Gum crime

Dan Welch tells you everything you've ever wanted to know about the real cost of toothpaste but were afraid to ask.

In 2006 toothpaste giant Colgate-Palmolive acquired an 84% stake in ethical trailblazer Tom's of Maine. Tom's, approved by BUAV (British Union for the Abolition of Vivisection) as a company that doesn't test on animals, have pledged to maintain their position. While PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) has called for continued consumer support, the Uncaged Campaign Against Vivisection has called for a boycott since the takeover. Tom's achieves a higher ethiscore rating than its parent for superior environmental standards, including 100% use of renewable energy.

Of the remaining companies Church & Dwight and Johnson & Johnson are targeted in PETA boycotts as companies that test on animals. Henkel is a boycott target of both PETA and the BUAV for the same reason, and Proctor & Gamble is the target of another long-standing boycott by Uncaged. GlaxoSmithKline was listed on Ethical Consumer's own Boycott Bush website as one of the top twenty consumer companies donating to the US Republican Party. It is also the target of a Stop Huntingdon Cruelty boycott over animal testing.

Fluoride

US toothpastes containing fluoride must carry a warning to: "Keep out of reach of children under 6 years of age. If you swallow more than used for brushing, seek PROFESSIONAL HELP or contact a POISON CONTROL center immediately."

The consensus among dentists is that fluoride significantly reduces tooth decay, but there is also no doubt it can be harmful.(1)

Excessive intake in children causes mottled, discoloured teeth(2) and has been linked to a massively increased risk of bone cancer.(3) The EU classifies fluoride as toxic if swallowed and an irritant to eyes, skin and lungs.(1)

Of those brands reviewed Neem Active and all those with a score above 9 are fluoride free - Kingfisher and Tom's offer both options.

Triclosan

Triclosan, an anti-bacterial, is found in Colgate Total, Crest, Mentadent P, as well as Sainsbury's, Asda, Tesco own brands.(4) Once widely used, many manufacturers have withdrawn the ingredient in the face of mounting evidence that it is dangerous for the environment. The substance is toxic to a range of aquatic species, especially algae. And triclosan was found to accumulate in fish kept near sewage outlets, as well as in human breast milk. An industry working group, including Colgate-Palmolive and GlaxoSmithKline, found 15% of environmental samples close to or above the allowed limit. Their response was to propose increasing the permitted toxicity levels ten fold.(4)

Clinomyn contains parabens, compounds that mimic oestrogen. In addition a number of varieties of Rembrandt contained EDTA, a "penetration enhancer" that may carry ingredients into the blood stream and organs. Of those products reviewed here that were rated by the US Environmental Working Group (see Links), these two received the worst health safety rating.(1)

Green white wash

Titanium dioxide is the world's most used white pigment. It is found in Clinomyn, Eurcryl, and all those scoring under 10 - except for Neem Active, Rembrandt and some Arm & Hammer varieties.

In 2006, Rio Tinto, the world's third biggest mining company, started work on a new titanium dioxide mine in the southern Madagascar. Long vilified, Rio Tinto has recast itself as a champion of corporate social responsibility. The mine has been billed as a blueprint for projects in the developing world. The half-billion dollar project was initially welcomed by many in a country where 70% live on less than a dollar a day. But a new report for Friends of the Earth (see Links) says the project is already undermining local living standards, causing social upheaval and environmental destruction.

That the project probably is an example of best practice in the industry only goes to underscore that extractive industries may have little part to play in sustainable economies of the future.

Packaging

A number of brands - A Vogel, Green People, Tom's and Weleda ? come in aluminium tubes that can be recycled. However, with aluminium production a carbon intensive process, its unclear whether this represents an environmental gain. Of these brands, only Tom's was awarded a sustainability bonus by Ethical Consumer for packaging. As well as a recycled cardboard box, consumers that don't have access to facilities can send their used tubes back to the company for recycling.

Do one thing

Around 10% toothpaste bought in plastic tubes gets thrown away. Cutting a nearly finished tube in two ensures you’re not literally throwing away resources.(7)

Three Things You Didn’t Know about Toothpaste

1 Sticks of Neem and Arak (Salvadora persica) are widely used in Africa, India, and the Middle East to brush teeth. Numerous scientific studies have shown their anti-bacterial and positive effect on oral health.(5) Arak is the active ingredient of Sarakan toothpaste (tel. 01420 544424), Neem of Neem Active.
2 Dissolve a teaspoon of baking soda in a glass of water to make your own toothpaste (undiluted baking soda can be tough on your enamel).
3 Earlier this year fake toothpastes made in China containing a toxic chemical, diethylene glycol (DEG), were found around the world. DEG was subsequently found in counterfeit Colgate in the US and fake Sensodyne in the UK (identifiable by tubes with Arabic lettering on). Fake Neem Active has also been found - only buy from trusted sources (contact www.neemgenie.co.uk tel. 01902 565507).

Links

“Development Recast?” A report..... on Rio Tinto’s mine in Madagascar (2007)

The Environmental Working Group database - assesses ingredients and products against 50 definitive toxicity and regulatory databases.

Tell Rio Tinto to improve their Madagascar mine through Friends of the Earth website. Alternatively give Rio Tinto a call 020 7930 2399.

Support Azafady, a charity running community based conservation and development projects, and a volunteer programme in south east Madagascar. Tel. 020 8960 6629

Vegan brands: Green People, Kingfisher, Sarakan, Vicco, Weleda.
Vegetarian brands: Colgate, Tom's of Maine, Urtekram, Neem Active

References

1 www.cosmeticsdatabase.com viewed 17/11/07
2 http://hcd2.bupa.co.uk/fact_sheets/ viewed 17/11/07
3 www.cspinet.org/integrity/watch/200608281.html viewed 17/11/07
4 ENDS Report 386, March 2007, pp30-33
5 For example: Almas K, Odontostomatol Trop, 12/01, 24(96), ; Herfolson BB, Barkvoll P. Eur J Oral Sci 1996: 104 5 Corporate Watch report ‘Nanotechnology: undersized, unregulated and already here’ (2007)
6 http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/business/6896264.stm viewed 17/11/07
7 “Packaging For Sustainability” Monkhouse, C et al (2004) www.incpen.org