Wipe Responsibly: The 16 Best Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper Brands for a Greener Tomorrow
Updated: Dec 1
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We all have to use the toilet rather regularly during the day. How we clean ourselves afterward differs a lot in different cultures but most of us still use old-fashioned toilet paper. It is easy to use and you can buy it everywhere. It is also great that often serves multiple purposes besides cleaning ourselves. It is also great for spills and to use in and around the house but, it is rather wasteful as it is a single-use product often made from virgin wood. So, what eco-friendly alternatives are available to our good old toilet paper?
Why switch to eco-friendly plastic-free toilet paper?
Let's first start with why you should look into a more eco-friendly option for your toilet paper.
On average, people in the US use about 10 rolls of toilet paper per month. There are about 320 million people in the US which results in about 10x12x320 million= 38,400,000,000 rolls of toilet paper that are flushed down the toilet each year. Toilet paper requires a lot of resources to produce. Not only wood to create paper but this wood also needs to be turned into toilet paper. One roll of toilet paper requires about requires 37 gallons of water, 1.3 kilowatt/hours (KWh) of electricity, and 1.5 pounds of wood. As we prefer our toilet paper to be white and soft, bleach is added to remove any color and to break down lignin (which is what makes wood hard) to make our toilet paper soft. All this is impacting our planet immensely. Overall Americans flush about 15 million trees down the toilet each year. 473,587,500,000 gallons of water are needed to produce all this paper and 253,000 tons of chlorine for bleaching. It also requires about 17.3 terawatts of electricity annually and a significant amount of energy and materials are used in packaging and transportation to retail outlets. Knowing this, it is about time to look for something a little more eco-friendly.
Things to consider in eco-friendly toilet paper
Bamboo Toilet Paper
Bamboo is a great sustainable choice as a raw material for eco-friendly toilet paper. Next to toilet paper, it is often chosen as a sustainable substitute for wood. It is much more sustainable compared to wood as it grows much faster. A bamboo plant can be harvested after just 60 days while a tree needs years before the wood can be harvested. It is even found that a one-hectare plantation of bamboo and its products could store 306 tonnes of carbon over 60 years compared with 178 tonnes for Chinese fir trees. Not only that, bamboo produces about 35% more oxygen compared to other trees and can absorb up to 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide per hectare per year.
But not all bamboo is the same. Look for bamboo products that use bamboo that is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This is a nonprofit organization that ensures that bamboo fibers were grown sustainably, that no forests were destroyed to make room for bamboo and that their production processes are chlorine-free. However, some bamboo toilet paper brands have applied but have not yet been approved for certification as it takes time to be approved.
Recycled and Post-Consumer Recycled Toilet Paper
Virgin wood should be avoided as much as possible in general. It requires lots of water and chemicals to produce and demands a lot of energy. Recycled paper or even better post-consumer recycled toilet paper is a great alternative.
Post-consumer means that the source paper cannot be recycled in other ways and so using it for toilet paper rescues it from the landfill. FSC also certifies recycled and post-consumer recycled products so pay attention to that as well. The higher the percentage of post-consumer waste the more waste that is prevented from ending up in landfills.
Chemicals to avoid
Bleach
Chlorine has been used by a multitude of processes over the past decades to make paper products whiter. Most of these manufacturers use chlorine bleaching. Chlorine is toxic for aquatic (and terrestrial) life and concentrations used to whiten wood pulp are usually much higher to be considered safe. Luckily there are other processes to whiten paper or you could accept that your toilet paper is not completely white.
Formaldehyde
Some manufacturers still use formaldehyde in their toilet paper. They use this to improve the strength of toilet paper when it becomes wet. Formaldehyde is carcinogenic but is also known to cause chronic vulva irritation in women.
Bisphenol A
Bisphenol A (BPA) is a chemical used in the recycling industry. Eco-friendly manufacturers use this compound while producing recycled toilet paper as it is necessary during processing leftover pieces of paper from the printing industry. BPA is an endocrine-disrupting chemical that has been shown to be harmful even at low doses.
So, when choosing recycled paper as your go-to for eco-friendly toilet paper, make sure it is BPA-free.
So, now we know what to look for and what to avoid when looking for eco-friendly toilet paper. To make it a little easier for you, we would like to share a few plastic-free toilet paper brands that are a great eco-friendly alternative to virgin wood ones.
