Nordics’ Natural Ingredients Make a Difference!
Did you know your smile can reveal your age? Show us your smile and we'll tell you how old you are! A younger person’s teeth have a cleaner, whiter enamel tone, a natural shine, and their gums are healthy-looking. As people get older, the teeth become stained because of drinks like coffee and red wine and the gum tissues pull away, revealing the base or root of the teeth. Since aging is inevitable, it is up to us to prioritize our oral health from an early age and maintain a healthy and bright smile.
There are plenty of dental care products available nowadays. Besides the typical and dominant minty flavors, the herbal dental product segment has shown great promise, winning over more consumers who are eager to adopt more natural products in their personal hygiene routine. While most oral care brands have yet to expand their product line towards sustainable practices, Nordics offers exclusively premium products with bio-certified natural oils, extracts, and active ingredients. Combining scientific expertise with nature’s best ingredients, the Nordics products highlight each element based on its properties and its benefits in oral health.
The Nordics Natural Ingredients
Sneak a peek at the miraculous natural ingredients that Nordics incorporated in our unique dental product range.
- Sage. This herb belongs to the mint family, has a powerful aroma and earthy flavor, and is packed with nutrients and active ingredients, ideal for overall good health. Studies have revealed that sage essential oil is highly effective in preventing dental plaque, as it destroys the cavity-causing bacteria thanks to its antimicrobial properties.
- Nettle. Another staple in herbal medicine, nettle has been used since ancient times by Egyptians and Romans. It contains a lot of nutrients such as vitamins, polyphenols, minerals, amino acids, protecting the oral cavity from gum diseases such as gingivitis. Thanks to their properties, our Nordics Organic toothpaste for Sensitive Gums contains these two herbs to ensure structural integrity and healthy gum tissues.
- Charcoal. Ancient civilizations have used this natural ingredient to clean their teeth thousands of years ago. Currently, it is one of the biggest trends in dental care products and it is promoted for its teeth whitening properties. The active ingredients in activated charcoal also remove stains from the surface of the teeth, absorb toxins and prevent bad breath or halitosis.
- Matcha. The Japanese swear by the wide variety of incredible benefits matcha tea offers for optimal health. Studies show that the antioxidants present in matcha can help prevent up to 10 different bacterial strains, which cause tooth decay. It is also effective in treating gingivitis, fighting bad breath, and even reducing the risk for oral cancer. These two ingredients are present in our NordicsOrganic toothpaste Ultra White and needless to say, it is our best-selling product! The strong minty aroma leaves the mouth fresh and the teeth brighter.
- Mint. It’s the dominant natural ingredient in most dental care products. Even though mint was widely used as an air freshener by ancient Greeks and Romans, Egyptians were the first ones to use it in their toothpaste. Besides the fresh breath and the cooling sensation, mint is rich in vitamins and minerals, which enhance the enamel, remove toxins and bacteria, prevent oral health issues, and overall ensure healthy gums and teeth. Moreover, the active ingredients in mint leaves stimulate saliva production, which is essential to keep the surface of the teeth clean.
- Coconut. People all over the world use coconut oil for its many health-boosting properties. It’s a key ingredient in alternative and holistic medicine and the richest plant-based source of saturated fats. The lauric acid, the main type of fat in coconut, removes harmful bacteria, preventing oral diseases. It is also highly effective in protecting from the bacteria known to cause the bad odor and removing the food debris from the teeth, tongue, and inner cheeks.
Our brand new Nordics Natural toothpaste Morning Fresh offers all the above-mentioned benefits and is ideal for your morning routine. Plus the added aloe extract ensures healthy and strong gums.
Conclusion
There are a lot more natural ingredients the Nordics products are based on because of their great benefits to oral health. Natural dental products are at the forefront of the global consumer’s preferences because the harsh chemicals are eliminated, which makes them safer to use for humans and the environment. Building a brand around sustainability and professional dental care, Nordics has been one of the pioneers in organic dental hygiene products. Allowing the natural ingredients to be the protagonist of the clean label is what allows us in Nordics to inspire change in the industry. It’s the alternative that matters!
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4676988/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/stinging-nettle
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22226360/
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/coconut-oil-and-teeth#TOC_TITLE_HDR_6
Cavities - A Silent Global Threat You Didn’t Know
You must have heard about cavities and dental caries ever since you were a little kid. Especially when all you wanted to eat was candy and other sweet treats. And then your parents insisted that you would brush your teeth, remember? Well, if you listened to them, you might have saved some painful trips to the dentist.
Everyone talks about the importance of brushing your teeth 2-3 times per day and flossing at least once per day, right? But do you really know what happens to your teeth if you skip your dental hygiene and consume too much sugar? The truth is, there is an ongoing pandemic nobody pays as much attention as they should, and it’s called “tooth decay”, an infection caused by cavities.
What are dental caries?
Cavities, also known as dental caries, can affect any person of any age and gender and severely damage the tooth enamel. The tooth enamel is the outer and visible part of the crown, which consists of 96% minerals and protects the teeth from chewing, grinding, and painful temperatures and substances. Even though it is the hardest substance in our body, it can be degraded from the excessive consumption of sugar, acidic drinks, and plaque bacteria. So, when our dental hygiene is poor and we consume foods and drinks high on starch and sugar often, it is very likely to see some black spots on the surface of our teeth. These are essentially openings that allow the bacteria to penetrate further into the dentine and erode the deeper layers of the teeth, causing toothache, infections, and eventually tooth loss.
What are the symptoms?
The extension of the symptoms depends on the location and the damage caused by bacteria. How do you know when you have dental caries? In the very early stages, there might not be any visible spots or pain. When the cavity progresses, a small hole and discoloration will become apparent and possibly higher sensitivity to sugary treats and cold drinks or foods. If the cavity reaches deeper layers of the tooth, affecting the roots or nerves, then the typical giveaways are the bad taste in the mouth and spontaneous pain, sharp pain from hot drinks and foods, and from pressure. At that stage, the infection is widespread and a visit to the dentist is absolutely necessary to prevent the infection from advancing to the jaw bone, gums, or other teeth. Happily, Nordics has a robust combination of ingredients to prevent cavity formation and scrape away bacteria buildup in your mouth.
Can you be prone to cavities?
Based on a few clinical studies, teeth brushing and flossing are not the panacea to never getting cavities. Researchers claim that tooth decay has everything to do with sugar consumption because this is what the bacteria feed on and damage the teeth. On top of that, there is a link between genetics and tooth decay, which is still under scientific investigation. Experts have based this assumption on the fact that genes are responsible for the quality of teeth enamel. Since some people are born with softer enamel, they are more susceptible to tooth decay, even if their diet is not that high on sugar and their oral hygiene is good. Gene variations in the saliva can also play a role in how well the immune system responds to a bacteria overgrowth. Another condition that can cause gum diseases and tooth decay is dry mouth or xerostomia. One of the key roles of saliva production is to remove bacteria and food residue from the surface of the teeth, so the low saliva flow can cause bacteria accumulation.
Further health implications
Did you know tooth decay can lead to a number of serious health problems, including heart and brain infections? Any infection can cause a lot of damage if left untreated. But in the case of dental care, this can turn life-threatening really fast! Apart from gingivitis and periodontitis, which are diseases of the gums and bones, these are a few of the medical conditions caused by unattended cavities:
➢ Respiratory issues. According to the American Academy of Periodontology, people who have plaque buildup and extensive gum damage, breathe in the bacteria from the infected teeth and gums to their respiratory system. This can lead to respiratory tract complications, pneumonia, and other pulmonary infections, and hospitalization is required.
➢ Heart problems. Similar to respiratory complications, the bacteria can be transferred to the bloodstream and the heart arteries. Especially people who suffer from periodontal diseases run a high risk of accumulating bacteria around the heart arteries, which can inhibit the proper blood flow. As for people who suffer from bleeding gums, this dental infection could trigger a heart condition, called endocarditis, which occurs due to bacteria present around the heart valves and can cause heart attacks.
➢ Diabetes. Patients with this diagnosis are more likely to develop gum diseases as their immune system is weakened. At the same time, patients with severe gum diseases run the risk of developing diabetes due to blood-glucose imbalances and the production of harmful bacteria.
➢ Brain diseases. Studies have revealed a correlation between gum infections and brain infections such as meningitis. This serious and life-threatening disease can result from an untreated and extended gum infection, where the bacteria of the infected area can travel to the membranes near the brain and spinal cord and cause severe swelling, sepsis, stroke, and paralysis.
How to prevent them
Even if genetics play a role in the quality of the teeth, it is of the utmost importance that we take care of our oral health. Tooth decay may be a complex disease, but it is easily preventable. It comes down to maintaining good oral hygiene and specifically brushing your teeth 2-3 times per day using fluoride toothpaste, flossing, and rinsing with mouthwash. A healthier diet and lifestyle which limits sugary foods and drinks, fizzy drinks, carb-loaded snacks and smoking is also a preventive measure you can take to ensure less chance of getting dental caries. Needless to say, regular dental checkups once or twice a year for meticulous examination and treatment are mandatory to keep the cavities at bay.
Sources:
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cavities/symptoms-causes/syc-20352892
https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19912122/cavity-prone-teeth/
https://cpwdentistry.com/genetics-and-cavities/
https://www.perio.org/consumer/healthy-lungs
https://www.guardiandirect.com/dental-care/2-ways-bad-teeth-can-damage-heart-health
https://www.webmd.com/oral-health/guide/dental-health-dry-mouth
Meet Surfrider Foundation - the Partners of Nordics - Selfless Warriors for a Noble Cause
Nordics is a professional dental care brand, but its ethos stretches also to sustainability and customer satisfaction. That’s why supporting great causes is an important part of our identity. Naturally, we chose an amazing partner to support - the Surfrider Foundation. Read on to find out how together we actually clean the oceans.
Introducing – Surf Rider Foundation
Established by surfers in 1990 in Biarritz, France, the Surf Rider Foundation Europe has always been caring about the ocean. There are more than 2,000 volunteers and 43 local branches in Europe right now – which shows there are many dedicated environmentalists here who focus on preserving and cleaning our oceans, seas, and rivers.
As mentioned in magazines like National Geographic, the Surf Rider Foundation is leading in environmental protection and conservation.
Worldwide there are over 182,000 active volunteers and 176 chapters and student clubs that help to keep the oceans and coasts clean. By supporting the Surf Rider Foundation we’re not only supporting clean oceans, but also climate change and its impacts.
What are the common deeds of Nordics & Surf Rider Foundation?
The Surf Rider Foundation is a group of action takers who protect the health and sustainability of our planet’s most precious resource – the ocean. Besides defending our oceans from challenges threatening the vitality of the ecosystem, the NGO also acts on issues that threaten our beaches and natural shorelines.
Reducing the impact of plastics on the marine ecosystem is one of the most important tasks the Surf Rider Foundation has to face daily.
Surf Rider Europe works with individual citizens, public sectors, and also private sectors on education and awareness, political advocacy, and scientific and legal expertise.
