FAQs

Every year, more than 4.9 billion plastic toothbrushes, billions of straws and disposable plastic utensils end up in garbage dumps and various natural environments around the world. All this plastic takes about 500 years to decompose. Even when it does decompose, its chemical composition remains intact and the entire plastic substance remains in the environment for centuries longer. A lot of this plastic is found in the oceans where it is ingested by birds and fish. Approximately 90% of seabirds have ingested plastic. Bamboo is the main element used in the manufacture of the OLA Bamboo toothbrush. This 100% natural and 100% biodegradable material replaces plastic, a substance very commonly used for the manufacture of conventional toothbrushes. OLA Bamboo utensils are made of 100% birch and straws are made of 100% bamboo. Since bamboo is a plant and birch is a tree, they decompose naturally in the environment. In short, when you dispose of your OLA Bamboo toothbrush, utensils or straws, in whatever way you do so, you help eliminate unnecessary plastic in the environment by replacing it with bamboo or wood, which break down naturally.

Bamboo is the main material used in the manufacture of the OLA Bamboo toothbrush. This 100% natural and 100% compostable plant replaces plastic. Because bamboo is a tree, it decomposes naturally in the environment. By purchasing an OLA Bamboo toothbrush, you help eliminate unnecessary plastic in the environment.

The quality of brushing remains the same, regardless of the type of material used to make the handle. Good tooth brushing depends more on the bristles, the head of the toothbrush, and proper brushing technique.

There are two categories of compostable products: those that break down in a home compost system and those that decompose in an industrial compost system (e.g. a city compost). Products described as compostable will break down naturally as they are usually made of organic materials (e.g. plants).

The term biodegradable is not always well defined. It refers to any material that will decompose in nature after a certain number of years. However, there is no clear definition of the time frame needed for a product to decompose; moreover, a product can change shape but retain its chemical composition (e.g. biodegradable plastic bags).

Only the handle of our toothbrush is 100% compostable, not the bristles.

At the present time, the only toothbrushes that are 100% compostable have bristles that are made of pig hair. To source the pig hair, pigs are slaughtered and their hair is removed and processed into bristles. We figured, who really wants to brush their teeth with pig hair anyway? That said, we are currently working to develop a 100% compostable toothbrush made from plants.

Yes, our utensils and straws are 100% biodegradable and compostable. You can dispose of them by placing them directly in the compost or in the brown composting bin provided by the city’s compost management system. Note that the straws are designed to be cleaned and reused several times before composting; the utensils are designed for a single use.

After many requests and comments, we decided to offer a new version of our Zero Waste Kit. First, it still contains a fork, a knife, a straw and its washing brush along with a spoon. The spoon has been changed to provide you with a larger model: It is a tablespoon in the with chopsticks version and a teaspoon in the regular Zero Waste Kit. Plus, in the with chopsticks version, obviously, we’ve added two chopsticks perfect for sushi, poke bowls, stir-fries or other on-the-go Asian dishes. The whole set can be rolled up in a small transport placemat.
We also offer a children’s version of the Zero Waste Kit with smaller utensils suitable for young children, a straw and a washing brush in a small transport placemat without the chopsticks.

Visit the page Use and Maintenance of OLA Bamboo products for more details.

OLA Bamboo biodegradable dental floss is made from mulberry floss, so there is no plastic in this natural product. The waxing is also natural. It is candelilla wax, which comes from a shrub. This vegan wax is often used in cosmetics and the pharmaceutical industry. The mint taste is due to the addition of mint essential oil. Moreover, the floss container is a small recyclable cardboard box; only the miniature metal knife should be put in the garbage.

OLA Bamboo products are designed in Canada (more specifically, in Victoriaville), and the manufacturing location varies based on the product.

We are delighted to be the first to manufacture eco-friendly toothbrushes in Canada (in Drummondville, Quebec, to be more precise).

