Nattüra

Nattüra is a fully biodegradable toothpaste tablet which provides protection against teeth aging, staining, and weakening.

Most toothpastes rely on a binding agent called polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP). PVP is a synthetic polymer made from crude oil which won’t biodegrade. So, every time you spit, you’re adding permanent pollutants directly into the water supply. The tubes tend not to be biodegradable either – in Britian we discard 300 million a year, enough to circle the globe twice.

Created by Dr Florence Mai, Nattüra is an award-winning fully biodegradable toothpaste tablet which does not rely on PVP. The team also includes Prof Ferranti Wong (an expert in tooth decay), and Prof Robert Hill (founder of the successful dentistry spinout BioMin).

Dr Mai found that poly gamma glutamate (PGGA), a natural biodegradable polymer, can both replace PVP and make fluoride more effective. Nattüra provides twenty times better decay protection than fluoride alone and delivers anti-aging benefits. By providing the product in tablet form, Nattüra has no need for plastic tubes. The biodegradable tubs and refills are sustainable by design.

The key innovation is the combination of PGGA with fluoride for up to twenty times better protection by creating a barrier to acid and strengthening and moisturising the teeth. PGGA is already on the INCI register for safe-to-use cosmetic ingredients and can be cheaply and sustainably manufactured from food biproducts.

The global toothpaste tablet market is expected to grow to $134.5 million by 2032, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.8%.