Nordics is a global sponsor of SRF since 2017. We contribute to their noble cause is by donating 0,5 percent of our annual revenue to the organization. Each donated euro equals 5 sq.m. of cleaned beaches. That's how Nordics has provided 15 000 sq.m. of clean beaches until now.
The importance of clean oceans
Climate change and demographic pressure on coastal areas are impacting our daily lives.
Every year, about 8 million tons of plastic wastelands are in the ocean. This is a huge problem, especially because there are countless benefits to our planet of clean oceans. Half of the world’s oxygen is produced by the ocean, and it also absorbs 50 times more carbon dioxide than our atmosphere. With plastic in the ocean, the ecosystem is disrupted.
For a more detailed view of how much plastic pollution influences the ocean, we can highly recommend the documentary “A Plastic Ocean”. It shows the dramatic damage plastic causes to marine wildlife, just because billions of plastic ends in the ocean – one more reason why we should protect the oceans at all costs.
How is Nordics supporting this?
Plastic is used in every industry by now – and that’s a problem. In 2020, more than 300 million tons of plastic waste have been produced. Around 79 percent of it was accumulated in landfills or the environment. And the largest market of plastics is packaging materials. Which is another reason why it’s essential to focus on alternatives for packaging products.
Traditional toothpaste, for example, is packaged in classic plastic tubes that cannot be recycled.
So, let's make a quick reminder of our specialties. We use 100% recyclable tubes of bioplastic for our toothpastes, our mouthwash bottles are made of 100% recycled plastic, our toothbrushes are made of bamboo. That's how we are drastically decreasing the amount of plastic that pollutes beaches and oceans.
Furthermore, we focus on not using any harmful ingredients for our products, not only inside the formula but also during the process of production. Our toothpastes are without sugar, free from preservatives, and without harsh chemical compounds. We at Nordics do not only reshape traditional dental products but also think about future generations and how we can have a positive impact on them.
Nordics is not just reducing the use of plastic waste in the oral care industry. We are an official sponsor of the NGO and donate a percentage of every purchase to the Surf Rider Foundation cause. So, with every purchase of one of our Nordics products, you contribute directly to plastic-free oceans and landfills.
Oral care can be environmental-friendly, too, without missing out on high quality. We avoid using harmful ingredients and created organic, vegan-certified, and cruelty-free products to support good oral hygiene.
Choosing Nordics is not just buying a product but supporting a vision and a mission.
10+1 myths about oral care: Debunked!
There is a myriad of tips on oral hygiene available online, but not all of them are meant to be taken seriously. Some of them offer misleading facts about proper oral hygiene. It’s about time to separate facts from fiction. While good habits in your daily dental routine are simple and not at all time-consuming, the wrong practices are highly likely to cause extensive damage to your teeth and put your overall health at major risk.
The following are the most common oral care myths that are all over the Internet but debunked by dental professionals.
1) Sugar is the sole culprit for cavities and the source of all evil. Growing up, you might have associated candy with cavities, but the sugar itself doesn’t destroy your teeth. Besides sugar, the consumption of carbohydrates also plays a role in that. The bacteria living in the oral cavity feed off the residual sugar and carbohydrates that stick on the surface of teeth and tongue and then cause tooth decay and other dental diseases.
2) Brushing hard and fast is the only way to clean your teeth effectively. That’s actually false and it can cause a lot more damage than you think! Brushing hard even with a soft-bristled toothbrush will put a lot of unnecessary pressure on your gums. This will undoubtedly lead to gum bleeding and even gingival recession, meaning the exposure of the roots and bone. Dentists recommend gentle and short strokes for 2-3 minutes.
3) Flossing is not a necessary part of your daily routine. That is not true and something you should incorporate in your oral hygiene. Flossing ensures the removal of food residue between the teeth, where a toothbrush may not always be 100% effective.
4) Chewing gum can replace tooth brushing when you’re in a time crunch. Although sugar-free chewing gum can remove some bacteria on the surface of the teeth, it is just a short-term and easy solution. However, nothing can replace brushing and flossing.
5) Kids don’t have to brush their baby teeth because they’ll fall out, anyway. Dental practitioners highlight the importance of a dental care routine very early in a kid's life. Daily gum cleaning and brushing baby teeth can relieve teething pain and encourage the teeth to erupt.
6) Gum bleeding only affects your mouth. Gum bleeding is something to be taken seriously and treated as soon as possible. It indicates an infection in your mouth but it can quickly cause problems to your heart, lungs and even brain!
7) You can skip the visit to the dentist if your teeth look white. The typical recommendation for dental appointments is twice a year for a reason. No matter how good your oral hygiene is, you need frequent professional teeth cleanings to prevent plaque buildup or cavity formation. The white color only refers to the enamel and doesn’t exclude the chance of tooth decay, inflammation, and any other types of oral health issues.
8) Everyone has to remove their wisdom teeth. Not true, if the wisdom teeth are healthy and fully erupted, correctly aligned, and the bite is accordingly positioned. Their removal is advised when necessary to avoid potential infections and dental crowding.
9) Electric toothbrushes are better than regular toothbrushes. It’s not about the type of toothbrush you use, but the actual brushing that is the only important factor for clean teeth, among other dental hygiene practices.
10) It’s ok to slack on your brushing and flossing as long as you clean your teeth very well right before your dentist appointment. One day of good oral hygiene simply cannot beat weeks and months of slacking and the dentists can’t be fooled. The tartar buildup, which happens over months, doesn’t go away with brushing, and professional teeth cleaning is absolutely necessary.
11) Drinking with a straw is better for your teeth. That is kind of true and kind of false. Using a straw can protect your teeth from stains and acidic drinks, but chewing on it can cause teeth misalignment.
It’s important to search for the right information, especially about anything related to our health. Prioritizing your dental checkups twice a year and using the appropriate oral care products are key for optimal oral health. Find these products here.
Sources:
https://www.everydayhealth.com/hs/healthy-teeth-guide/dental-myths/
https://www.humana.com/dental-insurance/6-dental-myths-debunked
https://www.businessinsider.com/14-common-myths-about-teeth-debunked-dentists-2020-10
Facts and Figures: COVID19 and the Toothpaste Sector
The Oral Care Industry
Due to rising consumer awareness about dental health across emerging nations, the importance of toothpaste and oral care products has increased significantly in recent years. The essence of oral-care products derives from the fact that the majority of oral health problems can be prevented and/or treated using commercially available products. World Health Organization (WHO) states that oral diseases affect almost 45% of the world population, posing a great health challenge for many countries, where the affected people deal with lifelong severe dental infections resulting in pain, disfigurement, and even death. Despite the life-threatening implications an oral disease can trigger, dental treatments are costly and are not covered by medical insurance companies. They only cover 5% for dentist visits and treatments in high-income countries, while in most low- to middle-income countries there is little policy to cover this type of medical expenditure.
Considering the number of oral diseases, the dental care industry serves both consumers and dental practitioners. Goods and oral care solutions are nuanced, and the level of skill and infrastructure required to manufacture these products vary substantially. However, due to the volume of customers worldwide, generic products that appeal to consumers outperform those that cater toward more specialized sectors in terms of value. As a result, the market's main sales and distribution channels comprise supermarkets and convenience stores, drugstores and pharmacies, specialty stores, and, more recently, the online retail marketplace.
Toothpaste sales vs Covid-19
Since toothpaste falls under the category of commodities, the export of such products across borders was allowed with little to no restriction.
The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to have a minor effect on the global toothpaste sector. The demand for toothpaste was generally unaffected throughout the year. Nevertheless, the consumers around the world were more likely to favor brands that offered discounts on additional purchases, as well as products that were high in volume yet low in price due to the overall financial hardships. Lately, the rising number of dental conditions among children and adults as a result of bad dietary habits, as well as the increasing interest in herbal oral care products, are the key factors driving the toothpaste sector. Furthermore, the escalating trend of premium brands and consumers demanding more specialized solutions are propelling the market's growth.
The top oral care brands have taken advantage of the increasing customer awareness, expanding their product categories with more specialized options such as teeth-whitening toothpastes and other innovative oral care products. The technological advances allowed brands to implement more competitive marketing strategies revolving around sustainability and the addition of natural ingredients such as herbs.
What About Statistics in the Oral Care Sector?
According to surveys, the international toothpaste market is expected to increase at a CAGR of 3.4 percent from 2019 to 2027. Specifically, the global market share was 17.75 Billion US Dollars and it is estimated to reach almost 22 Billion during the forecast period.
The Asia-Pacific region holds the largest market share, mainly because of the high number of customers, the lifestyle shifts, and the rise in household expenses. Hence, the shift towards sustainable policies is utterly essential. In fact, industry leaders are putting an emphasis on environmentally friendly packaging. A lot of the top producers like Colgate are adopting waste-minimization techniques and developing entirely recyclable toothpaste tubes. Due to the single-use packaging, 300 million toothpaste tubes are dumped at landfills around the world to address the problem.
As for the product categories, the herbal toothpaste segment will present the highest CAGR of 5.6% by 2027. There are various factors driving this growth, such as the global movement towards natural and eco-friendly personal care products and the consumers’ preference to eliminate chemicals in essential goods. Yet, the dominant product will still be the conventional toothpaste, as it is perceived to guarantee fresh breath, gum and teeth infections, and bacterial overgrowth. (Source: www.alliedmarketresearch.com/toothpaste-market-A11278)
Regarding the segmentation by region, the Asia- Pacific will hold the leading position, as it accounts for 60% of the global population. Domestic brands such as Dabur and Lion Corporation are gaining ground in the regional markets and they form partnerships with leading distribution companies to test their products on the global market.
It is worth noting that Europe and North America are projected to accelerate considerably due to lifestyle and dietary choices such as smoking and consuming coffee, acidic soda drinks, and meat, as it’s part of their culture. Thanks to the high levels of income and the citizens’ priority to proper dental hygiene habits, they turn towards the premiumization of dental care and sustainable practices.
The Top 5 Brands in the World
The top brand names in the toothpaste sector are:
- Procter & Gamble
- Colgate-Palmolive
- Lion Corporation
- Unilever
- GlaxoSmithKline PLC
The majority of the shares are held by the above-mentioned companies, except Lion Corporation, which is based in Japan. The market is highly competitive with a lot of small regional brands, but these five hold the leading positions. This offers them the competitive advantage to expand their product portfolio and provide niche products, addressing more issues such as sensitivity and pain relief. In fact, GlaxoSmithKline PLC launched a mint toothpaste in 2018, specifically for customers with sensitive teeth and gums across significant markets. Plus, a year prior, Unilever Ghana Limited introduced a similar product to the market, but in three variants, whose unique formula offered holistic protection and treatment for sensitive teeth.
