Hydrophil Toothbrush quiver bamboo

Bamboo is a natural, rapidly growing renewable resource, a hardwood that withstands mechanical stress so well that it can be used for flooring or cutting boards in the kitchen. With the proper processing, bamboo fulfils European standards for hygiene. At the same time, bamboo is an alternative to plastic with the necessary material properties asked for in bath utensils. This toothbrush quiver comes from the same manufacturer as our toothbrushes made of bamboo, and like them when it has finished its term of duty it can be disposed of on the compost heap or buried in the garden where it will decompose in one to two years.

Bamboo is the largest of the sweet grasses, and at the same time, the fastest growing plant on earth: some types manage to grow one metre in a day. More than a third of the species are native to China. The wood for these quivers comes from there, where they are also processed. The cultivation of bamboo requires neither water nor fertiliser or pesticide because the plant itself possesses natural antibacterial substances. This is what makes it extraordinarily tough.

The three founders of Hydrophil – Christoph Laudon, Wanja Johannes Weskott and Sebastian Bensmann – call themselves “water lovers”. And that’s what the name of their company means, since the name comes from the Ancient Greek, “hýdor” meaning water and “phílos”, loving. Their common interests and a blog post by Sebastian on “Water consumption in textile production” gave rise to a joint idea in 2013: They wanted to bring their own products to the market – fair-trade and vegan products manufactured in a water-friendly way. Water-friendly products are products whose components of natural origin have been cultivated without artificial irrigation and which, when composted, leave no harmful residues in the groundwater. Hydrophil’s first product – a T-shirt – proved enormously popular and prompted the founders to expand the range. The company now specialises in the manufacture of hygiene and personal care products – because, what better place to save water than in the bathroom?

By the way: Hydrophil donates 10% of the profits to the non-profit association 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.