For decades, razor blades have been treated as disposable essentials, replaced frequently and rarely questioned. Performance was assumed, materials went largely unnoticed, and the environmental cost of production remained out of sight. My-Blades was founded on a simple challenge to this status quo: whether a razor blade could be made differently, with closer attention to how it is produced and the resources it consumes.
The idea took shape in Berlin in 2020, when a small team began examining the industrial processes behind everyday razor blades. While environmental messaging had become more visible in the grooming sector, much of it focused on packaging or branding rather than the blade itself. Even as many consumers returned to safety razors and double-edge blades, the methods used to produce those blades remained largely unchanged.
My-Blades identified material sourcing and energy use as two of the most overlooked contributors to environmental footprint. Steel production, coatings, grinding and heat treatment all carry heavy emissions, yet these stages have seen little innovation over decades. The company set out to rethink the blade from raw material through to the finished edge.
Steel quickly emerged as the most critical challenge. Conventional steelmaking is among the most carbon-intensive industrial processes worldwide, relying on iron ore extraction and fossil fuels such as coal and coke. By the time a blade reaches a customer, a significant share of its environmental impact has already been locked in.
Rather than relying on virgin steel, My-Blades chose to use nearly 90 percent recycled high-grade stainless steel. Reusing steel significantly reduces emissions while maintaining the strength, corrosion resistance and sharpness required for shaving. The recycled metal is melted and refined in Sweden using an electric arc furnace powered entirely by fossil-free energy, removing coal from one of the most energy-intensive steps in blade production.
This approach, the company says, lowers carbon dioxide emissions compared to conventional steelmaking routes. It also demonstrates that recycled materials can meet the demanding technical requirements of precision products, when paired with the right manufacturing processes.
Raw materials alone, however, do not define blade quality. Razor blades are high-precision components, with performance depending on grinding accuracy, heat treatment and edge geometry. Tolerances are measured in microns, and small deviations can affect comfort and durability.
Finding a manufacturing partner capable of working with recycled steel proved difficult. Several European manufacturers and global brands declined to participate, citing technical complexity or the cost of adapting established production lines. The project eventually moved forward through a partnership with a specialised blade manufacturer in the Middle East, bringing decades of experience in blade production.
Together, the teams refined edge geometry, adjusted production parameters and translated the original concept into a finished product. The aim was to match, and in some cases exceed, the performance of established brands while maintaining tighter control over material and energy inputs.
What began as a niche project for wet-shaving enthusiasts soon attracted wider interest. Users cited consistency, sharpness and smoothness alongside the production story as reasons for switching. Professional barbers, who rely on predictable performance, were among the early adopters.
Today, My-Blades supplies both individual consumers and barbers across Europe, the United States and Asia. Distribution in the Middle East is expected to begin soon. From its origins as a small Berlin-based initiative, the company has grown into an international business operating alongside long-established names in the shaving industry.
Despite this growth, the company says craftsmanship remains central to its approach. Each blade undergoes close quality control, from grinding accuracy to edge inspection. Manufacturing combines modern machinery with hands-on expertise, reflecting the precision required at every stage.
The stated aim has never been to change shaving habits, but to improve how a familiar product is made. By focusing on recycled materials, fossil-free energy and established manufacturing expertise, My-Blades positions performance and environmental responsibility as compatible rather than competing priorities.
The brand’s approach reflects a wider shift within the grooming sector. Consumers are increasingly sceptical of surface-level claims and are paying closer attention to sourcing, energy use and transparency. By addressing parts of the value chain often overlooked, My-Blades challenges long-standing assumptions about how everyday products are produced.
The result is a razor blade designed to deliver a close, comfortable shave while reducing environmental impact at its most intensive stages. It is not presented as a radical reinvention, but as a careful reengineering of an everyday item.
More information about the company is available at www.myblades.com.