Sources
www.alliedmarketresearch.com/toothpaste-market-A11278
https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/oral-health
https://www.gdpuk.com/news/latest-news/3869-toothpaste-tubes-an-environmental-hazard
https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/toothpaste-market-104484
https://www.mordorintelligence.com/industry-reports/global-toothpaste-market
How Dental Care Earned Their Spot In eCommerce
How many times have you bought a toothbrush or toothpaste without even thinking about it? Probably more than you can count. And how many times did you use eCommerce for the purchase? Dental care is an important element of overall health and well-being, which is exactly why it is crucial to invest a little more thought into what kind of products you use. Luckily - according to an Oral Care Hygiene Market report, people are becoming increasingly aware of the importance of oral health for overall health, which has transformed the way we choose and buy dental care products.
Commodity goods and the law of demand
All commodities derive their value from their ability to be sold on the global market. The sale of commodities is a universal process that remains unchanged regardless of the product's use or the country that it is sold in. The sale of any commodity depends solely on the law of supply and demand.
E-commerce of dental care products
In the light of recent events, new opportunities have opened up in the oral care market. The growing popularity of e-commerce stores for oral care products is setting new trends in dentistry. Now more than ever, oral care products are being sold on e-commerce platforms. Pandemic has reshaped the way people shop for everyday products, including cosmetic products and toiletries. In fact, shopping at online oral care shops is now more popular than in physical stores like pharmacies. That fact can easily be explained by the advantages e-shopping brings along like the availability of multi-brand oral care products, price promotions, bundles, ease of purchasing, and free shipping. It is no surprise that because of this growing trend major market players have increased their investments in these channels.
A marked shift in the way people buy dental care products
For decades, toothpaste has been marketed as a cosmetic product, regarded as having little importance to overall health. As such, people weren’t exactly thinking or doing any research about what kind of toothpaste or toothbrush they should use. Most would simply head to the nearest supermarket and buy the first toothpaste they see.
Due to the Covid pandemic as well as the growing awareness of oral health importance, there has been a marked increase in online purchase of oral care products. In fact, according to the Research and Markets 2020/2025 forecast report, the oral care hygiene market is projected to reach USD 53.3 billion by 2025, with the toothpaste segment holding the highest market share.
These two consumer behavior changes have helped rank products like toothpastes and toothbrushes higher on the list of priorities. In addition to that, these realizations have had a huge impact not only on a personal but also on an economical level, which we’ll discuss in the subsequent paragraphs.
Implications on an economic level
With that in mind, it is no wonder that the FMCG market has been growing rapidly over the last decade. In fact, sales in the FMCG industry grew from $1.5 trillion in 2012 to $1.68 trillion in 2016. In a year-over-year comparison, the industry grew by $217 billion. The huge growth of the FMCG markets is detectable not only in the United States, but also in Europe, China, India, and Brazil. Another contributing factor to more toothpastes and mouthwash being sold globally is the fact that consumption of sugar is growing steadily, and is suspected to rise to about 171.8 million metric tons by 2020/2021. Excessive sugar consumption, as you probably know, is tied to tooth decay because of the way it alters the bacteria in your mouth to produce acid which then eats away the enamel causing cavities and bad teeth.
Fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) take up a significant percentage of spending in developed countries like the United States. These everyday products, including cosmetics and toiletries like toothpastes and soaps, account for more than half of total consumer spending. Because people are paying more attention to the fact that dental products are both a necessity and a commodity, these products are now becoming more available online.
Implications on a personal level
In most cases, when you set out to buy a commodity good, you simply buy the most affordable or easily reachable item and then move on with your life. However, thanks to a boom in online shopping, people are now choosing more deliberately what they buy.
Browsing online, as opposed to physically visiting the store has several benefits, especially when it comes to dental care products like toothbrushes, toothpastes, and dental floss.
Being able to shop for FMCG online has several advantages:
- you can easily compare prices of different brands and product types;
- you can read other people’s reviews to make an informed choice;
- you can compare features, look at the ingredient list - something you rarely do at the pharmacy or store because there is no sales pressure;
- you can relax and make an informed choice at your own pace, worthy of your money.
People are often not aware of the health implications everyday personal care products may have on their health. Little by little, chemicals in these products can affect your overall wellbeing. Why not avoid that when you can? Opt for naturally derived oral care products whenever you can. You should never skimp on oral care, even when you are trying to save money - simply because oral health has a huge impact on many aspects of your overall well-being.
Sources:
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/oral-care-market-80546246.html
https://www.statista.com/map/europe/branch/consumer-goods-fmcg
https://unctad.org/news/how-covid-19-triggered-digital-and-e-commerce-turning-point
Nordics recyclable tubes: a life-saving innovation
You might have been buying toothpaste for years, but have you ever wondered where the plastic tubes end up when they’re empty? The collapsible toothpaste tubes were first made of metal, such as tin or lead, and later on, a combination of plastic and aluminum. This allowed flexible packaging, however not really being recyclable. Oral hygiene companies across the globe have taken initiatives in the last few years in order to address the sustainability issue by introducing sustainable and innovative packaging products.
Why do more and more companies quit using plastics? Plastics are produced by oil or petroleum, which are finite sources that could possibly be depleted in the next 50 years. In addition to that, manufacturing plastics releases chemicals, which are extremely harmful to the environment. Despite the advantages plastic packaging offered until now, it is time to eliminate all materials which endanger the natural sources of our planet and the air quality and atmosphere. Considering the volume of plastic which ends up polluting our oceans and ecosystem, and the fact that it can end up inside our system through what we consume, makes it so much more concerning and we must implement immediate measures on a global scale.
The Rise of Bioplastics
Bioplastic was introduced as a potential alternative material, made from biological material instead of petroleum. A material is considered bioplastic if it meets at least one of two criteria:
- It is manufactured by renewable plant-based resources
- It is biodegradable, meaning it has the capacity to be decomposed into water and carbon dioxide by microorganisms.
Due to the plant-based sources used for bioplastic production, the carbon dioxide emissions are very low, so the integration of this type of material is highly recommended by environmentalists and climate organizations.
The first bioplastic, known as polyhydroxybutyrate (PHB) was discovered almost 100 years ago by a French researcher. However, people used exclusively petroleum for its price and abundance until the 1970s, when the petroleum crisis led them to use alternative materials and take a closer look at the bioplastic discovery.
How is it produced? There are two ways to manufacture it. The first one refers to extracting sugar from sugarcane or plants like corn and converting it into polylactic acids (PLAs). The second way refers to processing microorganisms, resulting in polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHAs). The PLAs are more used in food packaging while the PHAs can be found in medical equipment and surgical tools. Between the two types, the PLAs require less capital to manufacture, actually making them the least expensive bioplastic product. Hence, manufacturers took an interest and put it to use for utensil production, food packaging, and more.
Nordics Mission
Our mission has always been focused on two key areas: sustainability and premium quality. We aim to inspire change by setting an example with our ethical standards through the ingredients and the manufacturing of our oral care products. Apart from choosing certified, cruelty-free, and vegan first materials for our organic dental care products, Nordics has revolutionized toothpaste packaging. True to our mission, Nordics has introduced a recyclable tube, made of Sugarcane-based Polyethylene (PE). Equipped with the same properties as its non-recyclable counterpart, a sugarcane tube presents the following benefits:
- It is made by the residue of sugarcane, which is used to produce ethanol
- It is a renewable source, meaning that it does not endanger the finite sources of energy of our planet
- It is recyclable, so it can be reused for the same or other products, not like the typical toothpaste tubes which end up on landfills
- The carbon footprint emission is considerably low, as the sugarcane metabolizes more carbon dioxide to grow than most plants and it regenerates by itself.
One of the biggest challenges oral care companies had to face was to source collapsible tubes which could be recycled. Up until now, the regular plastic tubes had an inner lining of aluminum, crucial for the structure, which made it impossible to recycle. However, the global consumer interest in sustainable packaging and the introduction of bioplastics have allowed more companies to discontinue the harmful plastic tubes.
Conclusion
The big companies in the oral health sector have recently announced the shift to recyclable packaging in order to tackle climate change and adopt sustainable techniques. We at Nordics are proud to represent the much-needed movement towards green energy and plant-based renewable sources.
While the top oral hygiene brands now introduce new recyclable toothpaste tubes and transform their branding and positioning, the driving forces behind our purpose have remained the same since day one. Nordics products will always be equivalent to innovation, sustainability, top oral health and the utmost respect for our Mother Nature.
Sources:
https://www.britannica.com/technology/bioplastic
How To Naturally Whiten Your Teeth
It's not a secret that many people have stained teeth. Whether it is due to coffee, tea, smoking or aging, there are many factors that can lead to teeth discoloration. But whitening your teeth by a professional can be quite sumptuous, and sometimes it's not even possible to whiten the teeth because there is no strong enamel which is essential for this procedure.
So, in order to help you, Nordics have compiled a list of the 4 ways how you can naturally whiten your teeth:
-
Decrease your sugar intake
Sugar per se is not directly bad for the teeth. However, the sugar in the oral cavity is consumed by the bacteria of the normal flora, and lactic acid is formed in the process. The lactic acid damages the surface of the teeth, the enamel is attacked and loses minerals. Furthermore, the lactic acid leads to a lowering of the pH value in the oral cavity and thus damages your mouth flora – this normally defends the oral cavity from pathogenic bacteria. If it is damaged, caries and other pathogenic bacteria have an easy go. The less sugar you consume, the less lactic acid is produced, and the less chance of caries and the healthier the oral cavity.
It makes sense to not completely exclude but limit the consumption of sugary foods and thus not constantly expose your teeth to sugar or lactic acid. Furthermore, it would be good to wait about half an hour after consuming sugar and then brush your teeth with a soft toothbrush to rid the oral cavity of the lactic acid and the remaining sugar as far as possible.
- Fruits that brighten your teeth
Do you know that tingling feeling on your tongue and lips when you eat pineapple? This is triggered by the enzyme bromelian contained in the fruit. It breaks down proteins – and that even noticeably. Pineapple not only supports digestion and has an anti-inflammatory effect, but it also helps you to have whiter teeth. Plaque, which is deposited on your teeth and causes discoloration, consists of proteins. Pineapple enzymes help break down these plaque proteins. In this way, the fruit counteracts unsightly stains.
With strawberries, however, you can even really damage the teeth from the outside. You have to imagine that teeth are made of hydroxyapatite. This is the hardest tissue we have in the body. And if you apply acids to it, calcium and phosphate can dissolve out of this coating. This makes the surface rougher, and the tooth is no longer as stable. So the claim, that strawberries naturally whiten your teeth is something you should better keep your hands off, there is no proof that this method really works.
- Floss like a boss
Daily flossing is essential for healthy and white teeth. Although brushing is important for good oral hygiene, brushing alone cannot protect you from gum problems and tooth loss.
About 40 % of the tooth surface lies between the teeth. For larger gaps, there are interdental brushes. Together with a mouthwash (for example our soothing mint mouthwash, which dissolves plaque bacteria), the procedure takes about a minute – but is guaranteed to save an hour-long visit to the dentist. If you consistently floss your teeth, you will soon see a positive effect on the coloring of your teeth, and also have an overall better oral hygiene.
