Your Green Review

*Radius Give Away Below!

YGR readers can use discount code “YGR” for a 15% discount on all purchases good through 2/4/2009

The Rundown:

What: The Source Toothbrush by RADIUS (Soft)

Price: Individual $6.95/Replacement Heads $6.95

Product Materials:

• Handle: Wooden handle molded from recycled wood bio-plastic (wood fiber blended with PLA, polylactic acid)

• Head: Plastic with surgical grade 3080 Tynex nylong bristles

• Packaging: SmartCycle plastic, derived from 50% recycled plastic bottles. Recyclable under recycling code 6 (polystyrene).

Manufacturing Location: Kutztown, Pensylvania USA

What Makes It Green:

Handle is made from sustainable and recycled materials and lasts ‘indefinitely’, cutting product waste down to a mere 7%.  Radius estimates that their brushes use approximately 1/5 of the plastic of traditional toothbrushes.  Packaging incorporates post consumer waste.  All imperfect products are recycled on-site, never thrown away.  Radius does not test its products on animals and insists that its suppliers refrain from animal testing as well, requiring statements from each supplier.

Pros:

• Eco-Friendly Design- A toiletry you can feel good about buying.  This product is leaps and bounds ahead of most of its competitors when it comes to sustainability in both manufacturing and materials.
• Long Lasting- Radius states that its customers report bristles lasting two to three times longer than conventional toothbrushes.  Longer lasting translates into less waste generation.
• Effective- Works as well as (some argue better than) conventional brushes.
• Gentle On Teeth And Gums- The Source has 65% more bristle tufts and a greater total surface area than ordinary toothbrushes to lower pressure on gums and teeth.  Safe enough to use on children’s teeth!
• Ergonomic And Comfortable- The large handle paired with its ergonomically design makes the Source easy to grip, comfortable to hold and prevents ‘excess pressure’ from being applied to gums.
• Left And Right Hand Design: Provides comfortable useage for both left and righ-handed toothbrushers.
• Easy To Clean- If you’ll be holding on to the base for a while you may need to wash it from time to time.  The handle is durable with an easy to clean surface.  Using plain soap and water is effective.
• Reuse- Radius promotes the use of its toothbrushes to extend life cycle.  Radius recommends using the brushes as kitchen and vegetable brushes at the ‘end of life’ stage.

Cons:

• No ‘Send-Back’ Option- Radius has determined that accepting returns for recycling/re-manufacturing uses more resources (nonrenewable oil) in transport than it saves.
• Non-Recyclable Parts- Including the head, bristles and packaging if you happen to live in an area that does not accept resin code #6.
• Virgin Materials- The head and bristles are comprised of virgin materials although Radius is exploring alternative plastics.
• Does Not Fit Holders/Cases- The large handle prevents the toothbrush from fitting most toothbrush holders and travel cases (special travel cases can be purchased through the Radius website).

To participate in the give away:

1. Visit the Radius website before: midnight January 27th 2008
2. Come back and leave a comment including which Radius products you like best!
3. For an additional entry leave a comment every time you blog or Tweet this giveaway.
4. The winner will be chosen at random and contacted on January 28th

Good Luck!