Eco-friendly Toilet paper brands
PlantPaper
Material: FSC-certified bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 16
Sheets per roll: 200
Price per roll: $2.60
Price per 100 sheets: $1.30
Packaging: Recycled cardboard box
This eco-friendly toilet paper is tree-free, toxin-free, and 3-Ply so you are sure you will feel good about using it. Made from fast-growing, FSC-certified bamboo plants that ensure each roll is stronger, more absorbent, and made entirely without the use of chemicals that are harmful to the environment.
Reel
Material: Bamboo Fiber
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 300
Price per roll: $1.66
Price per 100 sheets: $0.55
Packaging: Recycled paper
Your bum will love it, that is how the reel is promoting its plastic-free toilet paper. Reel eco-friendly toilet paper is made of 100% bamboo, making it the most sustainable, eco-friendly toilet paper on the market. By purchasing Reel, you are supporting their mission to provide access to clean toilets to those in need around the world.
Better Way
Material: Bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 12
Sheets per roll: 360
Price per roll: $2.50
Price per 100 sheets: $0.69
Packaging: Plastic free
96% of people choose Better Way as their eco-friendly toilet paper of choice. They are so sure about their product that they have a money-back return if you don’t love their plastic-free toilet paper. Their eco toilet paper is hypoallergenic, unscented, and dye-free.
Cloud
Material: FSC-certified Bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 350
Price per roll: $1.88
Price per 100 sheets: $0.54
Packaging: 100% post-consumer recycled box
With 350 sheets per roll, this eco-friendly toilet paper has almost twice as much toilet paper on a roll. All parts of this product are compostable, even the tape that is used to close the box. They offset all the carbon emissions for transportation.
Bamboo Story
Material: Bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 250
Price per roll: $1.71
Price per 100 sheets: $0.70
Packaging: Cardboard
Bamboo Story is free from chemicals like formaldehyde, bleach, and hydrogen peroxide. Their products are biodegradable, and safe for our health and environment. The box has a self-locking mechanism making the use of tape redundant making it a more eco-friendly product.
Seventh Generation
Material: Recycled paper
Sourced: USA
Ply: 2
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 240
Price per roll: $1.38
Price per 100 sheets: $0.29
Packaging: (partially) Recycled Plastic
Choosing products made from recycled products is a great way to reduce the demand for products made from virgin materials. This eco-friendly toilet paper is whitened without bleach and there are no added dyes, inks, or fragrances to be as safe for your skin as possible.
Caboo
Material: 60% bamboo, 40% sugarcane
Sourced: Sichuan region of Western China
Ply: 2
Rolls per pack: 16
Sheets per roll: 300
Price per roll: $ 1.50
Price per 100 sheets: $0.52
Packaging: Plastic
Working with the U.S. Forest Service, Caboo plants a tree for every pound of paper sold. Their plastic-free toilet paper is biodegradable and safe for septic tanks. It breaks down naturally in about 4-6 months.
Bampoo
Material: Bamboo
Sourced: China & Florida
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 370
Price per roll: $ 1.86
Price per 100 sheets: $0.51
Packaging: Cardboard box
This plastic-free toilet paper is unbleached which means the color is slightly different. You don’t need to worry about irritation or sensitivity from this eco-friendly toilet paper as it is completely free from the chemicals that may be present in regular toilet paper brands.
Mother Earth
Material: Organic Bamboo
Sourced: Sichuan region of Western China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 12
Sheets per roll: 300
Price per roll: $2.05
Price per 100 sheets: $ 0.68
Packaging: Recycled boxes
This plastic-free toilet paper is made of 100% organic bamboo and sustainably packaged with recycled boxes and toilet paper cores. No pesticides or fertilizers were used during the production of the bamboo, and this eco-friendly toilet paper is whitened using an Elemental Chlorine Free Bleaching process.
Of Earth
Material: Bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 300
Price per roll: $1.67
Price per 100 sheets: $0.56
Packaging: Cardboard
Eco-friendly toilet paper is free from any form of whitening chemicals saving your skin from lots of potential residues and saving lots of water during production. Completely plastic free and biodegradable so it is safe to use while traveling.
Amazon Aware
Material: Recycled paper
Sourced: USA
Ply: 2
Rolls per pack:
Sheets per roll: 340
Price per roll: $0.92
Price per 100 sheets: $0.27
Packaging: Paper
This eco-friendly toilet paper is produced from 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 65% post-consumer content. This is the highest amount of post-consumer content recycled on this list. This makes it a lot more eco-friendly compared to other brands but it does affect the softness of this plastic-free toilet paper.
