VIDU is the first brand in the dental sector to offer clinics a Plastic Neutral Certified alternative, i.e. dental products with a plastic footprint = zero.
We use as little plastic as possible in our products and packaging, and each month we collect as much plastic as we generate through our partnership with rePurpose, the leading international organisation for action against plastic.
13.266 KG GENERATED = 13.266 KG COLLECTED
*From the creation of VIDU in May 2021 to December 2023, collected and certified by The Gravity Wave.
*From January 2024 collected and certified by rePurpose.
Is it possible to use less plastic products and packaging in the dental sector?
For some products it is possible and VIDU works to always offer the most responsible solution. But for many of the products used in dental clinics, for hygienic and sanitary reasons, we cannot completely remove the use of plastic.Moreover, they are not easily recyclable as they are considered to be contaminated material with a potential biological risk.
This isn't going to stop us! What solution can we offer?
At VIDU we are working on the development of alternatives and new recycling channels for waste generated in clinics. In the meantime, with the help of rePurpose, every month we collect the same amount of plastic as we generate.
What is the plastic footprint of VIDU products?
All VIDU products have the “Plastic Neutral · Certified” seal and compensate its plastic footprint. But exactly how much plastic are we talking about?
In all the descriptions of VIDU products in Dentaltix, the weight in grams of plastic that has been used for each unit always appears (both in the packaging and the product itself), in order to know its footprint and how it is compensated. These are some examples with greater impact:
- Weight of plastic used = 90gr./unit
- Weight of collected plastic = 90gr./unit
- Location: Nuevo Ciclo Project in Medellín, Colombia.
- Recyclable. Uncontaminated material.
- Weight of plastic used = 100gr./unit
- Weight of collected plastic = 100gr./unit
- Location: Nuevo Ciclo Project in Medellín, Colombia.
- Weight of plastic used = 45gr./unit
- Weight of collected plastic = 45gr./unit
- Location: Nuevo Ciclo Project in Medellín, Colombia.
- Weight of plastic used = 10gr./unit
- Weight of collected plastic = 10gr./unit
- Location: Nuevo Ciclo Project in Medellín, Colombia.
- Weight of plastic used = 10gr./unit
- Weight of collected plastic = 10gr./unit
- Location: Nuevo Ciclo Project in Medellín, Colombia.
- Bib napkins, alginate, retractor thread...
- Composites, etching gel, cements...
- Fiberglass posts, post cutters...
- And more VIDU products on the way!
How and where do we collect this plastic?
RePurpose has developed the largest certified network of plastic collection projects around the world, providing environmental, social and economic benefits in the areas worked.
VIDU collaborates directly with the project Nuevo Ciclo, in Colombia working with local communities to collect low-quality plastic worth. People from schools and other institutions are trained to manage plastic collection centers. rePurpose Global funding covers the cost of collecting, transporting, sorting and recycling soft and low-value plastics into plastic lumber, which is used to make furniture and services that are donated for use in schools, as well as for build houses for vulnerable populations in the local area.
Main Impact KPIs of the New Cycle Project:
- 30,000kgs. of plastic collected (equivalent to 600,000 plastic bags)
- 36 collector workers on staff.
- Plastic type: MLP.
- Type of collection: urban
Working towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) United Nations:
- 1. End of poverty.
- 5. Gender equality.
- 8. Decent work and economic growth.
- 11. Sustainable cities and communities.
- 15. Life of terrestrial ecosystems.
Why does VIDU market some plastic products?
Although at VIDU we offset the footprint of all the plastic we generate (collaborating in the Nuevo Ciclo project with RePurpose), we still continue to manufacture plastic products. Why do we do it?
Single-use plastic continues to be one of the most consumed materials in the dental sector and unfortunately, at the moment it is not easy to achieve the same hygienic and sanitary conditions with other biodegradable or more easily recyclable materials.
Faced with the dilemma of whether or not we should produce some products commonly used in dental clinics made of plastic, we have decided to do so. We know that clinics need these disposable plastic products to carry out their work, and if VIDU does not manufacture them, they will use other non-“Plastic Neutral” alternatives that they will find on the market.
While we work on the research and design of more environmentally friendly alternatives, we will continue to offset the plastic footprint of these products (collecting the same amount of plastic that these products generate). We believe this is a more sustainable option than not offering any solution to these products.
We currently divide VIDU products into:
- Single-use, non-recyclable plastic products:Our headache! Ejectors, micro-applicators, fluoride trays, rubber dams... Unfortunately, the recycling of these products is not recommended due to the potential for biological risk if they have been in the mouth. Therefore, currently, while we work on the development of alternatives in other biodegradable materials, we only have the footprint offset thanks to the Plastic Neutral collaboration with RePurpose. In all product sheets you will find the weight of plastic generated that we compensate.
- Single-use, recyclable plastic products: Sterilization rolls and bags... better! There is no biological risk here, therefore, by separating paper from plastic, recycling these materials is very simple. On the package we remind users of recycling and responsible consumption guidelines.
- Reusable/sterilizable plastic products: Cheek retractors, impression trays, orthodontic boxes. Unlike other brands, the quality of the material of these products allows them to be reused and sterilized, thus avoiding single-use consumption.
- Alternative material products: Paper cups to replace plastic ones at a competitive price (Finally!) Orthodontic braces and arches in recycled cardboard boxes instead of plastic (The only brand on the market to do it like this!). Fiber posts in cardboard boxes...And other products that we are currently developing through research into new materials and alternative designs.
