Our newly developed TIOFLOSS might seem like a small step at first sight... 

...but it’s big step for us—and mankind. Trailblazing doesn’t come easy (especially when production lines suddenly stand still in a pandemic) and we kindly ask for your support to get TIOFLOSS set up for production and push the use of TIO’s plant-based floss to the next level by reducing packaging even further with a reusable case. 

Why it’s really time to make a change

The ecological damage caused by the increasing amount of waste humans produce every day is immense. Climate change and the pollution of oceans are the first of many consequences if we don’t make significant changes in the manufacturing of consumer goods. Due to their very short lifespan, personal hygiene products like dental ones are a key segment.

Here's the sad reality of a single-use dispenser...

The impact reusable floss dispensers could have

Following your dentist's advice - flossing once a day with 0,5m (20′′) of floss - results in the consumption of 4-5 single use containers per year. Empty single use floss containers and their packaging in the U.S. would create ~ 15.000 tons of plastic waste. And that’s just for one year! Just in the United States! (According to Statista, 235.8 million Americans used dental floss / flossers / picks in 2020)

At TIO we minimize packaging wherever we can

When designing our products, we place great emphasis on minimal material usage to preserve resources. We avoid unnecessary waste through newly invented refill concepts to relieve our ecosystem. Our refills will be packaged in an innovative paper-based, FSC-certified and recyclable material.

Plants over plastic and a future without drilling

We want a clean conscience and clean teeth: Instead of conventional plastic made of petroleum, we use plant-based bioplastics for all parts from yarn to dispenser. These renewable raw materials enable us to drastically reduce greenhouse gas emissions and avoid the fatal consequences of fossil fuel extraction, such as fracking or tanker accidents.

The foundation of our floss and dispenser are renewable, vegetable raw materials. This saves CO₂ and allows you and many other people to clean up their carbon footprint and teeth. Our extensive material research helped us cut down green house gases by 55% compared to ordinary petro-based materials. Through downstream technical and procurement improvements, the carbon footprint can even be further reduced to just 22% of ordinary products.

The TIOFLOSS materials separate it from…the wasteful rest.

Beyond the drastical improvement of the carbon footprint, there are many other benefits. The original plant used for our organic raw material is the fast-growing wonder tree that does not require large amounts of water, uses only a small acreage of farmland and is therefore perfectly suited for a future of sustainable agriculture. Furthermore the castor bean is inedible which makes the TIOFLOSS unique regarding it's minimal harm to our planet and the people living on it.

By the way…these guys want to thank you :)

The process: From the field – to the press – to you

If you're now wondering whether this sounds a little too good to be true: Since our floss doesn't completely grow on trees we would love to quickly explain how it’s actually made because unfortunately using the type of plastic we use is still kind of unusual. This actually makes development a constant challenge for us. We've sketched together an overview of our material's journey that turns a plant into high-quality bio-plastic. Below you see the whole path—from the plant to the finished product. 

And with your support the floss we produce will now get an equally natural home

• 40% wood fibers and 98% bio-based content without any palm tree products.
• Up to 70% carbon footprint reduction vs. commonly used petro-based plastic.
• The material is certified according to the ISCC which guarantees full transparency.
• FSC/PEFC certified wood fibers assure responsible forestry.

Sustainable manufacturing processes are also very important to us.

Our Italian production facilities ensure fair working conditions and reduce the CO₂ exhaust due to short transport routes and a green energy production plant. With more than 20 years of experience in the development of dental floss and over 60 dedicated employees they can guarantee the best production possible. Their ISO 9001 Certification stands for the highest quality of product development and a rooftop full of solar panels has them classified AAA for energy efficiency.

Reforestation against the climate crisis

Although our products contribute to CO₂ reduction, based on the current standard of knowledge, nothing can combat global warming as effectively as reforestation. To help absorb even more CO₂ emissions, we also support Plant-for-the-Planet on their mission to fight the climate crisis.

Flossing at the highest quality level

Dental health is an important issue and everyone depends on reliable care products. We stand for the best possible dental cleaning. Because healthy teeth simply make life better. Therefore, compromises regarding the quality of care are never an option for us. We focus on maximum hygiene and cleaning performance for all of our products.

We are enthusiasts for sustainable design by heart.

As a company founded by two seasoned designers we have been trying to achieve the best possible result for people and nature alike through our products by combining material research and resource-saving design. To be honest: That really wasn’t always easy. There are many hurdles you face along the way, that we would have never expected beforehand. It’s something we have experienced almost constantly. But we won't let that stop us from thinking about every last detail. 

Perks

Every contribution counts and here's a breakdown of your pledge options that will help us make TIOFLOSS a reality!

 

Tiofloss & Tiobrush bundles

Since dental floss only does half the job, we're offering attractive bundles of our plant based replaceable head toothbrush and our Tiofloss. Tiobrush, our timeless classic made of plant-based bioplastics with a reusable, ergonomic handle for a good grip and replaceable brush head— hopefully just one of many to come. Tiobrush also includes a hygienic travel cap. The only thing not included: A bunch of marketing blah-blah. Tiobrush neatly cleans your teeth and toothbrushes aren’t rocket science.

 

 

Retailer Special

Progressive retailers who share the TIO vision—this reward is for you! We are offering our purchase units in practical shipping boxes which can be transformed into attractive point of sale displays. Important note: This pledge requires a proof of business!

The TIOFLOSS Countdown

Here’s current stauts: All the details about when you can expect to receive your TIOFLOSS (dispenser and floss of course) and what comes next.

And lastly...a little more about the team. 

Our path.

The two on the photo in bright white fine rib, that's us—Fabian and Benjamin the founders of TIO. Although we temporarily parted ways after our design studies, we stayed connected by a shared passion to question the status quo. Our goal as designers has always been fully understanding the big picture and creating better solutions based on it. That’s exactly why we finally founded TIO in 2015 and developed our first plant based toothbrush—with a replaceable head from day one.

Maybe because our natural materials have given us many sleepless nights, we’re all the more enthusiastic for each time we’ve beaten the odds and figured how to make it work. We’ll keep giving our absolute best to make sure you can scrub your teeth with TIO products better and more sustainably in the future. Developing purposeful and ecological concepts is what drives us. And: It’s actually fun.

In 2017 we joined forces with Christoph, Sebastian, Wanja and their team from wasserneutral. The three are friends from Hamburg who share our passion for sustainable businesses. We met during a trade show. After several long and enthusiastic conversations we decided that we can learn a lot from each other and so we set the foundation for a fruitful cooperation! Since then we've been able to rely on their profound experience in marketing, sales and distribution which will help us to fulfill your orders as soon as possible.