- Activated charcoal & baking soda
Baking soda, also known as sodium bicarbonate, consists of a chemical compound that makes it a very mild abrasive. Its abrasive properties can remove stains from your teeth and make them appear whiter. However, if you want to remove deeper, older stains, baking soda is not as effective. With constant use, you can even damage the enamel.
Active charcoal is also often recommended for teeth whitening. In the short term, it removes impurities from the teeth, because the grains of the charcoal acts as an abrasive paper that scrubs discoloration from your teeth. After repeated use, this can actually make your teeth brighter.
However, compared to conventional toothpaste, activated charcoal has a much higher abrasiveness, similar to baking soda. Since the powder abrades the enamel and roughens the teeth in the long term, its use is not yet considered recommendable. The teeth become susceptible to caries. The roughening of the tooth surface also makes it easier for plaque and color pigments to adhere. If you want to use activated charcoal safely, we recommend using toothpaste with the ingredient in it (for example our organic whitening charcoal toothpaste).
Summary
In order to naturally whiten your teeth, you can do the following:
- Decrease your sugar consumption and adjust your diet
- Eat more fruits
- Include flossing in your daily oral hygiene routine
- Use toothpaste with activated charcoal in it
The Post Pandemic Future of Retail
Retailers are doing their best to adapt to the changes of a pandemic. However, there is no clear answer as to what will happen in the future. Will we be able to shop at stores? Will people want to go out and buy things if they have very little time left on Earth? What do consumers want?
Consumers still want to touch and see products before making a purchase decision. They also like the idea of getting personalized customer service in person as well as having access to more than just an eCommerce site's offerings. The future of retail might not necessarily have physical storefronts – but it does mean that retailers need to adapt and change with consumer demand or they may find themselves in dire straits sooner rather than later.
Online shopping has changed forever
Over the past few decades, online shopping has grown from a non-existent industry to one worth billion. Buying online has become a common practice for millions of people around the world. Recently, the number of people buying goods and services online has increased more than ever before. Personal care & cosmetics products saw an increase in online orders, especially in countries like Switzerland and Germany.
63 % of shopping occasions begin online. To keep up with the changes, brands need to offer an online + offline shopping experience. This means that regardless of where customers ultimately make the purchase, their customer journey begins online. In most cases, this is on Google or Amazon, where they do their research. This is also why it's critical for brands to have a strong online presence. By improving the customer experience from the very first step, companies have a higher chance of getting customers to buy from their store.
Digitalization for in-store shopping experiences
The pandemic has accelerated existing trends in the shopping behavior of European consumers. This is particularly evident in the shift from offline to online: 50 percent of European city dwellers now shop less in bricks-and-mortar retail than before the onset of the crisis. The clear beneficiary is online retail, which posted double-digit growth in the second quarter of 2020.
But brick-and-mortar retailers can also do a lot to bring customers back into stores and give them a pleasant and, above all, secure shopping experience. Even before the onset of the crisis, European customers valued technology in physical stores. One of the most important innovations to improve the customer experience is automatic checkout, which 34 percent of European consumers approve of. In second place among the popular store, technologies is the sending of personalized offers to the customer's smartphone as soon as they enter the store.
Digital labels will also become increasingly essential. People want to shop as contactless as possible. Businesses are moving towards using QR codes or tags to quickly add items to people’s carts.
Showrooms & smaller retail outlets
For brands, it is now more important than ever to stand out and convince with their digital storytelling: In virtual showrooms, brands can provide the infrastructure for 360-degree images and videos, shop-the-look features, and collection boards where brands can showcase their best sellers, for example. Smaller outlets are also a way to show customers that they can shop safely. These tools set them apart from the competition.
The best price wins – price competition increased
The reason for the financial losses is most likely to be that working hours have been reduced for those affected. This, together with time off, unpaid leave, or even termination, affects 46 % of people for whom the economic situation has deteriorated in the short term. In relation to the population as a whole, only 22 % report shorter working hours, time off, and dismissal.
As many people have less money, they will most likely lookup for the best deal – this results in price competition for many products, and forces brands to act.
Summary
In order to keep up with the rapid changes in retail, brands should focus on the following:
- Offer a great online shopping experience, even if the purchase happens offline
- In-store shopping experiences need to be digitalized in order to need customers' needs for contactless shopping
- Digital showrooms and smaller outlets are preferred over big retail spaces
- Customers will compare pricing online before they buy
Sources:
https://unctad.org/news/covid-19-has-changed-online-shopping-forever-survey-shows
https://www.thinkwithgoogle.com/consumer-insights/consumer-trends/trending-data-shorts/
https://www.pwc.de/en/retail-and-consumer/european-consumer-insights-series-2020-new-normal.html
https://www.vendhq.com/blog/contactless-shopping/
10 Tips And Tricks On Sustainability In Your Office
While often associated with sustainability, going “zero waste” or at least “low waste” doesn’t just benefit the environment - it also saves money, especially in the long run. As The Green Economy Coalition (a non-profit organization) notes, green buildings don’t just save money for owners and occupants, but also spur job creation and bring businesses and communities together.
If you’re thinking about making a switch to a greener business, these 10 small but meaningful ways will help get you started.
1. Turn off screensavers
Contrary to their name, screensavers do not save energy - they actually use more energy to keep the display on and play the animation on the screen. The best and most eco-friendly way to protect a screen that is not being used is to simply switch it off.
2. Buy Second-Hand
From office furniture to office supplies, buying second-hand is a sure way towards a greener office. Not only is second-hand office material and furniture a great way to get the most value for your money, it's also a great way to reduce the volume of materials used to manufacture new products, therefore reducing the number of raw materials and energy used to create a new product.
3. Use natural lighting
According to the World Green Building Council report, people exposed to natural daylight have a 15% higher production rate. Aside from positively affecting the body’s circadian rhythm and vitamin D absorption, natural lighting can also help you reduce energy consumption and utility bill costs.
4. Go paperless whenever you can
Paper is a resource that's easy to overuse - huge amounts of paper get tossed in the trash every day. Virtually every company is able to save money by going paperless. Whatever you need - whether it’s a monthly report, a client contract, or an info sheet - most of it can be done, sent, and stored digitally.
5. When you can’t - use recycled paper for printing
There are instances when you simply need something on paper. In case you can’t skip paper, make sure to use recycled paper instead. When it comes to paper use, recycled paper is the greenest option because it uses fewer resources and leaves a smaller carbon footprint than the manufacturing of regular paper.
6. Invest in reusable silverware
Plastic utensils are simply terrible for the environment. People rarely think about where all those plastic forks and knives that you throw away after a company celebration end up. Most of them are not recyclable or made from recycled material. Switching to regular silverware is a great way to eliminate plastic cutlery altogether.
7. Eliminate paper towels
You are not using a paper towel at home, are you? Whether in the kitchen or in the bathroom, you can easily replace paper towels with cloth towels and microfiber cleaning cloths. Also, consider bringing your own hand towel for hand drying every day.
8. Bring your own coffee mug
Whether you’re using an espresso machine or a French press, bringing your own reusable bottle or coffee mug to work is one of the simplest and most effective eco-initiatives you can take.
9. Use compostable plates and cups for company birthdays and promotions
Luckily, today there are plenty of affordable compostable or recyclable plates and glasses that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Whether you’re celebrating birthdays or promotions, you can always avoid buying plastic single-use cups and plates.
10. Use pencils instead of pens
Pencils are considerably friendlier to the environment than pens. Unlike a pen, a pencil is made of wood, which is a renewable resource. And unlike a pen, a pencil can be re-used and re-sharpened, leaving just biodegradable waste, which means less plastic and disposable parts being generated.
Many offices have implemented initiatives to become sustainable and cut down on waste. But it's not always easy to know where to start, especially if your office isn't exactly the eco-friendly type. We hope this list helps you get some ideas on how to go zero waste in your own office, whether you're an office manager, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to make a change for the better.
Do your office colleagues practice any of these economical and eco-friendly ways to cut waste and energy consumption? Which ones would you like to incorporate in your office and why?
While often associated with sustainability, going “zero waste” or at least “low waste” doesn’t just benefit the environment - it also saves money, especially in the long run. As The Green Economy Coalition (a non-profit organization) notes, green buildings don’t just save money for owners and occupants, but also spur job creation and bring businesses and communities together.
If you’re thinking about making a switch to a greener business, these 10 small but meaningful ways will help get you started.
1. Turn off screensavers
Contrary to their name, screensavers do not save energy - they actually use more energy to keep the display on and play the animation on the screen. The best and most eco-friendly way to protect a screen that is not being used is to simply switch it off.
2. Buy Second-Hand
From office furniture to office supplies, buying second-hand is a sure way towards a greener office. Not only is second-hand office material and furniture a great way to get the most value for your money, it's also a great way to reduce the volume of materials used to manufacture new products, therefore reducing the number of raw materials and energy used to create a new product.
3. Use natural lighting
According to the World Green Building Council report, people exposed to natural daylight have a 15% higher production rate. Aside from positively affecting the body’s circadian rhythm and vitamin D absorption, natural lighting can also help you reduce energy consumption and utility bill costs.
4. Go paperless whenever you can
Paper is a resource that's easy to overuse - huge amounts of paper get tossed in the trash every day. Virtually every company is able to save money by going paperless. Whatever you need - whether it’s a monthly report, a client contract, or an info sheet - most of it can be done, sent, and stored digitally.
5. When you can’t - use recycled paper for printing
There are instances when you simply need something on paper. In case you can’t skip paper, make sure to use recycled paper instead. When it comes to paper use, recycled paper is the greenest option because it uses fewer resources and leaves a smaller carbon footprint than the manufacturing of regular paper.
6. Invest in reusable silverware
Plastic utensils are simply terrible for the environment. People rarely think about where all those plastic forks and knives that you throw away after a company celebration end up. Most of them are not recyclable or made from recycled material. Switching to regular silverware is a great way to eliminate plastic cutlery altogether.
7. Eliminate paper towels
You are not using a paper towel at home, are you? Whether in the kitchen or in the bathroom, you can easily replace paper towels with cloth towels and microfiber cleaning cloths. Also, consider bringing your own hand towel for hand drying every day.
8. Bring your own coffee mug
Whether you’re using an espresso machine or a French press, bringing your own reusable bottle or coffee mug to work is one of the simplest and most effective eco-initiatives you can take.
9. Use compostable plates and cups for company birthdays and promotions
Luckily, today there are plenty of affordable compostable or recyclable plates and glasses that come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Whether you’re celebrating birthdays or promotions, you can always avoid buying plastic single-use cups and plates.
10. Use pencils instead of pens
Pencils are considerably friendlier to the environment than pens. Unlike a pen, a pencil is made of wood, which is a renewable resource. And unlike a pen, a pencil can be re-used and re-sharpened, leaving just biodegradable waste, which means less plastic and disposable parts being generated.
