Sustainable Toilet Paper
Toilet paper is something that we use every day. And most people don’t give it a second thought. But there are a lot of issues with using regular toilet paper.
According to World Atlas, a single tree makes just 1,500 rolls of toilet paper. Considering how often we use toilet paper, that’s a lot of trees. Just think – millions of trees cut down every year just for us to wipe our bottoms.
People panicked and bought more toilet paper than they needed during the pandemic. That meant that we created an even worse environmental problem with more trees being cut down.
We don’t have to cut down so many trees – there are alternatives available. There are sustainable toilet paper products that use recycled content and alternative fibres like bamboo.
What’s the problem with standard toilet paper?
There are a number of environmental issues linked to standard toilet paper. These include deforestation, carbon emissions, and heavy water consumption.
Deforestation
The consumption of virgin fibre based toilet paper is problematic. Its use and manufacture takes a huge toll on forests globally. According to the WWF, it takes around 1.75 tonnes of raw fibre to make a tonne of toilet paper.
The rapid rate of deforestation has so many negative effects, too. It can affect ecosystems, wildlife, climate, and weather patterns.
Carbon emissions
Clear cutting works by removing almost all the trees in a certain location. Clear cutting for toilet paper and other paper products solely in the Canadian boreal forest is alarming. It puts around 26 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere each year.
Tropical rainforests are the earth’s lungs. Without them, indigenous communities and countless wildlife will lose their homes. Without trees, stored greenhouse gases get released back into the atmosphere. Global warming will continue to increase.
Heavy water consumption
The manufacturing of toilet paper requires about 168 litres of water per roll. So much waste.
Plastic packaging
In addition to these issues, many brands wrap toilet paper in single use plastic packaging. This just adds to the world’s plastic pollution problem. Replacing plastic wrapping with recyclable alternatives ensures that less ends up in landfill or the oceans.
What are the best materials to look out for?
Recycled toilet paper doesn’t mean drying it out to use again later! It comes from post consumer waste like paper scraps.
The production of paper products using recycled materials saves a lot of energy: 50% less energy and 90% less water than producing from raw materials.
According to the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), bamboo toilet paper comes in as the next best option after recycled paper. This fast growing grass is harvested without killing its core, and can then be regrown.
Toilet paper made from bamboo also releases around 30% fewer greenhouse gases compared to virgin wood based products.
There are still issues with bamboo, namely, its source or supply chain. Some bamboo plantations are grown on recently deforested lands. However, you can avoid these issues by looking for responsibly sourced bamboo toilet paper, like FSC certified brands.
Make your bathroom habits more sustainable
So where do you find truly sustainable brands? It’s not as tricky as you might think. We’ve listed a heap of eco friendly brands below. Many of these offer even more than just better raw materials, some are giving back to communities, too. But it can be hard to filter which brands to choose.
So we’ve chosen our top picks for the best recycled toilet paper products. Here they are!
1. Who Gives A Crap
This is our choice for both home, and in the Hello Charlie loo! This BCorp company produces 100% recycled toilet paper . They’re free from inks, dyes, glues, scents, and chlorine. They sell 100% bamboo toilet paper, too.
They have no FSC certification for bamboo. But theirs is grown by small scale farmers on the borders of their family farms. This means that no vast areas of land go through deforestation for bamboo farming.
They also donate half of their profits to help build toilets for those who are in need. You can try Who Gives A Crap and get $10 off your first box when you use this link.
2. How We Roll Co.
The How We Roll Co. brand has 100% recycled toilet paper products as well as bamboo toilet paper that’s FSC certified.
They’ve partnered with One Tree Planted to plant trees in Australia’s bushfire affected areas. That’s one tree for every $100 spent on their products.
They’ve also collaborated with contemporary Aboriginal artist Rachael Sarra for their limited edition products. A portion of their proceeds go towards the artist and the Bridging The Gap Foundation.
3. émotions
This subscription based brand has 100% recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper. Their eco friendly products are FSC certified. They’re free from blends, dyes, inks, and scents, too.
The company is Social Traders certified. They donate 50% of their profits to mental health organisations like Beyond Blue, Lifeline, and Black Dog Institute.
4. Squares to Spare
Squares to Spare’s 100% recycled toilet paper is bleach and dye free. They also have 100% bamboo toilet paper that’s tree and plastic free.
This eco friendly toilet paper company donates 50% of its profits to Australian charities.
5. Naturale
Naturale is a household tissue brand under the ABC Tissue company. Their toilet paper is 100% recycled, biodegradable, and septic safe. Their product range is also certified recycled by the FSC.
6. Oobamboo
Sustainably made Oobamboo toilet paper uses 100% bamboo pulp and zero trees. This chlorine free toilet paper doesn’t contain bleach, BPA, or dyes. It’s also septic safe and biodegradable.
Oobamboo’s supplier is an FSC registered manufacturer. 50% of their profits go to eco charities, too.
7. Social Bums
Social Bums has a unique business model. They support the homeless by offering a tree free toilet paper alternative to businesses and homes. They also donate 50% of their profits to their Australian charity partners.
Their 100% bamboo toilet papers are FSC certified, septic safe, and biodegradable. Social Bums’ toilet papers are also free from BPA, fragrance, chlorine, inks, and dyes.
8. Peekapoo
Peekapoo’s toilet paper and core are from 100% FSC certified bamboo. This plastic free toilet paper company also uses recyclable packaging.
1% of their annual sales from toilet paper gets donated to Charity Water.
9. Eco Cheeks
Eco Cheeks bamboo toilet paper is FSC certified. It’s also free from GMO, BPA, chlorine bleach, fragrance, inks, and dyes. Its manufacturing and packaging are plastic free, too!
The subscription based company also donates 2% of its sales to chosen charities. They’ve chosen to support Greenfleet and Starlight Children’s Foundation.
10. Bamper
Bamper’s hypoallergenic bamboo toilet paper is FSC certified. It’s free from chlorine bleach, inks, dyes, and scents.
11. FlusheD ECO
FlusheD ECO’s bamboo toilet paper is FSC certified bamboo. Their products and packaging are plastic free and recyclable, too.
They donate some of their proceeds to various Australian charities. They’ve also sponsored a seabin through the Seabin Project. This technology helps clean oceans of plastic and debris.
12. The Good Vibes Roll
The Good Vibes Roll toilet paper is FSC certified. They’re free from plastic, dyes, scents, and BPA.
They donate 50% of their profits to Sea Shepherd Australia, which helps protect the oceans.
Sustainable Toilet Paper at Hello Charlie
Hello Charlie’s commitment to sustainability includes using recycled products like the Who Gives A Crap toilet paper. We’ve been using this for years, because we love their ethos. And the bright paper wrappers really cheer up the bathroom, too!
Always remember that small changes can make a huge impact. Switching to eco toilet paper is just one small way that you can green your routine.