Making a toothbrush out of bamboo seems unusual at first, but the material is predestined for this use. As a rapidly renewable, natural raw material, bamboo is an excellent alternative to conventional plastic handles and helps to stem the flood of plastic in the household and therefore also in waste. The colors for handles and bristles are certified and harmless to people and nature. The bristles are made from castor oil.

Bamboo is the largest species of sweet grass and also the fastest growing plant on earth: some species can grow up to one meter a day. More than a third of the over 1,500 species of bamboo are native to China. The wood for these toothbrushes, which are manufactured locally, also comes from there. Bamboo cultivation does not require watering, fertilizers or pesticides, as the plant itself has natural antibacterial substances and is therefore extremely resistant. Bamboo toothbrushes meet local hygiene standards and are ideal for oral hygiene.

They love water, which is why Christoph Laudon, Wanja Johannes Weskott and Sebastian Bensmann have appropriately named their company Hydrophil (from the ancient Greek hýdor "water" and phílos "loving"). In 2013, their shared interest and a blog post by Sebastian on the topic of "water consumption in textile production" gave rise to the idea of launching their own products on the market that are not only vegan and fair, but above all plastic-free and water-conserving: Products whose natural components grow without artificial irrigation and whose other ingredients leave no traces in the groundwater during composting. After the first product, a T-shirt, met with great demand, Hydrophil quickly expanded its range and has since specialized in the manufacture of hygiene and personal care products - after all, where could the idea of saving water be more obvious than in the bathroom?

By the way: Hydrophil donates 10% of its profits to the non-profit organization Viva con Agua de Sankt Pauli e.V., which is committed to providing access to clean drinking water and sanitary facilities for people in countries of the global South.