Many offices have implemented initiatives to become sustainable and cut down on waste. But it's not always easy to know where to start, especially if your office isn't exactly the eco-friendly type. We hope this list helps you get some ideas on how to go zero waste in your own office, whether you're an office manager, a business owner, or simply someone who wants to make a change for the better.
Do your office colleagues practice any of these economical and eco-friendly ways to cut waste and energy consumption? Which ones would you like to incorporate in your office and why?
EU regulation against single use plastics
If you haven’t heard of the long-anticipated EU ban of single-use plastic, you have some catching up to do. It was approved in the first Q of 2019 and it states that single-use plastic items will be banned for production by 2021. And here we are…
This year we’ll have to see ecological friendly alternatives of plastic forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, plates, straws, cotton buds, balloon sticks, food containers, and our favorite - polystyrene cups.
This measure comes in a bundle of legislative activities aiming to fight the industrial effects of climate change. It is part of the Juncker Commission's Circular Economy Action Plan and is part of the EU Plastics Strategy. We agree that those steps are belated, to say the least, since scientists have been alarming governments for decades. However, the new standards include higher company responsibility and more precise monitoring of industrial polluters.
Starting from this year all EU states will have to achieve a target of 90% collection of plastic bottles that end up in the recycle bin, by 2029, and newly produced plastic bottles will have to contain at least 25% of recycled material by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
Nordics are whistling carefree while our mouthwash bottles are produced from 100% recycled plastic from day one. Furthermore, Nordics was one of the pioneers introducing bamboo drinking straws for the European market.
Let’s get back to the legislative novelties. The expected outcomes from this ecological measure are to lessen the CO2 emission by 3.4 million tons, to avoid an ecological footprint that would cost the equivalent of €22 billion by 2030, and to save consumers a projected €6.5 billion.
The other important side of it is the “the polluter pays” principle. This means that every company should pay an equal price for the direct and indirect pollution it makes, including CO2. Actually, this is part of the 1992 Rio Declaration, a guide with general principles for sustainability.
Part of the new policy is targeting consumer education and consumer behavior. By mandatory labeling for packaging, users will be warned of the environmental damage they would cause by disposing of products incorrectly. For example many western countries and retailers' own brands have been doing this for quite some time now, uptaking the heavy task of consumer teaching.
Nordics’ products are born from the sustainability concept. We are passionate supporters of the principle "reduce, reuse, recycle". That's why our products are saving the Planet and satisfying the most pretentious consumer needs since 2015. But as we can see from the new EU law - it's a shared mission of manufacturers and consumers.
Beauty Trends of 2021
A lot can change in just one year. People's tastes, hobbies, and shopping habits are constantly evolving with the ever-changing world around us. It's no wonder then that beauty trends are also changing on an annual basis to keep up with the latest styles and technology available to consumers. What will be trending in 2021? Here is a brief overview of four megatrends we think are relevant this year:
DIY Products – toothcare at home
Do it yourself has always been a huge trend – however, according to a McKinsey survey it grew rapidly during the pandemic. DIY hacks like brushing teeth with activated charcoal or coconut oil have long been considered a supposed secret weapon in the beauty scene.
Whether as a powder, in the form of capsules, or as an additive in toothpastes, the black charcoal particles are said to clean our teeth of dirt and pollutants, thus freeing them from an unwanted yellow or grey haze. And indeed, if you brush your teeth with activated charcoal, you can expect a visibly whiter smile after just a few applications. But instead of buying pure activated charcoal at the next pharmacy, using our toothpaste with activated charcoal is the better way to DIY your teeth whitening process.
Home cosmetics are on the rise, a recent Sampler survey shows that almost 50 % of consumers find it enjoyable and therapeutic to do their self-care routine and beauty treatments at home. It offers them peace of mind to health and safety, which won't even disappear after the pandemic. 37 % of the survey takers responded that they would continue doing their treatments at home, only 16 % plan to go back to beauty salons & co. once they're reopening.
Personal care trends
The market research company Mintel has identified the pursuit of a holistic approach to achieving physical and mental well-being as one of the most important factors influencing consumer behavior today. Accordingly, adults are increasingly looking for products that enhance their physical, mental, and emotional health – including in the cosmetics sector. For example, nearly 90% of adults in the U.S. suffer from recurring pain or inflammation.
The trigger in many cases is chronic stress, which one-third of consumers struggle with. For these problems, they are often looking for non-medical solutions. According to Mintel's survey, the beauty and health industry, in particular, can provide relief here with milder, anti-inflammatory products.
The future beauty and health market could increasingly rely on synergy effects: according to Mintel's estimates, many consumers will be on the lookout for products that promise improved well-being without much effort. In particular, solutions that combine physical or emotional well-being with benefits for our appearance are expected to be in trend in the next years.
Smart shopping
Technology will become more important than before – and many brands start to adapt to this new demand. The Internet, smartphones, and the like make it possible to compare prices everywhere and all the time and to choose the provider that offers the best value for money. This type of shopping is called "smart shopping." However, it's not only the price comparison that turns shopping-lovers into real bargain finders – the when and where also reveals what you can look out for when shopping to get more for less money.
Even as a brand that doesn't have an online shop yet, Nordics adapted to this because smart shopping starts way earlier than just looking up discounts and best deals.
Increasingly, search engines are the starting point for this research. The opportunity for offline brands is easy: Those who provide information, descriptions, images, and videos about and of their products through Social Media, their website, or other online channels support potential customers in their online research – with the chance that the customer journey thus begun will end with them.
Natural & sustainable products – Ecological packaging
The pandemic has highlighted our impact on nature, causing the public to think about how to be more health-conscious and build natural immunity. As a result, customers are turning to products that are free of chemicals of concern and instead contain "clean," authentic ingredients.
The topic of sustainability will continue to be a top priority. More and more companies in the beauty industry are paying attention to their ecological footprints and investing in climate-relevant research projects. This is also the case with the packaging we use for our products – we focus on CO2-friendly packaging and use materials that are sustainable for our environment.
Where in the past a lot of packaging still spoke for the quality and value of a product, today the exact opposite is the case. Packaging for health and beauty products no longer needs to be as fancy as possible but focus on plastic avoidance. Big beauty brands see this trend too and take action – so it's no longer just a side project but a major task for the cosmetics and health industry in the future.
To summarize the most important points of 2021's beauty trends:
- People will do more of their beauty & health care at home, so it's time for brands to adjust to this need
- Personal care becomes more relevant, and people actively lookout for products that promise to improve their well-being without much effort
- Discounts, comparing prices, offering people a great customer journey starting on Social Media will raise the chance to win new customers
- Sustainability not only for products themselves but also their packaging will continue to affect consumer behavior
Nordics uses sustainable packaging and organic ingredients to offer a sustainable but still high-quality product experience. Read more about our products and impact.
Sources:
https://sampler.io/blog/the-rise-of-the-diy-consumer
https://www.mintel.com/global-consumer-trends
https://www.rolandberger.com/en/Insights/Publications/Shopper-behavior-upside-down.html
Probiotics and their promising benefits to oral health
What are probiotics? First, let’s define that. Probiotics are essentially microorganisms such as bacteria which are beneficial for you, especially for your digestive system. While bacteria are considered an enemy to the human body, there are a lot of harmless microorganisms whose presence can be highly beneficial to various functions in our organisms. It is estimated that there are 39-300 trillion bacteria existing in the human body, and the majority is linked to health benefits such as improved digestion, healthy skin, enhanced immune system, resulting in fewer chances of some diseases and weight loss.
What are the types of probiotics? Most often, probiotics regard bacteria, but there are other types of microorganisms, such as yeasts that can be classified as probiotics. Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium are two of the most common and effective probiotic bacterial strains. They can be found in supplements and foods prepared by bacterial fermentation. Examples of probiotic foods are yogurt, kefir, sauerkraut, kombucha, tempeh, and kimchi. All bacteria contain various strains which address a different human function, so medical expert guidance is advised to ensure the safe consumption of the right probiotic for each individual.
Probiotics in oral care products
Traditionally, studies regarding the health benefits of probiotics were exclusive to the digestive system. However, the scientific breakthroughs of the last decade have revealed that probiotics can improve oral health as well.
Nordics’ Innovation
True to our promise towards innovative dental care, Nordics recently introduced a new toothpaste with the first processed probiotic dedicated to oral care, called SymReboot™ OC by Symrise. It is a COSMOS-approved ingredient, chosen for its effectiveness to promote a healthy microbiome and consequently enhance oral health. Its revolutionary benefits include:
➢ Maintaining the oral cavity's natural defenses and promotes healthy microflora.
➢ Enhancing gum health and strengthening the oral cavity barrier.
➢ Protecting against toxic microorganisms and soothes the gums.
➢ Having the capacity to be applied to a variety of oral care products, notably toothpaste, mouthwash, gum care, and lozenges.
Our brand new Nordics Kids toothpaste Strawberry Splash Probiotic contains SymReboot™ OC probiotic, Xylitol and is also fluoride-free, making it safe for our little friends. It’s suitable for kids of all ages and recommended for young kids with sensitive teeth or those who simply look for the best care possible for their oral health.
Oral care probiotics include living and healthy microorganisms, identical to the beneficial ones naturally existing in the oral cavity. Their presence there aims to restore a healthy balance of the microbiome and prevent the bacteria buildup, which is known to cause damage to the teeth and gums. Specifically, when the probiotics enter the oral cavity, they attach to the aggregate of the existing bacteria. Then, they stick on the surface of the teeth and penetrate the gingival sulcus, which is the meeting point of the teeth and the gums. Their role encompasses minimizing the risk of pathogens, exacerbated by high-sugar and processed foods, and preventing dental plaque formation, other dental diseases such as gingivitis and periodontitis, and further, severe health issues.
According to studies, the benefits of probiotics in oral health include:
1) Cavity and plaque prevention. Among the various types of bacteria in the oral cavity, there are some which are harmful. For example, Streptococcus mutans is one of them because it turns sugar into lactic acid, creating the ideal environment for plaque and tooth decay formation. A study conducted in 2016 revealed that a specific strain of a “good” bacteria called A12 can hinder the development of S. mutans and effectively prevent plaque buildup.
2) Halitosis or bad breath elimination. Poor oral hygiene leads to bad breath due to the “bad” bacteria presence in the mouth and gut. It’s not considered a disease, but it is a discomfort which can reveal underlying dental infections and inflammations. Based on a study, the use of an antimicrobial mouthwash and supplements of the probiotic Streptococcus salivarius was 85% effective in reducing significantly the number of bacteria responsible for halitosis.
3) Oral disease treatment. The focus point of the first studies was the determination of the probiotics as an effective treatment in dental diseases like periodontitis and gingivitis. A specific strain from L. acidophilus successfully treated patients with various periodontal issues and this raised the interest for further research and examination of this particular bacteria type. Other probiotic strains have improved gum health by dramatically decreasing gum bleeding and inflammation.
