With increased awareness and additional measures being taken to ensure cleanliness and sanitation, there is more waste than ever being generated. This means more single-use and disposable products. Dining in less means more take-out containers and plastic utensils. At the grocery store, we are no longer bringing bags from home for fear of contamination. In the drive-through coffee shop, we can’t bring our own reusable cups. At least for now, we’ve all had to shift our focus from eliminating single-use products to keeping contamination at bay. As a business owner, there are steps you can take to keep your practice as green as possible and set an example for your community. SmileMakers is here for you with recommendations of eco-friendly options to help patients, and the planet, stay healthy.

Of course, keeping the patient experience warm and friendly is important now more than ever. You can go above and beyond by showing your patients that you care not only about them, but also about the planet! They’ll feel good about supporting a practice that makes an effort to be eco-friendly. Some planet-loving options include:

● Recycled Recall Cards- These cards are printed on recycled paper and make it easy for you to advertise your practice to new patients or remind existing patients of upcoming appointments. Plus, your patients will appreciate seeing that “recycled” emblem on each card, knowing that your practice isn’t contributing to unnecessary waste.
● Biodegradable Bags- Oxo-biodegradable bags are made from plastic that degrades through a combination of oxidation and biodegradation in as little as a couple of years. But don’t worry, they won’t start decomposing in your office! When stored inside, they will remain in use for 5 years.
● Biodegradable Toothbrushes- Our SmileCare Eco-Friendly Toothbrushes feature Dupont nylon bristles and a biodegradable handle made of wheat straw and polypropylene.
● Bamboo Toothbrushes- These toothbrushes are trendy, look sleek, and boast a sustainable natural bamboo handle. Plus, each brush is packaged individually in a recycled kraft paper box. Since you can customize these by adding your practice information, you’ll stay at the forefront of your patients’ minds every time they brush their teeth!
● Paper Bags- If you prefer a more budget-friendly and eco-friendly alternative to plastic bags, we’ve also got you covered with custom paper bags. Each recyclable paper bag is printed with a colorful graphic design and can be customized with your practice's information.

Whether it’s saying goodbye to paper forms and going digital, or making some simple product swaps, going green is easy and more important than ever! As we all learn how to navigate this new normal, SmileMakers aims to make it simple for you to keep doing what you do best. Keeping your patients happy, healthy, and safe is your priority, and our priority is to help you do that with ease.