Everbrush

Circular electric toothbrushes

The way we are currently consuming products is harmful to our environment and leads to a growing e-waste problem. Most products nowadays are used for a short time and then discarded, becoming waste. The circular economy is an alternative way of consuming our products that can be less harmful to the environment and limits the creation of e-waste. However, designing circular products is not without challenges and designers are still researching how to overcome several of these. In the graduation thesis ‘circular design of electric toothbrushes', the challenges and opportunities for designing circular electric toothbrushes were researched. In total, seven challenges and opportunities for designing circular electric toothbrushes were found.

The Everbrush

The Everbrush tackles these seven challenges and opportunities. The goal of the Everbrush is to change the way consumers perceive their electric toothbrushes and to make them hold onto their electric toothbrushes for longer. To achieve this the Everbrush is made out of aluminium, which allows the product to age with dignity. This increases product attachment by allowing the Everbrush to show wear without losing its appeal. Several other design choices were made to make the Everbrush suitable for the circular economy. For example, the battery was made user replaceable, the ease of disassembly was improved and a rotating magnetic power switch that saves elastomers was added. The Everbrush concept has the potential for significantly longer product life and an increase in the cycling of resources at the end of life. It should serve as a guide for manufacturers and legislators to a circular future for electric toothbrushes and other small waterproof personal care appliances.