OLA Bamboo deodorant is also manufactured in Canada in Boucherville, Quebec. The all-purpose cleaning tablet is also made in Canada (in Quebec City).

Our reusable bamboo straws are made in Vietnam, and other OLA Bamboo products are made in China. The toothbrush model OLA Tech is the only one not manufactured here because it requires a different type of machinery. But the most popular models are all made in Canada.
We ensure that our international partners meet requirements for product quality, working practices, and their employees’ health and safety conditions. Also, to reduce our environmental footprint, a part of the sales of our products made in China is used to plant trees in Quebec with Compensation CO2. OLA Bamboo organic cotton produce bags are also made in China because cotton doesn’t grow in Canada. Organic cotton from China is high quality and allows us to offer our bags at an affordable price.
Note that some products are assembled in Quebec.

Manufacturing in Canada requires hundreds of thousands of dollars in investments in machinery, employees, and buying or renting a space large enough to accommodate everything. It would have been hard for us to make a radical shift. For this reason, we started with deodorant, which is manufactured externally in a pre-existing laboratory in Quebec. The all-purpose cleaning tablet is a partnership with the business Filo and is also manufactured externally in Quebec.

Next, our toothbrushes were the obvious product to start manufacturing here. It is our most popular product, which requires ongoing production and is offered in various models. Toothbrushes therefore account for most of our production. We are very proud to have repatriated the process. From now on, most of our toothbrush models are made in Quebec. The toothbrush model OLA Tech is the only one not manufactured here because it requires a different type of machinery. But the most popular models are all made in Canada.

We hope to gradually increase Canadian production of our various products. Supporting a company from this country is important because it allows it to increase its investments here.

Since April 27, 2021, OLA Bamboo toothbrushes (except OLA Tech) shipped from the warehouse are manufactured in Canada. However, Chinese-made toothbrushes may still be found at various points of sale. This will be a transition period until all the inventory at points of sale sells out. The environment is at the heart of our decisions. Recalling and discarding all the remaining toothbrushes made in China was unimaginable. But everything that is now sent from our warehouse is made here. In a few weeks or months, you’ll find them everywhere.

Yes! The OLA Bamboo brand is owned by the Canadian company OLA Bamboo Inc., based in Quebec. This new company currently employs three people and aims to increase this number soon. In addition to job creation, our company is involved in and supports various environmental initiatives. Part of the sales of each OLA Bamboo toothbrush is used to plant trees in Quebec with CO2 Compensation. So far, nearly 2000 trees have been planted thanks to you.

Bamboo is one of the most environmentally friendly crops that exists today. For starters, it is not only a renewable resource, but one that does so quickly. In fact, a bamboo plantation has a yield up to 25 times that of a forest. Bamboo does not require pesticides or artificial fertilizers. The manufacture of OLA Bamboo toothbrushes only requires a variety of bamboo that is not eaten by pandas or other animals of the Chinese forest. It is important that bamboo cultivation be done with great care to prevent the spread of bamboo in natural forests; due to its highly efficient reproduction system, bamboo can act as an invasive species. Bamboo is lightweight, sturdy, highly renewable, and compostable, making it the perfect choice for eco-friendly products.

Bamboo is a plant that consumes less water than other plants intended for the textile industry. It absorbs 35% more CO2 than other forests, it does not require pesticides or insecticides, it produces the highest yield of fiber per hectare and it is one of the most renewable plant resources there is. In addition, OLA Bamboo cotton pads are reusable! This helps to reduce waste production.

The addition of cotton fiber to the bamboo fibers ensures that the textile can withstand the washing machine and dryer. Cotton fibers mixed with bamboo fibers allow the textile to retain its composition at temperatures above 40 degrees Celsius.

Bamboo viscose is a name for bamboo fiber according to its processing method. The term viscose implies a dissolution of the bamboo pulp.

First, the bamboo plant is cut and then dissolved to produce the pulp. Sodium hydroxide is used as a dissolvent, a product that is used in many industries such as soap, pasta, paper, food and even water treatment. The pulp is then converted into fiber by a mechanical process. Finally, the fiber is spun and then knitted.

