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Bath & Body
Written By Hailey CarrilloEdited & Fact Checked By Amber McDaniel
9 mins read
If you’re searching for the ‘poo-fect’ way to make your bathroom routine more eco-friendly (but aren’t ready to wipe with zero waste toilet paper) then we suggest reaching for the best bamboo toilet paper.
Like bamboo fabric, bamboo fibers also turn into a sustainable and soft toilet paper that’s not only kinder to the planet than regular toilet paper, but also kinder to your posterior.
We’ve scoured the bamboo jungle (figuratively, of course) and wiped with (yep we’ve done a lot of physical testing) a number of rolls to find our favorite brands delivering a premium bathroom experience all the while reducing our environmental impact.
And these TP brands don’t just use low-impact materials but also ethical sourcing and no or low-impact dyes.
It’s worth mentioning that we’ve also created a new Brand Rating System to reexamine this article in the near future, by assessing brands against a broader range of eco-related criteria, such as circularity, climate impact, and chemical use. You can read more about it here.
We independently research all featured brands and we ask them to confirm their claims. In many cases we personally review recommended products. This post contains affiliate links which means we may earn a commission if you buy something. Learn more here.
Bamboo Toilet Paper That Won’t Bum Out Our Planet
Reel’s 100% organic bamboo toilet paper is the real deal. It comes individually wrapped in 100% recyclable or compostable paper and is certified “ready biodegradable.” Did we mention it’s one of the softest TP brands we’ve ever tried?
We’ve been using Who Gives a Crap’s bamboo toilet paper for years now and it never disappoints. Besides the fact that it’s one of the safest options on this list made without inks, dyes, or scents (completely unbleached too), this brand gives back 50% of its profits to help build toilets for those in need.
Index: Bamboo Toilet Paper Brands
- Reel Jump to brand
- Cloud Paper Jump to brand
- Tushy Jump to brand
- Who Gives A Crap Jump to brand
- Grove Collaborative Jump to brand
- ecoHiny Jump to brand
- Betterway Jump to brand
Reel
Reel is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $37–$83
Is bamboo toilet paper septic safe?
Reel’s 3-ply toilet paper sure is. It’s also been certified “ready biodegradable”, meaning it can be broken down by microorganisms in an aerobic environment within a certain time frame and degree.
Their bamboo toilet paper is whitened using elemental chlorine-free (ECF) technology. This method is recognized by the EPA as being the best available technology for bleaching paper products.
The rolls are also free from toxic chemicals, BPA, inks, dyes, or fragrances, and they come individually wrapped in 100% compostable or recyclable tissue paper.
Reel is a US-based, Black-owned toilet paper brand (or co-owned, rather). Their bamboo is sustainably sourced from China and manufactured by other ethical companies abroad. With every box of bamboo toilet paper sold, Reel contributes to reforestation projects worldwide through One Tree Planted.
My Personal Review of Reel’s Toilet Paper:
“Reel ass-isted me with a bunch of tp to test out, and I found them to be some of the most durable bamboo toilet paper I’ve tried. Despite that strength, it doesn’t sacrifice softness and still delivers a comfortable reliable wipe.”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
SHOP REEL
Cloud Paper
Cloud Paper is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $37–$92
Seattle-based Cloud Paper offers up one of the cheapest bamboo toilet papers (in price, not quality!) and it’s not afraid to make the comparison on its website. You can buy 3-ply 100% bamboo jumbo rolls of toilet paper in packs of 24 or 80.
But you’re not just saving money if you choose to shop from Cloud. You’re saving your health and our planet’s. The rolls are made from 100% FSC-certified bamboo and are free from scents, dyes, BPA, chlorine bleach, and pesticides. Apart from bamboo, the only other ingredient is a small amount of cornstarch adhesive which attaches the first sheet to the roll.
You don’t have to stress about greenwashing because Cloud Paper has the backing of the Natural Resources Defense Council and has been awarded the highest possible score.
The bamboo is sourced from family-owned farms in Asia. It’s then manufactured in China, but they’re working to bring manufacturing close to home so they can eventuall offer bamboo toilet paper made in the USA.
All recyclable packaging is entirely plastic-free. Instead, the rolls are individually wrapped in recycled paper, while the boxes are made of post-consumer recycled content.
Cloud Paper does it double-time in terms of offsetting, both offsetting shipping emissions through Carbonfund and planting a tree for every order. This best-value toilet paper brand also gives back to local communities via its partnership with Food Lifeline. They have donated over 110,000 rolls of toilet paper to food banks and shelters across Western Washington.
SHOP CLOUD PAPER
Tushy
Tushy is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $59–$69
Tushy is best known for its bidets, but bamboo TP makes for a natural addition to their eco-friendly toilet paper solutions.
Made from 100% bamboo, you get to dry your cheeks with the softest, 3-play paper a butt can get. The rolls are naturally hypoallergenic and are sans irritating bleach, dyes, or cancer-causing BPAs.
Depending on how quickly you go through toilet paper, you can choose whether you get a delivery every one, two, three, or four months. Each roll is hand-packaged in paper and shipped plastic-free.
If you want a way to decrease your toilet paper consumption, try one of their bidets. We recently upgraded to the Tushy Ace electric bidet and now relegate our TP to dry duty only, which means we go through it a fraction as quickly!
Production of Tushy’s unbleached bamboo toilet paper takes place in China, specifically in Chengdu. In the interests of transparency, Tushy published a tour around the factory.
