How to Choose Between Recycled and Bamboo Toilet Paper

A rundown on wiping with more eco-friendly options 

We know you’ve gotta go.

When nature calls, we must answer, but we don’t have to be wasteful while doing it! We hope that’s why you’re here.

Chances are, if you’re hunting for better options for your bum, then you’re already aware of the toll traditional toilet paper is taking on our environment. The industry is one of the biggest culprits incutting down our forests. A staggering number of trees are quite literally flushed down our toilets each year.

With that comes a whole host of issues, not the least of which is an increase in carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas that hinders Earth’s ability to cool itself.

Increased greenhouse gasses perpetuates the loss of our lush woodlands. With each lost acre, wildlife habitats and soil ecosystems are destroyed.  The effects of these changes can be felt for generations and, in many cases, are irreversible.

Traditional toilet paper also requires an exorbitant amount ofwater and electricityto manufacture. Sprinkle in some bleaching agents, dyes, and fragrances, and you’ve got yourself a real environmental disaster in the name of doody.

The good news is that we don’t have to continue on this trajectory.

With the eco market expanding, you’ve got choices like never before. But what should you buy for your bathroom? You may like the idea of recycled paper or be really interested in trying bamboo. Let’s compare and see which you view as the top T.P.

You’re a concerned consumer craving change, and HeyBamboo is here to help!

What Should You Look For?

Whenever you decide to introduce an environmentally-friendly product into your home, we encourage you to do your homework!

Any item, from an article of clothing to a cleaning solution to a paper product, can be checked for its impact on the environment.

Overall, you want to put your purchasing power toward a brand that is reputable, compassionate, and committed to true environmental change.

General Questions to Consider:

• Is there full-cycle sustainability? (Think from sourcing to manufacturing to shipping.)
• Does the brand give back?
• What other products does this company sell, and are they eco-friendly as well?
• Does the product have third-party certification?
• What values and principles does the company uphold?
• Do they practice transparency?

Something else you should do is read and research those labels! Some tags are more like red flags, so be on the lookout for substances that are less than desirable.

Examples of Ingredients to Avoid:

• Polypropylene or polyethylene
• Phosphates
• Parabens
• Non-biodegradable plastics
• Toxic pesticides or herbicides
• Synthetic fibers such as polyester, nylon, rayon, and acetate

Let’s take this conversation to the toilet. In addition to overall environmentally-friendly business practices and safe ingredients, when you’re searching for the best tissue for your tush, here’s what you should wonder.

Questions Particularly About Toilet Paper:

• Does it break down and dissolve easily?
• Is it safe for all sewer and septic systems?
• Does it work in alternative toilets?
• Is it biodegradable?
• How was the material that goes into the paper harvested?
• Will purchasing this product help eliminate deforestation?

When it comes to becoming ecological with your wiping, two potential toilet papers top the list. Let’s take a look at what recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper have to offer earth-conscious consumers.

A Tale of Two T.P.’s

Both choices have your environmental concerns at heart. Recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper come frompeople who are passionateabout transforming the toilet paper industry and working to create lasting, meaningful change.

Companies that make both products are leading anti-deforestation efforts by affording consumers better options over traditional toilet paper.

Recycled 

Recycled toilet paper is made from what’s called post-consumer recycled content (think old office memos and love letters you never sent). It’s an excellent use of papers that would otherwise be thrown away and end up in landfills.

Because no virgin trees are necessary for its production, recycled toilet paper reduces the logging demand led by traditional toilet paper. Also, recycled toilet paper uses less water and energy to produce.

Pros:

• No “new” trees are harmed in the making of recycled paper
• Many brands are committed to carbon-free shipping and zero-plastic packaging

Cons:

• Some recycled brands go through a bleaching process
• There have been traces of BPA found in some recycled papers
• It’s often not as soft or strong as other options
• A mixture of chemicals is required to break down the recycled paper to create tissue consistency

Key Takeaway:

Unfortunately, recycled paper still requires the use of wood-based paper products. The paper put into recycled toilet paper originated from the use of our forests. Does using it lessennewtree loss? Yes, but it isn’t an entirely tree-free, sustainable option.

While it’s a superior choice to traditional toilet paper, it’s not going to make the environmental impact of a fully sustainable, renewable product with an eco-friendly manufacturing process.

That’s why we think if you like recycled toilet paper, you’re really gonna love bamboo.

Bamboo 

Bamboo toilet paper is made entirely from bamboo, which is quite animpressive plant! There are no added chemicals or ingredients, and everything about its production is clean, safe, and sustainable.

Pros:

• Bamboo is a grass, not a tree
• Bamboo is entirely renewable without replanting
• Bamboo can be harvested without disrupting the soil
• The best brands are committed to reforestation efforts
• Bamboo toilet paper is capable of being comfortable and reliable

Cons:

• Hold on…we’re still thinking…

Key Takeaway:

Bamboo toilet paper is truly tree-free. It’s soft, durable, and has super sustainability. It doesn’t just lessen logging efforts but has the potential to eliminate the practice altogether. Imagine the dent in deforestation if more bathrooms contained bamboo.

We Want You Wiping in Good Conscience

If you currently use traditional toilet paper, either choice is an upgrade. Switching to recycled or bamboo toilet paper means doing your part to save virgin hardwood forests and contribute to companies that have decided to prioritize our planet.

However, while we respect recycled toilet paper’s efforts to help the environment, and there’s no doubt deforestation can see a decline with its use, it’s impossible to top all the perks of bamboo toilet paper.

Bamboo toilet paper really checks all the boxes when it comes to sustainability and environmental impact. The renewable nature and noninvasive harvesting techniques make bamboo one of the most environmentally-friendly materials available.

If you really want to go big for the environment, choose bamboo! If you really want the best,choose HeyBamboo!

HeyBamboo: The Best for Your Bathroom and the Environment

HeyBamboo has got your back(side) when it comes to offering the very best quality bamboo toilet paper with everything you want in an environmentally-friendly brand.

Our product is safe, sustainable, and  backed by certification.  It’s always manufactured with our values and our customers’ best interest in mind. Oh, and did we mention it does the job with the strength and softness of a luxury brand?

Add one more perk. We’ve partnered with One Tree Planted so that buying from HeyBamboo means even more.

We’d say the verdict is in: bamboo toilet paper for the win!

_________________

Joslyn Faust is the founder of HeyBamboo, where she has made it her mission to eliminate the waste of wiping! Through knowledge, compassion, and intentional habits, she believes we can make a difference in the future of our planet. Joslyn embraces efforts that curtail climate change and is committed to doing her part in saving our trees, one T.P. roll at a time. You can connect with her onLinkedin.

Resources:
The World Counts
Environment 911