The future of oral care probiotics
The use of probiotics in dental care products has already shown great potential in maintaining excellent oral health. Oral probiotics can restore the balance of the beneficial bacteria in the mouth, which may diminish due to poor nutrition, bad habits like smoking, stress, medication, chronic illnesses, and other factors. Dental practitioners claim that the daily use of probiotic supplements or dental products, combined with routine prophylaxis and periodontal therapy, has the capacity to enhance the microbiome in your mouth.
The increasing trend towards preventive measures is fueled by both governments, in their effort to cut down healthcare costs, and consumers, in their desire to have more control over their health. Therefore, a lot of dental companies turn to new technology and innovative techniques to incorporate probiotic toothpaste, mouthwash, and other products for all ages and address consumers’ pain points such as sensitive teeth, irritated gums, and bad breath.
Sources:
https://www.dentalproductsreport.com/view/oral-care-probiotics-supplement-overall-health-practices
https://www.healthline.com/health/oral-probiotics
https://www.healthline.com/health/oral-probiotics
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2897872/
Recyclable tubes - a major step to sustainability
There was one major ecological problem related to toothpaste tubes and that was that they are just not recyclable. That is due to the fine aluminum layer inside the plastic tube that protects the flavor from escaping during the long shelf-life of the product. The two types of materials are inseparable agglutinated to one another that dooms the annual use of 400M toothpaste tubes to lay in the landfills.
That’s not all. The most common plastic materials in the oral care industry are extracted from fossils which are finite resources and the manufacturing process is, as we all know, very polluting. Petroleum quantities are diminishing with only 1/4th of the current consumption actually being provided through extraction. Growing consumer concerns and governmental legislation about plastic and waste are the tipping points that have to make companies reorganize their production.
Being the innovators in the sector, Nordics turned the standard way of manufacturing toothpaste inside out. At the end of 2020, the company introduced its first toothpaste tube made entirely from bioplastic (polymerized sugar cane). Bio-plastics are using renewable plant-based resources like potatoes, vegetable fats, and oils, corn starch, cellulose from trees and straw.
Nordics uses 100% sugar cane for the production its toothpaste tubes. Sugar cane polyethylene has the same properties as petrochemical polyethylene which means that the preservation of the toothpaste flavor, moisture, density, and effects are securely shielded.
Another very important benefit of bio-based polymers is that they make a really low CO2 footprint. The reasons for this are 1) they prevent petrol extraction from the Earth, 2) sugar cane naturally sucks out large quantities of CO2 from the atmosphere. That is how the total set of greenhouse gas emissions caused by an organization, a product, or a person drastically decreases when using a daily product in bio-plastic packaging. The Brazilian chemicals group Braskem claims that using its method of producing polyethylene from sugar cane ethanol captures (removes from the environment) 2.15 tonnes of CO2 per tonne of Green Polyethylene produced. If the old bioplastic tubes are recycled, and consumers close the production circle, we are actually reversing the effect of Global warming due to greenhouse gases.
Bio-plastic doesn’t necessarily mean that it is compostable or biodegradable. See the differences in the 3 general categories below:
- Bio-based/renewable and non-biodegradable plastic
- Bio-based/renewable and biodegradable plastic - Nordics toothpaste packaging falls under that category
- Fossil-based and biodegradable plastic
Bioplastic usage in toothpaste packaging is a very important step for a massive decrease in plastic waste ending up in landfills and oceans. Nordics are proud to have finally introduced the opportunity for creating a closed consumer cycle to the wider public. Ideally, when recycled, the material invested in the production of one packaging will relatively stay the same.
How to make your kids want to brush
Babies' first teeth usually erupt at around six months of age. From this point on, brushing the teeth becomes important. From the first milk tooth, they must be well cared for because this forms the basis for the children’s teeth being healthy and strong later on. However, making this palatable to children so that it does not become a hurdle every day can be quite tedious, as all mothers know. It often ends in drama when parents want to teach their kids thorough oral hygiene. But this doesn't have to be the case because there are valuable tips on how parents can teach their children to enjoy brushing their teeth, and thus make their own lifes easier.
Brushing tips — how to make your kids LOVE to brush their teeth
It makes a lot of sense to introduce a joint family tooth brushing after meals and to be the role model. This has a great motivating effect on kids. Parents now have the task of showing them that, just like washing and bathing the body, is part of hygiene. This works best when everyone brushes their teeth together and the parents explain to the child how to brush their teeth with a tasty toothpaste properly. Until school age, however, children need a “success check” and parents may need to brush again. But brushing teeth together makes it a habit or routine, so it doesn't end in screams every time it's “Will you please go brush your teeth?”. If parents make brushing teeth a regular ritual, they can prevent children from developing an aversion to it. Eventually, it will become completely natural for them.
The word “self” usually has a magical effect on children. Kids should therefore be allowed to choose their toothbrush, cup and natural toothpaste. Of course, the child likes a beautiful, colorful, self-selected toothbrush much better and so brushing teeth is twice as much fun. It is important to buy a special children's toothbrush because it has a small brush head as well as soft, rounded bristles. The same goes for the toothpaste. How about a natural toothpaste that is also tasty, but harmless at the same time? Adults usually favor a mint flavor, but this does not meet the taste of most children, more than that - it’s forbidden for children under 6 y.o.a.
Children have favorite songs. Why shouldn't they listen to them while brushing their teeth? The child will be thrilled to be able to brush to the rhythm of a lively song. In the best case, the song is two to three minutes long — once it's over, the child can rinse his or her mouth. Children are always ready for funny ideas. Sometimes it is hard to believe the effect such actions can have.
Gamify teeth brushing with a tasty toothpaste
Depending on age, different games can help. Using a flavored toothpaste paired with rhymes distract younger dental hygiene refusers, for example:
Brush, brush, brush your teeth, at least two times a day.
Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning, cleaning,
Fighting tooth decay.
Floss, floss, floss your teeth, every single day.
Gently, gently, gently, gently,
Whisking plaque away.
Rinse, rinse, rinse your teeth every single day.
Swishing, swishing, swishing, swishing,
Fighting tooth decay.
Or: give the teeth animal names (“Now we'll brush the mouse's teeth in front, and the bear's tooth is sticking out in the back”). To do this, turn on the favorite song or run an alarm clock so that brushing really takes two to three minutes.
With older children, parents could also have a contest: Who can clean the longest without spitting out? And if the family starts the caries battle together after meals, that is of course particularly motivating. Such activities will be helpful for the family cohesion also.
Nordics is dedicated to improving the oral health of big and small and will regularly bring free advice on how to make brushing teeth more fun for kids and turn it into a joyful affair. Stay tooned in our blog and social media.
What’s the origin, ethics and principles behind our products?
Nordics inspires change. In every way. Change in companies’ and consumers’ mentality, in the substances we take and give back to Nature, and change in the physical world around us. Our goal is to keep the Earth and humanity safe — without missing out on the best of quality ingredients. That’s why we wanted to tell you the story about Nordics’ ethical standards, and the origin and principle behind our products.
Our ethical standards
Nordics was born from the idea of creating sustainable and amazing products for daily oral care. Ever since, our ethical standards have been leading our business. Upholding strong principles, not only in our direct business, but throughout our entire value chain, is fundamental to how Nordics operates.
Every person at Nordics has the core mindset to take care of people’s health while also taking care of our Planet. This makes our products more efficient and strengthens our reputation as a sustainable oral care brand.
We believe that the way a company does business is as important as the quality of its products. Our ethical standards Respect, Courage, Transparency, and Fairness serve as our compass for our daily acts.
Respect
Our business influences many people’s lives and our Planet. We show respect for every drop of water invested in the production of our stock, every ounce of raw material, and every millimeter of packaging. The respect in our business starts from the privilege of using Mother Nature’s gifts and goes to each moment of dedication of our employees and partners.
Courage
Nordics’ bravery to be different made us a rising star among dental care. We rose above the ocean of conventional toothpastes and stood up for our environment. Courage means risk-taking for a cause. We took the risk of largely investing in R&D, selling at a price point above average, because of the natural substances we use, and also looking different. Nordics broke the status quo of unorthodox ways in a conservative and stiff market as oral.
Transparency
Because above all, being honest and trustworthy is the key to build a sustainable brand. Nordics is COSMOS Organic certified, and also vegan and cruelty-free. We go through these processes to give our consumers better transparency on our products to build a stronger connection.
Fairness
We believe in treating everyone equally and tolerate and accept diversity. You can see this all around our social media and marketing communication. We also guarantee fairness in every part of our supply chain, meaning that everyone gets the fair value he deserves - our vendors, partners, and clients.
The origin of Nordics products
All ingredients used in our products go through a strict process of quality supervision. We only use certified ingredients from boutique suppliers to maintain high standards and quality in our products. This of course leads to a higher cost for the ingredients we use but also helps to reduce our carbon footprint.
We don’t make compromises in quality and sustainability — and we mean it. If we can’t find a substance that stands to our standards, that means we simply don’t produce the product in mind. The extracts we use in our products are certified biological and raw materials. Furthermore, they are also vegan and cruelty-free.
Quality standard — COSMOS Organic
The COSMOS Standard is managed by the non-profit, international and independent association - the Brussels-based COSMOS Standard AISBL. COSMOS offers two signatures for cosmetic products, such as beauty and skin care products, or in our case oral hygiene products. COSMOS ORGANIC or COSMOS NATURAL always appears directly under the logo of the relevant certifier or association, so that the consumer recognizes that it is a well-known and trusted association or certifier. Furthermore, the label indicates the percentage of organic ingredients in the product. This is the percentage organic of the total product, but since some products contain a lot of water and mineral ingredients that cannot be organic, the percentage organic minus these two ingredient categories is also indicated.
Nordics bio toothpastes are COSMOS Organic certified, and as such are committed to only use high-quality raw materials for our products. That means that at least 95% of the physically processed agro-ingredients have to be organic.
It has always been our mission to use Nordics to improve people's lives. That includes taking good care of the place we all call home. We don't have the answer to every question, but we are committed to making choices that benefit our customers, employees, and the environment — from the materials we use, to the manufacturer we work with, to the steps we take to bring our products to you.
Consumer behavior in pandemics
Our lives as we know them have undoubtedly changed, and we all know that the COVID-19 pandemics has brought serious changes to the economy. Not only that, but it has also changed consumer behavior:
The way people buy, what they buy, and the mindset in which they buy have changed forever. These changes have now been confirmed by several studies, which also show that the pandemic is likely to permanently alter consumer behavior and bring about lasting structural changes in the consumer goods industry and retail sector.
This means that the way companies present their products and communicate with their customers will also have to change. What specifically has changed on the consumer side as a result of the crisis?
Closeness, trust & more solidarity
Closeness and trust form the breeding ground for more mindful, social consumption and enjoyment behavior even after the crisis. The new solidarity that developed during the pandemic will shape trade and consumption in the future. This is also because a new level of solidarity emerged during the crisis, a new, self-confident "we" culture.
