, you just pop out the little 68 00:03:52,973 --> 00:03:58,413 Speaker 3: head and place it with a new one. Yeah, it's 69 00:03:58,453 --> 00:04:00,773 Speaker 3: literally when I saw that, I think they have some 70 00:04:00,933 --> 00:04:02,733 Speaker 3: in Europe. But when I saw it, I was like, 71 00:04:02,933 --> 00:04:04,413 Speaker 3: why haven't we been doing? 72 00:04:05,733 --> 00:04:05,813 Speaker 1: So? 73 00:04:06,013 --> 00:04:11,253 Speaker 3: What's the body called funkyky in gk y. 74 00:04:11,533 --> 00:04:14,533 Speaker 2: Fonky Oh yeah, right, okay, called funky? Yeah that sounds great. 75 00:04:14,613 --> 00:04:17,093 Speaker 2: What about just extending the life of your brush? Like, 76 00:04:17,653 --> 00:04:19,333 Speaker 2: are there other things that you can do after you've 77 00:04:19,413 --> 00:04:21,653 Speaker 2: used it, you know as a toothbrush, you use it 78 00:04:21,693 --> 00:04:24,133 Speaker 2: for you know, disciplining the kids and getting them to 79 00:04:24,173 --> 00:04:24,973 Speaker 2: clean the bathroom. 80 00:04:26,333 --> 00:04:30,333 Speaker 3: Absolutely, I think yeah, I have toothbrushes kind of all 81 00:04:30,333 --> 00:04:33,333 Speaker 3: over and often, especially if they're the wooden ones, I'll 82 00:04:33,413 --> 00:04:35,613 Speaker 3: write on. You know, what the purpose is for your 83 00:04:35,693 --> 00:04:38,613 Speaker 3: kind of ship press? Right, So you've got one for 84 00:04:38,733 --> 00:04:42,173 Speaker 3: like bathroom stuff. One maybe that's for grubby outdoor things. 85 00:04:42,573 --> 00:04:46,133 Speaker 3: One to you know, don't polish your shoes. You know, 86 00:04:46,173 --> 00:04:48,613 Speaker 3: there are all sorts of things we can reap your 87 00:04:48,613 --> 00:04:53,373 Speaker 3: this yeah, yeah, tooth pressures. But just knowing that even 88 00:04:53,773 --> 00:04:57,213 Speaker 3: even the schemes, I'm quite skeptical, all the schemes that 89 00:04:57,253 --> 00:04:59,813 Speaker 3: you can like recycle your toothbrushes and stuff like that, 90 00:05:00,213 --> 00:05:03,933 Speaker 3: they take energy, they take time, they take money. Yeah, 91 00:05:04,013 --> 00:05:06,053 Speaker 3: sometimes they don't even end up Actually a lot of 92 00:05:06,053 --> 00:05:08,173 Speaker 3: the time they don't end up being recycled in the 93 00:05:08,213 --> 00:05:12,893 Speaker 3: right place. So working and focusing on that reuse elements. 94 00:05:12,973 --> 00:05:15,933 Speaker 3: That toothbrush is something we will need for our whole lives, 95 00:05:16,413 --> 00:05:19,613 Speaker 3: and so thinking about how we can do that so 96 00:05:19,693 --> 00:05:22,173 Speaker 3: much better and still keep up our dental hygiene like 97 00:05:22,213 --> 00:05:26,453 Speaker 3: I have. Whenever I try new sustainable dent products, I 98 00:05:26,493 --> 00:05:29,653 Speaker 3: take it to my dentist at my regular checkup and 99 00:05:29,693 --> 00:05:31,453 Speaker 3: I say, is this okay? You know, like with my 100 00:05:32,133 --> 00:05:35,533 Speaker 3: tooth thanks from solid Oral Care who makes it in Wellington? 101 00:05:36,213 --> 00:05:38,853 Speaker 3: Is this you know, like, is this actually dentist approved? 102 00:05:39,693 --> 00:05:41,773 Speaker 3: And then I say, yep, cool, and yeah, my teeth, 103 00:05:41,933 --> 00:05:44,253 Speaker 3: my teeth has been great for many years and I've 104 00:05:44,333 --> 00:05:47,813 Speaker 3: used all sorts of these sustainable products, so yeah, sustainable 105 00:05:47,813 --> 00:05:49,053 Speaker 3: for our house and the planet. 