There are a total of 1575 species of bamboo (Ohrnberger Citation1999 Suhaily et al. There are other options out there, but any of these will have you well on your way to a sustainable bathroom.Bamboo grows naturally in tropical, sub-tropical and mild temperate regions of Africa, Asia, America and Oceania as shown in Figure 1 (Clark Citation2006 Escamilla and Habert Citation2014 Shah Citation2014). With all the above in mind, we’ve put together a selection of seven sustainable toilet paper options, including recycled, bamboo, and reusable choices, and a mixture of B-corps and independent sellers. 7 Great Choices For Eco-friendly Toilet Paper Supporting a B Corp means supporting a very ethical business – not accidentally lining the pockets of an oil baron.Īnother option is to support small, independent sellers such as those found on Etsy, who run small scale productions and are genuine about their motives. B Corporations are businesses that meet the highest standards of social and environmental conscience, are fully transparent, and balance profit against purpose. The holy grail amongst bigger companies are certified B Corps. The parent company is often more problematic than the product, so when you’re making sustainable choices there are a couple of things to look out for. Buying reusable toilet paper will set you back a similar amount to a 24 pack of single-use rolls, but it’s durable and easy to clean – just keep a wet-bag near the toilet to place used cloths hygienically.Īlthough the idea is a little off-putting at first, this is a popular choice among the zero-waste community. Many independent sellers make washable toilet paper in fun patterns out of organic cotton or bamboo. The best way to reduce your environmental impact is to cut down on paper use the popularity of reusable kitchen towels and beeswax wraps is on the rise, and reusable toilet paper is another great way to do this. The only downside is that it can be a little more expensive, and it is often transported in from China, which can increase its carbon footprint unless the manufacturer offsets this. Bamboo paper is also naturally hypoallergenic and softer than recycled options. Bamboo Toilet Paperīamboo products are some of the most sustainable on the market – the plant itself is sustainable to grow and manufacture, and the end products are biodegradable. To be truly sustainable, make sure the company is as ethical as the product. Often, the problem with an ethical product actually lies with the company that produces it.įor example, Georgia Pacific is a big producer of toilet paper, including recycled varieties, and they came out worst in WWF’s 2006 sustainability survey. However, even recycled toilet paper has problems. Avoiding bleached paper also reduces the number of chemicals involved in the production process. However, some recycled toilet paper still uses waste pulp from felled trees to strengthen it, so you should always check the product you buy is Forest Stewardship Council certified. Recycled toilet paper reduces waste, and is less damaging to manufacture as it doesn’t directly contribute to deforestation. The More Sustainable Options Recycled Toilet Paper This increases greenhouse gas emissions and pollutes water supplies. It Takes a Lot of Resources & Pollutants To Make Toilet PaperĪs well as contributing to deforestation, the production of toilet paper is an energy- and chemical-heavy process.Īny industrial production process takes a lot of power, and harmful pollutants such as chlorine are used to bleach the paper. While all trees are good, what’s really beneficial to the environment is promoting and preserving biodiversity and existing ecosystems – monocultures come with their own set of environmental disadvantages. However, this is often done in monocultures, meaning many of the same trees are planted in one place (picture a palm plantation or pine forest). Many companies try to offset this waste and energy-intensive activity by planting new trees. We Cut Down a Lot of Trees To Make Toilet Paperĭisposable paper products are a major contributor to deforestation, with research suggesting that toilet paper production is responsible for the felling of over 7.5 million trees a year in America alone. Why Toilet Paper is Such a ProblemĪlthough it seems innocent because it dissolves easily and is made of recyclable materials, toilet paper is a paper-based single-use product. The humble toilet paper has a big environmental impact, but switching to an eco-friendly alternative is luckily easy to do. Everybody knows that having a reusable coffee cup and your own straw are essentials when committing to a sustainable lifestyle – but there’s one everyday item that’s often overlooked.
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