People helped each other, went shopping for at-risk groups, sewed mouth masks at home, and companies temporarily produced disinfectants instead of alcoholic beverages or perfumes. The pandemic makes it unmistakably clear that people cannot fight the virus and its consequences alone, but only as part of a group, as part of a society. In the future, consumer culture will focus less on goods, and more on resonant relationships.
Digitalization makes consumption more human
Technological innovations, automation, artificial intelligence and digital tools have shown their strengths in the crisis situation. They have not distanced people from one another; on the contrary, they help to be close to one another even at a distance - and also to organize consumption. Supply chains have been optimized in a very short time, Click & Collect saves time when shopping, and bicycle couriers will continue to provide local and fast last-mile delivery. Many will not want to miss the convenience of ordering food and groceries online and having them delivered, even after the crisis.
Naturally, people are spending more time with their digital devices during the crisis, whether smartphones, laptops or tablets, but also smartwatches. They use more streaming services, play games and communicate more with their smart speakers. People are spending much more time on social media, country specifically to varying degrees but on average social media usage has increased by about 45% globally as a result of the crisis. To stay relevant and satisfy consumer expectations, Nordics has largely focused on social media to keep a close connection with its fans. We’re stressing on useful insights about oral health, ecological consciousness and product reviews, so everybody’s well informed from a credible source.
How pandemics change consumer behavior permanently
The pandemic is expected to permanently change consumer behavior. It will also have a lasting structural impact on the consumer goods and retail industries. These are the findings of management consultants Accenture in a recent survey the company conducted among more than 3,000 consumers in 15 countries on five continents. The Accenture survey was conducted between April 2 and April 6. At the time, many countries had already called for people to stay home.
The study concludes that consumer buying priorities were changing rapidly. For example, respondents said they were buying more personal care and cleaning products, as well as canned and fresh foods, than they were two weeks earlier. At the same time, they would buy fewer fashion and beauty items as well as consumer electronics. Data shows that 45% are making more sustainable choices when shopping and are likely to continue to do so, so it’s essential for companies to start rethinking and create more sustainable solutions or alternatives for their products.
Nordics’ all about sustainability. However, we don’t compromise the hygiene standards especially at those difficult times: our toothpastes have a seal at the front, so the procust stays sterile until its first opening. Nordics mouthwash has a safety cap that must be pressed and twisted to open, and in addition is covered with a plastic sleeve. Our toothbrushes are safely sealed in vacuum bags and put in a cardboard box. That’s way we ensure that the quality that is produced in our labs is delivered on the shelves.
Availability is more important than brand loyalty
Product availability was the most important thing to consumers at the onset of the pandemic. Empty shelves and temporary stock shortages greatly affected brand loyalty. Many consumers tried a different brand or shopped at a different retailer during the crisis. People tend to buy more at the same time and build stocks, not only for food but also for oral hygiene products.
A McKinsey study found that more than 75% of consumers tried new brands, shopping locations or shopping methods during the pandemic. Value, availability and quality or organic products were the main factors for consumers to try a different brand.
This trend is not new: even before the crisis, studies noted the development that consumers are much less loyal to brands these days and are increasingly trying out new products. This trend is particularly evident among the younger generations, because they love to try new things. The crisis has only reinforced this development and the positive experiences consumers have had during this time will continue to negatively influence their loyalty to brands.
What will consumer behavior look like after the pandemic?
We can see that the crisis has brought some changes in the behavior of consumers, in all aspects of buying behavior, emotional attitude, daily challenges and basic needs of consumers:
- People spend substantially more time online: social networks, platforms, apps, web
- Consumers prefer digital communications and interactions: whether with people or machines
- Consumers will shop online more, happily in groups: social shopping
- Customers are becoming less trustful to brands: brand loyalty is waning
- Consumers values in change: people are shopping more consciously and thinking about what is essential and what is frivolous. They value sustainability, regionality and quality.
Consuming for the sake of consuming will therefore fade into the background in the future. The pandemic freed consumption to some extent from its compensatory component: The function of the act of buying as a kind of act of frustration, which one practices primarily to feel less lonely or to reward oneself, is increasingly becoming a discontinued model. At Nordics, we will continue to keep on cutting-edge and meet future consumer demands with sustainable, organic products.
Future trends in the oral care sector
Еven though the oral care market of consumer goods is one of the most conservative ones, there’s evidence of its progression. In fact, as a rule of thumb, industries that don’t adapt to technological development or new trends, are doomed to perish.
GIVE WAY TO INNOVATION
The first thing worth mentioning is that more “out-of-the-box” products are making their way to top positions on the retailer’s shelves. This wasn’t always the case. In fact, you could only find a non-fluoride toothpaste, or a mint-free one, in strictly specialized stores. In our opinion, this wasn’t solely led by the consumer trends but also by the manufacturer’s unwillingness for niche investment. That was the situation for several decades.
However, things are starting to change. The growth projection of the global oral care market is of a CAGR of 6.32% for the period 2020 - 2025, reported by Research and Markets. That growth is impacted mainly by big brand’s innovative products. Of course, heavy promotional actions have always been typical for this sector, and they will continue being a growth driver.
In value, the oral care market is estimated to reach USD 53.3 billion by 2025 staying at USD 45.8 billion in 2020, according to Markets and Markets. The sector is so traditional that even the COVID19 pandemic couldn’t jolt it.
Brands should help clients pick up trends like clean formulas, alternative anti-caries or whitening ingredients, natural flavors, innovative packaging, or formats of products (ex. zero-waste toothpaste tablets or dental floss). Trendy products with poor distribution or compromise in quality (not quite bio, not quite zero-waste) put a barrier between market and consumer development. In short, lack of customer awareness about R&D and innovations prevent the growth rate.
Toothpaste is KING
Toothpaste is actually one of the consumer goods with the highest penetration (about 80% on average). This is determined by the globally spread dental decay due to food quality, hereditary factors, poor eating habits, and more. Brushing with toothpaste is still the No.1 way to take care of our oral health. A rise in popularity for herbal oral products is driving the global toothpaste market, along with premiumization, and offerings of specialized solutions (Research and Markets).
The “BIG 4”
Conservative as it is, the oral care sector has a group of leaders that’s been here for a while. You can easily spot exactly who they are if you’re strolling down the isles in the supermarkets of the Americas, Asia, Europe, and Australia. Yes, you got it right. Those are Colgate, Elmex (Colgate-Palmolive), Oral-B (Procter & Gamble), Signal, Pepsodent (Unilever PLC) Aquafresh, Sensodyne, and Parodontax (GlaxoSmithKline PLC). The “Big 4” is here to stay and we don’t expect significant shifts soon.
However, all hope is not lost, especially for smaller regional players that make specialized products. A winning strategy is to address specific dental problems like gum disease, hyper-sensitivity, periodontitis, or halitosis. That’s how tinier brands became established in their local markets and can expand abroad.
THE OPPORTUNITY
Remember, the oral care market is marked by brutal price wars that could be led for years by the “Big 4”. So if you’re a toddler in the sector or still considering your entry plan your best chances are of presenting a product of superb quality dealing with specific dental issues and that has a taste that would be adored.
Are you ready for the EU regulation against single use plastic?
If you haven’t heard of the long-anticipated EU ban of single-use plastic, you have some catching up to do. It was approved in the first Q of 2019 and it states that single-use plastic items will be banned for production by 2021. And here we are…
This year we’ll have to see ecological friendly alternatives of plastic forks, knives, spoons, chopsticks, plates, straws, cotton buds, balloon sticks, food containers, and our favorite - polystyrene cups.
This measure comes in a bundle of legislative activities aiming to fight the industrial effects of climate change. It is part of the Juncker Commission's Circular Economy Action Plan and is part of the EU Plastics Strategy. We agree that those steps are belated, to say the least, since scientists have been alarming governments for decades. However, the new standards include higher company responsibility and more precise monitoring of industrial polluters. Starting from this year all EU states will have to achieve a target of 90% collection of plastic bottles that end up in the recycle bin, by 2029, and newly produced plastic bottles will have to contain at least 25% of recycled material by 2025 and 30% by 2030.
Nordics are whistling carefree while our mouthwash plastic bottles are produced from 100% recycled plastic from day one. Furthermore, Nordics was one of the pioneers introducing bamboo drinking straws for the European market.
Let’s get back to the legislative novelties. The expected outcomes from this ecological measure are to lessen the CO2 emission by 3.4 million tons, to avoid an ecological footprint that would cost the equivalent of €22 billion by 2030, and to save consumers a projected €6.5 billion.
The other important side of it is the “the polluter pays” principle. This means that every company should pay an equal price for the direct and indirect pollution it makes, including CO2. Actually, this is part of the 1992 Rio Declaration, a guide with general principles for sustainability.
Part of the new policy is targeting consumer education and consumer behavior. By mandatory labeling for packaging, users will be warned of the environmental damage they would cause by disposing of products incorrectly. Many Western countries and retailers' own brands have been doing this for quite some time now, uptaking the heavy task of consumer teaching.
Nordics’ products are born from the sustainability concept. We are passionate supporters of the principle "reduce, reuse, recycle". That's why our products are saving the Planet and satisfying the most pretentious consumer needs since 2015. But as we can see from the new EU law - it's a shared mission of manufacturers and consumers.
What are the forbidden substances in Nordics toothpastes and why we want to be FREE of them?
We know that if you’re reading this article you're not the mainstream shopper looking for a bargain in the drugstore. Well, it’s hard to step out of the shopping stereotypic behavior. The markets around the world are flooded with goods striving to deliver low prices and better margins that often come along with compromised quality.
We, at Nordics, aim to create better opportunities for everybody to reach and buy high quality, clean label oral care products. That’s why we just said “No” to some of the most used cosmetic ingredients and took the long, but far more satisfying road of clean labels.
But what exactly is a "clean label"? This means that you won’t find “parabens, SLS, PEGs, synthetic flavors & colorants, preservatives, sugar or soy”, written anywhere on our packaging. The reason we don’t fancy those substances is simple: they have controversial effects on the human body. Even though they do wonderfully for producing a cheap, foamy, strong-flavored toothpaste with a long expiry period, we couldn’t be tempted into going that direction. Our values are superior, and we believe that well-being, safety and sustainability are better than simple good looks?
Parabens. These types of preservatives have been used for decades around the world. However, some 15 years ago, it was up against convictions that they might cause breast cancer. This was followed by a controversial discussion and at the end, parabens were marked as “generally safe". Then, and in fact, now, parabens are widely spread around the cosmetic industry, as “The World Counts” estimates. That's the key moment. Nowadays parabens are all over your cosmetic box and bathroom shelves and they begin to accumulate. Research shows that parabens have a direct relation to skin irritation, allergies, and dermatitis in children. Furthermore, there is data that preservatives hide health risks, and as scientists (Schnuch et al.) noted in 2011, “Preservatives are still important contact allergens. The introduction of new preservatives should consider the specific characteristics of occupational and of nonoccupational (cosmetic, household) exposure, and preventive measures should aim equally at both areas”.