106 00:05:49,253 --> 00:05:52,773 Speaker 2: So I mentioned those other things that I use. I 107 00:05:52,853 --> 00:05:55,453 Speaker 2: use the little brushes, you know, the little interdental brushes 108 00:05:55,453 --> 00:05:58,093 Speaker 2: are kind of like pipeline's almost so you can get 109 00:05:58,093 --> 00:06:00,453 Speaker 2: the bamboo versions of those now, so they're not just 110 00:06:00,573 --> 00:06:04,293 Speaker 2: plastic based. But the big one for me, the problematic 111 00:06:04,333 --> 00:06:08,453 Speaker 2: one is dental floss and my teeth are really close together. 112 00:06:09,013 --> 00:06:12,093 Speaker 2: So if I use the kind of ropie one that's 113 00:06:12,133 --> 00:06:15,333 Speaker 2: made out of a natural product, it doesn't get in 114 00:06:15,373 --> 00:06:19,693 Speaker 2: between my teeth. Yes, So at the moment you're gonna 115 00:06:19,693 --> 00:06:21,733 Speaker 2: hate me for saying this, I'm using I'm using like 116 00:06:21,773 --> 00:06:25,093 Speaker 2: a plastic tape to get in there, and I'll tell 117 00:06:25,093 --> 00:06:27,973 Speaker 2: you what I know. But it's just it's so clean, 118 00:06:28,253 --> 00:06:28,493 Speaker 2: you know. 119 00:06:29,213 --> 00:06:32,253 Speaker 3: And you know what, actually, if that's like, I think 120 00:06:32,413 --> 00:06:34,533 Speaker 3: we still need we have a little bit to go 121 00:06:34,613 --> 00:06:38,573 Speaker 3: in terms of advancing our sustainable dental floss because it 122 00:06:38,653 --> 00:06:42,573 Speaker 3: is a really important product for our teeth. And like 123 00:06:42,813 --> 00:06:46,133 Speaker 3: even to my husband, he's exactly the same. He tries 124 00:06:46,173 --> 00:06:52,293 Speaker 3: these these more sustainable and then they just break in 125 00:06:52,373 --> 00:06:55,693 Speaker 3: his teeth and and for me, they kind of work 126 00:06:55,733 --> 00:06:57,173 Speaker 3: maybe I have a little bit more space to turn 127 00:06:57,253 --> 00:07:00,573 Speaker 3: my teeth. It runs different, but I just say, you know, 128 00:07:00,973 --> 00:07:03,093 Speaker 3: invest in one that you know is going to be 129 00:07:03,573 --> 00:07:11,253 Speaker 3: really good for your teeth. Timbre often maybe Broston Goodness, 130 00:07:12,933 --> 00:07:17,013 Speaker 3: and you know that's just maybe reduces how much do 131 00:07:17,053 --> 00:07:21,373 Speaker 3: you using. So it's not about throwing away and like 132 00:07:21,413 --> 00:07:23,973 Speaker 3: giving up all these things in the name of sustainability. 133 00:07:24,013 --> 00:07:27,533 Speaker 3: It's actually just being being clever and yeah, yeah thinking 134 00:07:27,533 --> 00:07:30,373 Speaker 3: about if you're the option is just not flushing your teeth, 135 00:07:30,773 --> 00:07:32,973 Speaker 3: and you know that may end up in a whole 136 00:07:32,973 --> 00:07:37,573 Speaker 3: lot of different mental kind of surgeries or things that 137 00:07:37,653 --> 00:07:39,413 Speaker 3: need to be done that will involve a whole lot 138 00:07:39,453 --> 00:07:42,493 Speaker 3: more waste. So yeah, just being clear. 139 00:07:42,333 --> 00:07:45,053 Speaker 2: About it, all right, Kate, you're better tim than me. 140 00:07:45,133 --> 00:07:47,173 Speaker 2: I reckon on that one. But thank you if you 141 00:07:47,253 --> 00:07:49,533 Speaker 2: come across a really good sustainable option that gets in 142 00:07:49,573 --> 00:07:52,653 Speaker 2: between the teeth time all the years, I promise Kate 143 00:07:53,053 --> 00:07:56,093 Speaker 2: on social media of course, by searching ethically, Kate, and 144 00:07:56,133 --> 00:07:56,893 Speaker 2: we will catch again. 145 00:07:56,973 --> 00:08:00,613 Speaker 1: So for more from Saturday Morning with Jack Tame, listen 146 00:08:00,693 --> 00:08:03,493 Speaker 1: live to news talks that'd be from nine am Saturday, 147 00:08:03,733 --> 00:08:05,773 Speaker 1: or follow the podcast on iHeartRadio.