OLA Bamboo products are made from real bamboo wood; therefore, they do not contain melamine formaldehyde, which is used only when products are made from bamboo powder or fibres. That means that OLA Bamboo products are completely safe for you and your family’s health.

Safety is vital. We know that children do not often sit still and sometimes try to knock dishes over. That’s why the suction cup is crucial. Although bamboo is an exceptional material, it cannot be used to make suction cups; therefore, we needed to use silicone.

Because the children’s plate is made to be long-lasting, the silicone suction cup will also be used for years and years. It won’t be thrown in the trash after only a few uses.

Yes, these two products are different. The Beach Toys’ size is suitable for children. The Garden Tools are much larger and designed for adults; they are harder for young children to handle.

The dimensions are available on the product page.

No, our deodorant doesn’t contain baking soda. We chose tapioca starch, which is gluten-free and shouldn’t cause rashes. Our deodorant also contains cornstarch to help absorb moisture.

The cardboard tube is recyclable. Before putting it in the recycling bin, be sure to remove the remaining deodorant by rinsing the tube with hot water. If needed, you can scrub a little with your fingers or a brush.

There is no time limit for use after opening OLA Bamboo deodorant. There is simply an expiration date on the bottom of the tube. The deodorant lasts up to two years after production.

Our deodorant contains Canadian beeswax, so it is not considered vegan. Note that the use of beeswax is a good thing because it allows beekeepers to continue raising bees and helps conserve them.

Our deodorant does not prevent sweating, so it is not an antiperspirant. However, it does contain natural products that will help absorb moisture and control odours, such as cornstarch, tapioca starch, coconut oil and zinc ricinoleate.

Our deodorant is 98.5% natural because it contains a small amount of perfume and a preservative. See the ingredients on the product page.

Each tube contains 42 grams of deodorant as stated on the packaging. We do not completely fill the container because the weight of the deodorant would prevent it from remaining at the top of the tube if it were too heavy. We nevertheless chose these tubes because deodorant needs to be a specific width for comfortable application on the armpits and to make it clearly visible on shelves. It is standard practice in the industry not to completely fill containers so that they take up more space on shelves. Because we want to have good visibility alongside plastic deodorants, we had no choice but to select a tube with a specific height. Our tube is 100% recyclable and contains no plastic.

Since we want to extend items’ lives as long as possible, please be aware that if your toothbrush holder comes apart, you can fix it very easily. Just use contact adhesive, wood glue or hot-setting adhesive, and make sure that you put the pieces back in the right place. And that’s it!

If you made a mistake in the information you provided in your order, you have 24 hours to notify the OLA Bamboo team. After 48 hours, we will be unable to cancel the order. If there is an error in the delivery address and the parcel has already been shipped, we can try to trace it and give you the details so that you can personally contact the delivery company to recover it.

Since this is a personal hygiene care product, no returns are accepted. If the product is damaged upon receipt by the customer, an agreement can be made between OLA Bamboo and the customer through our customer service. However, OLA Bamboo does not commit to enter into any agreement. If the product is kept in its original packaging and is still sealed, a one-year warranty applies. The warranty begins when the product is shipped and ends one year later. Any warranty will be void if the product is opened or used.

In order to track your shipment, you must choose the track shipment option at the time of purchase; otherwise, the shipment will be sent without a tracking number.

If the track shipment option is selected, you will receive an email with a tracking number when your order has shipped. By clicking on the tracking number, you will be redirected automatically to the Canada Post website, where you can track your package.

You can cancel your subscription yourself in your profile on our website. Just follow the instructions in the My Account section. If you have any difficulty, you can send us an email (info@olabamboo.com), and we will do it for you. Note that you must cancel your subscription 48 hours before the next renewal. After this period, the renewal can not be cancelled or refunded. It is your responsibility to manage and cancel your subscription.