That is why we conserve our products with natural preservatives that are harmless to our body and nature and ensure long shelf life.
SLS or Sodium Lauryl Sulfate. This additive is used as a surfactant to create big and fluffy foam in cosmetic products. As we all know, foam washes away impurities, and also SLS is believed to have a mild antibacterial effect.
So far so good.
Looking at the other side, in vitro tests show that SLS slows gum healing. SLS is also an irritant that could be unpleasant for more sensitive people. In spite of this, our research shows that a fair share of users just cannot think of toothpaste without thick rich foam. That’s why Nordics portfolio offers both toothpastes containing SLS and ones using a bio-based foaming agent (Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Sodium Lauroyl Sarcosinate)
Propylene Glycol is a synthetic substance that is used in various industries, including cosmetics. Speaking about oral care, its function is to smoothen and soften the base of the toothpaste. Even though propylene glycol makes the toothpaste strip on your brush look shiny, its relation to allergies and contact dermatitis is well-documented. Also, the propylene glycol (PG) that is used in oral care products is toxic, as are other ingredients on our “forbidden” list. Even though its toxicity is low and propylene glycol is “Generally recognized as safe” by the United States Food and Drug Administration, it’s not something we want on our labels or in our customer’s mouths.
Synthetic flavors and colors are designed to recreate natural tastes and smells since extracting essential oils is expensive, time-consuming, and laborious. You would guess that the lower price plays the main role in manufacturers' decision-making. That’s far from surprising since using a purely natural scent is exclusive and even boutique practice. To continue the moral discussion, there is scientific evidence that synthetic food colorants are connected to attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Furthermore, the toxic effect of synthetic food colorants is visible in the deviations of a number of health indicators, such as blood cell quantity, hemoglobin levels, bilirubin and total protein.
Well, Nordics standards cannot allow such a thing at any cost. Our appealing tastes and crispy freshness come from 100% natural flavors.
Sugar. The words “sugar” and “oral health” lay at the two opposite ends of one semantic line, but "sweet" and “oral health” go together just fine. We’ve used the perfect sweetener that not only pleases the palates but also protects the enamel from decay. Our favorite natural ingredient that has the sweetness of sugar – xylitol. It’s truly a gift from mother nature’s raspberries, oranges, corncobs, and mostly in birch tree barks.
Oral care is a huge market and you can swim in a variety of different mint tastes or color stripes. Nordics is devoted to making a well-being impact that goes beyond human-being. The essence of rejecting popular cosmetics substances and carefully selecting the ones we cherish, is a challenging and nerve-wracking process, indeed. The result, in the end, is what’s paying off and that is a healthier smile for a healthier Planet.
Thinking about New Year's Resolutions? How about doing more for the Planet?
This article is not meant to review or analyze everything that 2020 brought to the table, because maybe a whole book won’t be enough for that. All we’re going to say is that we’re most grateful for the direct and immediate lessons that our Planet has shown to humanity.
We were taught how we faint before the power of Nature, and how mighty Her healing powers are! Just in weeks, right before our eyes, we saw waters clear up, city air becoming breathable again, wild animals calmly returning to their natural habitats, and even an Ozone hole shrinking! We cannot express our awe and love towards those outcomes, and we are more inspired to continue working for Global sustainability and waste reduction. You could call that our New Years’ Resolution. We’d love to share some easy-to-follow nature-caring tips with you.
1. Take a well-informed decision when choosing a brand
Everytime you choose to buy a certain brand you’re actually sponsoring it. This sends the brand the message that it’s doing a great job and you’d like it to produce more. Last but not least, you’re also enabling that company to grow, giving it your money. Take the role of a sponsor and buy only from the companies that you truly support. Choosing a local brand stimulates a small business that’s probably producing outstanding value and boutique quality. Also, buying local dramatically shortens the money and resources spent on transportation, infrastructure, and administrative staff. All of this is calculated on your account in the end.
2. Reuse, Reduce, Recycle
Actually, this is a “back to basics” advice. Our ancestors didn’t nearly produce any waste because they were making full use of the products they could get. All of that was because of scarce resources. Now, we’re choking in the overwhelming variety of cheap goods. You’d be surprised with the uses of old packaging. You could make screws, nuts, and nails boxes from used cosmetic containers. The same application goes to jewelry or make-up storage. Find many DIY ideas for home and garden here.
Reducing your consumption of FMCG can often be healthy and money-saving. The tricky part is that this is entirely up to your awareness and will. Just think of how much food, cosmetics, and all kinds of items you currently have in your fridge, cosmetic shelf, or bathroom. You obviously didn’t need those. We propose the following 3 easy steps to consciously reduce your unnecessary consumption.
Analyze - carefully review the products in your fridge and home that have been lying around unused for some time. Obviously, this was a poor buying decision and you should memorize those items and the exact thoughts and feelings that made you buy them in the first place.
Plan - Plan the food and goods that you’ll actually use during the next few days. Don’t store. Supermarkets aren’t going anywhere. Even if you incidentally need something, it’s easy to quickly jump to the local store. That’s how you’ll always eat fresh food, save money and gasoline..
Control - The manufactured goods offer us lure and temptation. That’s probably how you’ve ended up with those unused items in the beginning. This is where discipline has to kick in. Don’t be impulsive but be wise. That’s what we’re teaching the little ones, so we should be leading the example.
3. Get yourself a beautiful reusable cup, bottle, and food box
The options are plenty. You can choose from a variety of materials - rubber, metal, glass, or even plastic. Once, there was actually no bottled water in the stores. We all brought one from home or drank from public fountains. We promise you’ll fall in love with the cute reusable cups. Be cool and hand your personal one to the bartender.
When you have a food box it gives you the liberty of buying in bulk from the supermarket. Remember the trillions of small plastic bags that are impossible to recycle? You really don’t need them if you bring jars or other storing utensils when shopping. See how Samanta does it!
4. Turn off the water while brushing, shaving, and shampooing your hair
These bad habits cost our Planet precious water that we pay to our provider at the end of each month. Remember that in the majority of places tab water is drinking water. Would you just pour our bottled water into the gutter? Well, it’s basically the same but without the plastic. A curious fact is that even though the Earth is the blue planet, only 0,5% of its water is available freshwater. What a perspective, huh?
We’re heading into the new year with those 5 eco-friendly tips and we’ll be delighted if you could share yours on our Facebook page. Stay safe.
What is the difference between "bio", "organic", "eco", "vegan" and "vegetarian" product?
Hello to all environmentally cautious shoppers and the ones who want to be so. We understand that mere goodwill is not enough to transform user behavior into a more mindful and resource-saving one.
Information is the key. Not just any information but credible one, that originates from respected sources. An "eco-friendly" user becomes such when he educates himself through carefully reading the labels and not just jumping in any pseudo-natural trend. Nowadays, marketing techniques like packaging design, brand names, or claims can be, to say the least, misleading. That's why we wanted to shed light on some of the most frequently used terms in the industry of natural cosmetics.
1. ECO
While strolling around the supermarket isles, we can see the word “eco” popping up from every other product label, whether it is bags, car accessories, bottled water, or shoes. That's because using this word has no explicit legal regulation and a manufacturer can claim it based on his interpretation or desire to sound more natural.
In fact “eco” should refer to something that is ecological and sustainable, whether is the product itself, the impact on the environment or anything else. The term “eco” should bring more of a moral value than a physical characteristic. Our honest advice is to think for a moment when you see that something is “eco” and decide for yourself if you want to be associated with it.
2. NATURAL
Claiming “natural” in cosmetics is better regulated than claiming “eco”, however there’s a lack of a universal definition or harmonized standard, as the European Commission suggests Generally, natural products are expected to be made of natural plant, mineral or animal-related substances. The guidelines of the Council of Europe define a 'natural cosmetic' as a product consisting of natural substances of botanical, mineral or animal origin, exclusively obtained through physical, microbiological or enzymatic methods, with certain exceptions for fragrances and preservatives.
3. BIO/ORGANIC
Let’s see what’s the case with claiming “bio”. Let's first say that "bio" and "organic" are two different words for one and the same thing. Thankfully, one cannot simply print those on his label or promote them around in ads. Bioproducts have to be certified by a registered third party that strictly examines the applicant product, the origin of raw materials, and their documentation. Also, a company has to pay to receive a bio certificate after it has proven the actual usage of biomaterials in the products' recipe. Having a bio certification is the actual filter for evaluating a real eco-friendly brand from a sham.
There are several bio stamps that you should be on the lookout for.
ECO CERT COSMOS ORGANIC is the highest level of bio certification one can get. It includes several high standards such as all ingredients being from natural origin, at least 95% of the plants the product contains to be organic, absence of petrochemical ingredients, recyclable packaging, and more. That is why Nordics chose this particular certification for its organic line of toothpastes.
This certificate is called “Organic Agriculture Europe” and it’s created for agricultural raw materials and food products. The certified food has a long checklist to cover with requirements such as conservation of soil fertility, respect of natural cycles and animal welfare, and absence of the use of chemical and synthetic products. This sign also means that the food or raw material is compliant with the EU organic regulation EC 834/2007.
This is the certification for the US, proving that your personal care products, food, crops, or livestock are organic. This stamp is regulated by USDA (US Department of Agriculture) and can be granted only by an approved certifying agency that audits the company regularly. Here again, a strict list of requirements needs to be covered. For example, for can see USDA’s full list of banned and allowed substances in organic crop and livestock production.
FSC stands for Forest Stewardship Council® and this is a certificate of Responsible forest management. FSC follows 10 principles and 70 criteria by which it manages the certified forests. These include legislation compatibility, supporting ingenious people's rights, enhancing the well-being of local communities, and preserving the ecosystems. We're introducing this important certificate because an organic product is merely satisfying without an environmentally-friendly packaging.
Now that we’ve covered how to easily recognize an actual organic product, we want to give the facts about “vegan” and “vegetarian” in the context of cosmetics.
Vegan cosmetics (or 100% Vegan) are the ones that don’t contain any animal-related ingredients such as carmine (food colorant), gelatin, honey, beeswax, lanolin (wool wax), snail extract, pearl powder (enamel whitening agent), and the list goes on. This is another claim that's not thoroughly regulated by official authorities, so basically, anybody can put it on his packaging depending on his understanding.
We want to be honest with our customers and to make them feel safe about the ingredients in our products and this is why we partner with one of the biggest and more respected vegan organisations - The Vegan Society UK. They perform a very strict audit on every product and if it covers their standard, it could be labeled as 100% vegan.
Vegetarian cosmetic products exclude animal ingredients but can contain animal by-products that don't affect the animal wellbeing such as colostrum or egg extract.
The idea behind this is that if your consumer credo is that killing animals for fur or food is wrong, then it should be the same for every product.
Well, those are the basics in recognizing true from false, vegan from vegetarian. We hope that we've pitched in your knowledge and contributed to a more informed choice next time.