SHOP TUSHY
Who Gives A Crap
Who Gives A Crap is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $44–$68
With Who Gives a Crap you never have to give a crap about your toilet paper containing any nasty stuff (other than your own). That’s because WGAC’s unbleached bamboo toilet paper doesn’t contain inks, dyes, or scents.
What it does contain is sustainably-sourced bamboo from farmers who plant the bamboo on the borders of their small family farms to supplement their income.
They also offer 100% recycled toilet paper made with 95% post-consumer waste paper and 5% post-industrial paper that’s 100% hygienic thanks to the high-temperature cleaning process.
Since its inception, this Certified B Corp has been donating 50% of its profits (over $10 million AUD so far!) to improve sanitation and build toilets in the developing world with the help of several potty partners.
Toilet paper manufacturing occurs in China by producers who meet their strict standards. Materials are also sourced nearby which means a small supply chain and shipping footprint. They also recently performed a Life Cycle Analysis of their products to determine their total carbon output in order to plan how to reduce it, which they’re already acting on by incorporating electric vehicles and renewable energy in their supply chain.
You can learn more about their mission in our podcast interview with founder Simon Griffiths.
My Personal Review of Who Gives A Crap’s Bamboo Toilet Paper:
“No, bamboo toilet tissue isn’t going to be as soft as Charmin Ultra Soft (AKA chemically softened and coated with toxic chemicals). But it’s far from the scratchy sensation you probably envision when thinking of bamboo stalks.
All that said, WGAC is definitely some of the softest bamboo toilet paper I’ve ever tried—and I’ve tried a fair number!”
Review by Amber McDaniel, SJ’s Head of Content
SHOP WHO GIVES A CRAP
Grove Collaborative
Grove Collaborative is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $10–$22
Grove Collaborative is a household name in the sustainable cleaning space.
Aside from offering eco-friendly bathroom products, it also offers its own Grove-crafted “Seedling/Grove Co” brand of super soft bamboo toilet paper. Made from FSC-certified bamboo fibers, the TP comes in soft, strong, thick 3-ply sheets that are proven to be stronger than recycled paper. Dyes, inks, or scents are all left out, with you and your family’s health in mind.
As a Certified B Corp and Public Benefit Corporation, Grove Collaborative is recognized as a business doing good. It ships all orders 100% carbon-neutral, uses plastic-free packaging, and supports a whole grove of nonprofits like The Nature Conservancy and RePurpose Global.
Transparency is at the core of what they do, and you can read their Impact Report to learn how they plan to drive meaningful change year over year.
SHOP GROVE COLLABORATIVE
ecoHiny
ecoHiny is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $26–$86
ecoHiny’s tree-free 3-ply toilet paper comes in mega rolls of 350 sheets (whereas other comparable brands only offer 300 sheet rolls, meaning 17% more TP for the same price).
Even better than toilet paper that lasts, however, is toilet paper that’s hypoallergenic, BPA-free, elemental chlorine-free, fragrance-free, and dye-free. ecoHiny’s FSC-certified bamboo toilet tissues ticks these boxes, too.
Each roll is individually wrapped with recycled materials to ensure freshness wherever you might roam. Even the core of each roll is made from bamboo.
They purchase carbon offsets for all product shopping emissions, and while ecoHiny is an American company, they chose China for its resources and manufacturing base to keep everything centralized.
Betterway
Betterway is yet to be rated.
Price Range: $25–$64
For one of the best organic toilet paper brands that’s soft on the planet and soft on you, try Betterway’s Premium Bamboo Double Rolls. Made from FSC-certified 100% bamboo fibers, you’ll enjoy 3-ply sheets embossed for extra strength and a whopping 360 tree-free sheets per roll.
If you’re not convinced theirs is the softest bamboo toilet paper, there’s a happy wiping guarantee with 100 days to decide whether you want to wipe the better way.
Betterway only works with partners who are BSCI-certified. The bamboo pulp for their bamboo toilet paper is sourced from organically grown and FSC-certified groves that are not a part of panda habitats. They’re also owned by small farmers as a side crop to supplement their income.
Why Use Toilet Paper Made From Bamboo?
Is bamboo toilet paper sustainable?
Generally, it’s considered a more sustainable alternative compared to traditional paper made from virgin wood pulp. But how is bamboo toilet paper better than traditional TP?
A few reasons, really:
- Rapid growth: Bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants on Earth, with some species able to grow up to three feet in one day. The whole plant also doesn’t need to be killed to harvest it. This means it can be harvested more frequently with little regrowth time.
- Low environmental impact: Bamboo requires less water and fewer pesticides and fertilizers compared to many tree species. Its cultivation is often considered more environmentally friendly.
- Renewable resource: Bamboo is a renewable resource because it regrows from its root system after harvesting and doesn’t require replanting.
- Carbon sequestration: Bamboo can sequester more carbon dioxide from the atmosphere than most trees.
- Soil health: Bamboo can help improve soil health by preventing erosion and adding nutrients back into the soil
- Increase biodiversity: Bamboo forests can provide habitat for various wildlife species.
One of the performance advantages of bamboo toilet paper is that it often has longer fibers, which can make it softer and more absorbent.
Furthermore, tree free toilet paper is often praised for its strength and durability. It doesn’t easily disintegrate when wet, which can be a common issue with some traditional toilet paper.
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