Recycled Vs Bamboo Toilet Paper: Which is Better?

Consumers—particularly millennials—are increasingly becoming eco-conscious. As a result, the toilet paper landscape has seen some significant changes. After metal straws and reusable bags, toilet papers have also joined the team to save planet earth.

The 2019 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council has made us realize how wasteful heading the call of nature can be. The report titled “Issue with Tissue” has established that our regular TP roll is detrimental to the environment.

The toilet paper rolls we use are made from cutting down millions of virgin trees. This deforestation is ultimately exacerbating the environment crisis, causing climate changes and threatening wildlife.

Therefore, more and more consumers are looking for ways to use their dollars to reduce the environmental impact of the products they are consuming.

Furthermore, NRDC’s sustainability scorecard of the biggest-selling toilet paper brands has even forced the manufacturers to respond. As a result, consumers now have several eco-friendly options to choose from. Let’s explore the best ones.

Moving on to Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper

Now that we’ve established that regular loo roll is not a viable choice to make, let’s revolve around the other two options we are left with. Recycled and Bamboo toilet paper.  And with these choices in hand, we’ll finally know that heeding the call of nature doesn’t have to be wasteful.

However, the question that arises is which one of them is better for the environment and your skin. Which is more eco-friendly? Is bamboo toilet paper better than recycled toilet paper? Which one of them is softer? Read on to find all your answers.

Bamboo Toilet Paper

Bamboo is gaining traction as a tree-free toilet paper choice quicker than you can imagine. And for all the good reasons too. It is a sustainable material with a plethora of attributes making it ideal for producing eco-friendly toilet paper.

Not only is bamboo toilet paper sustainable, it also breaks down completely. Unlike other toilet papers, bamboo paper uses bamboo rather than recycled paper or wood chips. And, to top all of that, the process of manufacturing it is also simple and straightforward.

Manufacturers break down the bamboo plant into fibers and then add the fibers to a mixture that further turns them into a bamboo pulp. The manufacturers then soak, press, and form the pulp into the actual paper once the fibers have been turned into pulp.

Those long sheets of paper are dried till the time they have reached the appropriate moisture level. Once that’s done, the manufacturers will roll the paper into long logs of toilet paper, cut them into smaller, manageable rolls, and package the rolls to be sold.

Their Edge Over Recycled Toilet Paper

• BPA and Chlorine-Free

To whiten, strengthen, and soften regular toilet papers, bleaching is a necessary process. Bamboo toilet paper uses safer methods to reduce or eliminate chlorine from the bleaching process.

• The Right Amount of Soft & Thick

We are not only focussed on the environmental benefits of tree-free toilet paper. The softness and the thickness matters too. Too thick toilet paper can clog your drains and pipes. And no one would want to use it if it is not soft enough.

• Alleviates the Problem of Deforestation

Bamboo toilet paper does not contribute to deforestation. As Bamboo is extremely resilient and adaptable, iut can even grow in inhospitable environments. It doesn’t even need as many nutrients as other trees.

Their Significant Pitfalls

• Comparatively Expensive

Bamboo toilet papers are a tad pricier than traditional toilet paper. However, for those who prioritize quality over price, this is an insignificant factor. Also, at SheetGlory, we offer three-ply toilet papers with 370 sheets which reduces the cost per use. 

• Low Availability

Bamboo toilet paper is not available everywhere. You might only get them online and that too at exclusive stores.

Recycled Toilet Paper

We know what you are thinking. No, they are not made from used toilet paper. Recycled toilet paper is made by soaking paper scraps in warm water, aerating the mixture for removing ink, bleaching, and then sanitizing it. Pressing and drying are the final steps of the process.

Perks of Using Recycled Toilet Paper

There are a plethora of environmental benefits of recycled toilet paper. The process of recycling paper involves the usage of products that would otherwise be thrown away.

This process reduces the demand for logging trees and also uses 28-70% less energy. Water conservation is a pro too as it uses up to 25% less water than virgin toilet paper.

Their Downsides

Chemicals used in recycled toilet paper are significantly more as compared to bamboo toilet paper. A blend of chemicals is needed to break down and bleach the recycled paper.

The concern of using chemicals is that their traces are found to have an adverse impact on the body. Heart, fertility, and endocrine problems are some of the common ailments.

The process of recycling paper significantly contributes to deforestation. Using a resource that takes around 50 years to grow is not an eco-friendly and sustainable choice to make.

The Takeaway

Each toilet paper has its own share of downsides and advantages. Even though bamboo is known to be softer and better for the skin, recycled toilet paper has a lower impact on the environment.

Both of the toilet papers are more eco-friendly than your traditional one. And this is what makes the choice easier. Whatever you choose, you are going for an environmentally-friendly option anyways.

We hope you find the guide helpful in assisting you with making sustainable choices for your washroom.