SURI Reborn Soap DishUpdated 2 months ago
What is the soap dish made from?
The soap dish is made from 100% recycled toothbrush heads. It takes approximately 18 brush heads to make one dish. The material is called PLA (Polylactic Acid), a bio-based plastic derived from corn starch.
Does it contain any virgin plastic or additives?
No. The soap dish is made entirely from recycled PLA from toothbrush heads.
How are the soap dishes made? Are they hygienic?
We work with specialist partners to turn returned SURI toothbrush heads into a completely new product.
First, we partner with DCW, a recycler based in Exeter, which separates the different materials in our returned toothbrush heads. DCW removes and reuses the bristles in their own products, while the PLA stem (the main body of the brush head) is shredded and returned to us.
That recycled PLA is then remoulded into soap dishes through injection moulding, in partnership with Reborn and their manufacturing partner. Injection moulding involves heating the recycled PLA until it melts, then injecting it into a mould to create the soap dish shape. The material is fully reshaped during this process and then cooled to form a solid, durable product.
The result is a clean, solid soap dish designed for everyday bathroom use.
Why do the soap dishes look slightly different from one another?
Because they’re made from recycled material, natural variations in colour and texture can occur. These variations are normal and mean each soap dish is unique.
Where are the soap dishes made?
The soap dishes are made in partnership with Reborn and manufactured and packaged at their partner factory in Wiltshire, UK.
What can I use the soap dish for?
The soap dish is designed for bathroom use and can be used to hold soap bars, shampoo bars, conditioner bars, or other solid products.
Is the soap dish suitable for wet bathroom environments?
Yes. The soap dish is water-resistant and designed for regular contact with water in a bathroom setting.
Can it handle hot water, radiators, or dishwashers?
The soap dish is designed for typical bathroom temperatures. We don’t recommend putting it in dishwashers or placing it directly on radiators, as prolonged heat and high humidity can shorten the lifespan of PLA.
Is the soap dish durable?
Yes. It’s designed and tested to be durable for everyday use, including being moved, handled daily, and accidentally knocked under normal conditions.
How long should the soap dish last?
With normal use and care, the soap dish is designed to last a long time. Avoiding prolonged heat and high humidity will help it last longer.
How does this reduce waste compared to normal recycling?
This project takes toothbrush heads that would usually be discarded after use and repurposes the material into a new product.
It’s an early step towards keeping materials in use for longer, rather than disposing of them after a single use.
Can I recycle the soap dish at home?
PLA isn’t widely accepted through UK household recycling systems. It requires specialist recycling or industrial composting.
What should I do with the soap dish when I no longer need it?
You can send it back to us using our freepost return scheme. If we’re unable to recycle it again, we’ll ensure it’s handled responsibly through appropriate waste management routes.
Is the soap dish clean and sterile, given it’s made from second-hand brush heads?
Yes, the high-temperature moulding process sterilises the material, and they have been tested to ensure no hazardous chemicals according to national regulations.
What are the exact dimensions and weight of the soap dish
Weight 67g
Depth: 8.6cm
Height: 1.7cm
Width: 15.8cm
Is this product part of a bigger plan?
Yes, this soap dish is an early trial.
We wanted to see whether it was genuinely possible to turn our returned toothbrush heads into a new, useful product. It took extensive testing, learning, and iteration to reach this point.
This isn’t a perfect or final solution, but it’s a real step forward, and we’ll keep building on what we’ve learned.