Pacific Blue
Material: 25% Post-Consumer Recycled Fiber
Sourced: USA
Ply: 2
Rolls per pack: 80
Sheets per roll: 550
Price per roll: $0.79
Price per 100 sheets: $0.14
Packaging: Cardboard box
Pacific Blue eco-friendly toilet paper is one of the cheapest on this list. But cheap does not have to mean not eco-friendly. This plastic-free toilet paper is made with 100% recovered material with a minimum of 25% post-consumer recycled fiber and meets or exceeds EPA comprehensive procurement guidelines.
The Cheeky Panda
Material: FSC certified Bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 9
Sheets per roll: 200
Price per roll: $2.33
Price per 100 sheets: $1.16
Packaging: Paper
The Cheeky Panda is free from plastic and made with sustainably sourced bamboo in China. It is whitened without the use of BPAs, de-inking chemicals, peroxide, or chlorine to create an eco-friendly product for you.
Noo Trees
Material: Bamboo
Sourced: China
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 12
Sheets per roll: 220
Price per roll: $1.46
Price per 100 sheets: $0.66
Packaging: Plastic
Noo Trees bamboo products are made from 100% renewable and FSC-certified bamboo groves. This means the source comes from certified mills and farms that care about the environment. Their eco-friendly bamboo toilet paper is extremely soft and more absorbent compared to wood products.
BAMTIME
Material: Bamboo
Sourced:
Ply: 3
Rolls per pack: 24
Sheets per roll: 300
Price per roll: $1.58
Price per 100 sheets: $0.53
Packaging: Cardboard box
Not only their toilet paper is plastic free, but also the packaging of the rolls is without plastic. This eco-friendly toilet paper quickly dissolves in water which means it is safe for all plumbing systems, including septic tanks. Hypoallergenic as it is fragrance-free, cotton-free, and free from non-drying alcohol and Bisphenol-A (BPA).
Marcal
Material: Recycled paper
Sourced: USA
Ply: 2
Rolls per pack: 48
Sheets per roll: 336
Price per roll: $0.88
Price per 100 sheets: $0.26
Packaging: Cardboard box
Making paper from paper is what Marcal stands for. Their plastic-free toilet paper uses 60% post-consumer content making it a great eco-friendly choice for your zero waste bathroom. Green Seal Certified and Exceeds EPA Guidelines for Post-Consumer Recycled Content.
Reusable Toilet paper
Using reusable toilet paper is a more advanced option and if you are just starting your zero waste journey, choosing eco-friendly toilet paper is a great first step. However, if you want to do something more, reusable toilet paper may be for you.
When you decide you want to give reusable toilet paper a go it doesn’t you have to use it for everything. A lot of people use reusable toilet paper to wipe 3 drops of urine and use eco-friendly (disposable) toilet paper for no.2. Some use cloth toilet paper dry while others use a small hand sprayer to make the cloths damp before using. Every small step towards a greener planet helps and if this works for you that is great.
If you are (or have been) cloth diapering a baby and are already washing reusable baby wipes with poo, using reusable toilet paper may be more doable. You are already doing diaper washes and you can easily add them to your washing routine to get them properly clean.
If you have a bidet attachment to your toilet, family cloth wipes are even easier to use. As, in this case, the wipes are used to dry yourself after use. They hardly get dirty making washing also more manageable.
Cotton reusable toilet paper
Cotton has a bad reputation, as it requires a lot of water and pesticides to grow, however, if you are looking for a reusable product that you plan on using intently for years, cotton can be a very budget-friendly option. Cotton is soft, and strong and can handle very hot washing without affecting the fiber too much (please don’t do this often as washing hot is not very eco-friendly). It also comes in lots of prints and colors so you can easily find a print that suits your bathroom.
Bamboo reusable toilet paper
Bamboo is a great eco-friendly alternative to cotton. It produces lots of fibers, requires less pesticide for production, and needs less water to produce fibers. So, it is not only more sustainable to produce and less demanding on our planet, but it is also much more absorbent compared to cotton and extremely soft to the touch. This makes it a great choice if you want to go for family cloth wipes. The only drawback is that bamboo fiber can’t handle hot washing frequently as it is a less strong fiber compared to cotton which means it may deteriorate sooner.
If you choose to go for reusable toilet paper, please always keep a few rolls of eco-friendly toilet paper at hand for guests. They may not be at the same chapter as you in their zero waste journey and it is way more hygienic.
I use reusable toilet paper in my upstairs bathroom so my guest won’t even know I am using it. During the day I already only use the upstairs bathroom as it is newer and uses less water when I flush.
You switched to a bamboo toothbrush, you use a shampoo bar so it is time to also make a more eco-friendly transition for your toilet paper. I have give you lots of options so choosing your next roll of plastic-free toilet paper should be easy.
