One of the most exciting products we've launched in recent months is the Suri sustainable electric toothbrush. Whilst we would never add a product to Buy Me Once that our team doesn't love, this repairable and genuinely durable toothbrush got rave reviews all round - quite a remarkable feat since it is notoriously difficult to find built-for-life electronics.
We asked Mark Rushmore, Co-Founder at Suri, all about the fascinating story behind their brand and the most sustainable electric toothbrush we've encountered so far.
What was the driving force behind setting up SURI?
We found out that every year over 4 billion toothbrushes are thrown away and end up in landfill or polluting our oceans. Suri (short for Sustainable Rituals), was created to tackle this issue by making a more sustainable electric toothbrush, with performance and design at its core.
Mark Rushmore, co-founder of Suri
Tell us about your materials and how the brushes are made?
We've used plant-based materials including cornstarch and castor oil in the heads. This renewable material has less of an impact versus petrochemical-based plastics that the majority of toothbrush heads are made from, and we also offer free recycling via pre-paid mailer bags. Additionally, we've designed our brush in a modular way so that we can repair and replace the battery - thus extending its lifetime.
How did you go about designing the product?
We interviewed thousands of consumers, dental professionals, and sustainability experts before we began our designs. What we discovered is that the features people wanted (including long battery life, quiet brushes, and a slim design) were being ignored while brands added more 'bluetooth enabled apps' that weren't actually being used.
In addition to more sustainable designs and materials, we've sought to incorporate more of what people want and use. Lastly, people hate that 'gunk' that can form when you leave a brush standing on a charging stand, so we designed a magnetic mirror mount which keeps the brush neat and tidy - simple but effective.
What frustrates you about the electronics industry?
Meaningless 'innovation' that is not based on consumer needs and is not actually sustainable.
What makes a Suri brush different from other electric toobrushes on the market?
Our brushes offer more sustainable features than any other electric brushes available - whether that's the materials we use, the repairability, the plastic-free packaging, that we measure, reduce and offset our emissions, or our free recycling program. All of this in a slim, but powerful design that's clinically proven to provide a superior clean.
Which is your favourite piece in the collection and why?
I love our Winter Fern Brush with UV Case because it's a unique colour that looks great in my bathroom!
Tell us about a product in your life that has lasted a really long time.
Bose QC35 headphones - you can replace the foam earpieces, so I've had them for a long time!
Anything else you’d like to add?
One of, if not the best things about Suri is our amazing community. You only have to look on Trustpilot to see a strong community of people who share our vision for a more positive future. We truly appreciate each and every person who engages with us and our mission.
Browse the full Suri collection here.
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