The eco-conscious consumer
UncategorisedPosted by: Dental Design 2nd June 2020
Every year on the 5th of June, World Environment Day serves as the United Nation’s flagship campaign for encouraging global awareness and action for the protection of our environment. Over the years, this has grown to become one of the largest worldwide platforms for environmental public outreach, celebrated by millions of people in more than 100 countries. In light of 2020’s World Environment Day, we are reminded of exactly how important it is to protect the precious planet we all call home, especially given the extreme natural disasters that many people across the globe have experienced in the last few months.
From serial storms and floods devastating the UK, to catastrophic droughts and bushfires ravaging Australia, there have been signs that the environment is struggling to cope with the way we are living. As these events are increasing in intensity and frequency, more and more people are beginning to appreciate and act on the need to protect the future of the planet, with youngsters in particular leading the charge for change on an unprecedented global scale. In fact, the first half of this year alone saw thousands of people take to the streets to join climate strikes, headed by influential young environmental activists. These included Greta Thunberg, who also made headlines again after criticising leaders at the World Economic Forum for failing to take sufficient action to combat the climate crisis.[i]
Rising awareness around the importance of preserving the environment is ultimately encouraging people to think twice about the way they shop for products and services. With the increasing availability of information online, consumers are becoming far better informed and, consequently, more enlightened and eco-conscious than ever before. As a result, shoppers are essentially buying the change they wish to see in the world by seeking out products and services from ethically, socially and environmentally responsible companies. This has led to a demand for greater transparency with goods, as more consumers want to know where products come from and what ingredients they contain.
In this regard, many people are investing in more natural products, especially for healthcare and cosmetic purposes. According to global consulting and research firm, Kline & Company, a growing number of consumers are choosing to pay a premium for products that are natural or that they perceive to be natural, based on brands’ claims that such products exclude certain synthetic chemicals and include naturally-derived ingredients. This supports the idea that the primary motivation for purchasing natural solutions is based on the desire to use “safer” products with fewer side effects. When it comes to natural cosmetic or healthcare products, consumers are ultimately looking for value over price, with value relating to a range of considerations such as whether the product provides a true benefit, or if it’s claims are backed by research.[ii], [iii]
Like many other industries, dentistry is facing increased consumer pressure to offer natural or “green” alternatives to traditional oral healthcare products. There are already a wide range of options for consumers to take advantage of. These include sustainably-produced bamboo toothbrushes that enable patients to limit their plastic consumption and waste, whilst benefitting from the same cleaning quality that can be achieved by using a plastic toothbrush. In addition, patients can swap out nylon dental floss with biodegradable silk floss produced from bamboo. Consumers even have the choice to switch from conventional plastic-tube toothpaste to a tablet form toothpaste. These are not only easy to use on-the-go, but are also often packaged in reusable and recyclable containers, facilitating further reduction in plastic consumption and waste.
Dental professionals can also recommend Perio Plus+ mouth rinses as an alcohol-free option to patients seeking a mouth rinse that offers the benefits of natural ingredients. The revolutionary new range of Perio Plus+ mouth rinses contain the gold standard anti-plaque agent, chlorhexidine (CHX), which has been enhanced by combining it with CITROX® – a natural bioflavonoid extracted from bitter oranges that exhibits potent anti-microbial, anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This unique formula is scientifically proven to be more effective than CHX alone at combatting plaque, thus providing ultimate protection from oral diseases such as dental caries, gingivitis and periodontitis.[iv]
Scientists have long warned that the way we live has to change if we are to safeguard the future of our planet and, consequently, ourselves. World Environment Day yet again emphasises the importance of implementing essential measures in order to help protect the environment – a call that the majority of consumers are eager to heed. As a result, governments and businesses worldwide will no doubt face further challenges from consumers to make positive changes, particularly with regard to how goods are produced – oral healthcare products are no exception. Take action today by recommending proven solutions that enable patients to optimise their oral health safely, effectively and naturally.
For more information please call 01480 862084, email info@curaprox.co.uk or visit www.perioplus.com/uk
[i] World Economic Forum. (2020) Greta Thunberg: Our house is still on fire and you’re fuelling the flames. Link: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2020/01/greta-speech-our-house-is-still-on-fire-davos-2020/. [Last accessed: 11.03.20].
[ii] Kline & Company. (2016) How Well Do You Understand the Natural Consumer? Link: https://www.klinegroup.com/how-well-do-you-understand-the-natural-consumer/. [Last accessed: 11.03.20].
[iii] Kline & Company. (2017) “Natural” Trends and Drivers in the Self-care Space. Link: https://www.iriworldwide.com/IRI/media/IRI_Kline%20-%20Natural%20OTCs%20White%20Paper.pdf. [Last accessed: 11.03.20].
[iv] Malic, S., Emanuel, C., Lewis, M. A. O. and Williams, D. W. (2013) Antimicrobial activity of novel mouthrinses against planktonic cells and biofilms of pathogenic microorganisms. Microbiology Discovery. 1: 11.
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