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Are you totally devoted to your toothpaste?

12.04.2008

Submitted by idealbite on Thu, 12/04/2008 - 3:01am.
The Bite:
The loverly crew at Tom's of Maine is (they're dedicated to your soap and mouthwash too). Over the last thirty-some years, Tom's has perfected an entire line of personal care products that's as eco as possible and has tons of admirers.
Company Background: 
Founded by Tom and his wife Kate in 1970, Tom's goes out of its way in pursuit of planet- and people-conscious profitability - and we're not just talking recycled paper packaging. Even its employees feel the love. Says Media and Public Relations Manager Susan Dewhirst, "I probably couldn't have afforded a Prius without the company's hybrid credit, and the flex hours help me juggle work and my child." New to Tom's: a hops-based deodorant and a sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS)-free toothpaste. Try one, and you'll probably be going steady before too long.
Why Care?: 
  • The company donates 10% of its pretax profits to charity.
  • Power use at the Tom's factory is 100% offset via wind energy credits, reducing carbon dioxide emissions by the equivalent of planting 214 trees each year. (It also purchases renewable energy for its offices.)
  • Its eco-friendly packaging incorporates biodegradable plastic and recycled paper, annually avoiding the use of 2.8 million gallons of wastewater and enough electricity to power a house for 70 years.
  • Employee benefits include a $4,000 hybrid vehicle credit, 12 paid volunteer days per year, and fresh, organic produce at HQ.
  • After the FDA required animal testing for all fluoride oral care products in 1995, Tom's was the first company to get FDA permission to use nonanimal testing.
  • It does not use genetically modified ingredients.
Keeping it real: 
Not all of Tom's containers are made from all-recycled materials - its toothpaste tubes, for example, while recyclable, aren't made from 100% nonvirgin metal. But, says Dewhirst, "We are working toward 100% sustainability."