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Looking to switch to more eco-friendly toilet paper? Smart move.
In 2024 companies still cut down 1,950,684 trees every day just to make conventional toilet paper. Then they go and use harmful chlorine bleach to whiten it!
So my family and I have personally tested the most effective sustainable toilet paper alternatives made from bamboo and recycled materials.
Say goodbye to dangerous chemicals and devastating environmental impacts! These brands are affordable, luxurious, and completely sustainable.
Why I Recommend It: Each individually wrapped roll is 300 sheets of super-soft 3-ply fibers, wrapped in recycled paper.
My order arrived in an eco-friendly cardboard box. A completely plastic-free toilet paper experience!
Personal Experience: This is now the only bamboo toilet paper we use in our bathroom as it excels in all our needs.
Mrs. M and the girls love the triple-ply softness and I have to agree with them. Reel offers a perfect combination of strength, comfort and sustainability.
We now use Reel's subscription, which means we never run out of toilet rolls and it's one less thing for you to remember on our shopping list.
When you sign up, you get sustainable toilet paper delivered to your door on a schedule that suits you, and you can cancel at any time with no commitment.
If you don’t like the idea of a subscription, or just want to try it out first, you can buy a one-off box of 24 rolls for $34.99 + $6 shipping.
About the Brand: I love the eco-credentials of co-founders Livio Bisterzo and Derin Oyekan. Reel has partnered with SOIL to help provide sanctuary toilets and remove waste from communities in Haiti.
Why I Recommend It: Cloud Paper is another toilet paper subscription service that impressed me during testing.
It’s slightly cheaper than Reel, and you also get more sheets per roll. So it is a great value alternative if you find Reel out of your price range.
Personal Experience: As a family, we’ve chosen Reel ahead of Cloud Paper for our bathroom. Mainly because it was marginally softer and felt thicker/stronger. We also love the work Reel is doing with SOIL.
This said, if Reel were not available, we would have no hesitation in signing up to Cloud Paper long-term.
These tree-free sustainable toilet papers are safe for use in septic tanks, and won't block your plumbing or local sewer. They're also free of chlorine, BPA, pesticides, scents, and dyes.
About the Brand: Cloud Paper sources all its bamboo fibers and raw materials from FSC/SFI certified manufacturers. The brand's carbon offsetting programs have so far saved or offset 1,000,000 pounds of carbon.
Why I Recommend It: Cheeky Panda is another great sustainable bamboo toilet paper brand. The paper is durable and absorbent, and the brand ethics are on point.
Personal Experience: To be honest, there was very little to choose between Reel, Cloud Paper, and Cheeky Panda. I loved them all…but Reel still has the edge for me.
The main downside I found is that at 200 sheets, the Cheeky Panda rolls are smaller than the other two brands.
In terms of softness and thickness, I would say that Cheeky Panda sits somewhere in the middle (but, again, it’s all very close).
If you sign up for a subscription, you get 30% off your first delivery (bringing the cost down to just over 20 bucks for your first 24 rolls).
About the Brand: All of Cheeky Panda's bamboo is sourced from FSC-certified forests. The brand is also B Corp and Vegan Certified.
Why I Recommend It: Betterway bamboo paper is readily available on Amazon and of excellent quality. With jumbo 360-sheets per roll, the price per 100 sheets is cheaper than Cheeky Panda.
Personal Experience: On first glance Betterway seems expensive. But that's because they only sell larger packs (12 being the smallest). These are double rolls though, so we found they lasted ages. Overall, especially when you buy the 24 or 26 packs, it works out quite economical.
The strength, softness, and absorbency of Betterway compare well to the other bamboo toilet paper brands we tested.
The dimpled texture of the sheets is something a bit different to other brands, and you'll either like it or you won't (I did). Also, I found the easy-tear perforations are a nice touch, and they do help eliminate waste over time.
About the Brand: Betterway has committed to plastic-free packaging. That applied to every aspect of these rolls, from the core to the outer wrapping and the shipping boxes. They're FSC and Cruelty-Free certified.
Why I Recommend It: Bim Bam Boo contains no bleach, scents, or dyes. It's specially formulated to help prevent UTIs, yeast infections, and irritations.
We Say: I found this to be a well made, soft and eco-friendly product. It's also hypoallergenic, and gentle on sensitive skin. It's a perfect choice if you suffer from any sort of irritation in your more sensitive areas.
This is a 2-ply toilet roll which is a bit of a psychological barrier for me. Personally I need the ‘security’ that my finger will not go through the paper. That’s why I swear by 3-ply. I think this goes back to my elementary school nightmares! ????
However, some people believe that 3-ply is wasteful and 2-ply is all you need.
If you’re in the two-ply camp, then this offering from Bim Bam Boo is the strongest and most effective product out there at the moment.
It’s a pricey option to pay over 50 bucks upfront…but if you do suffer from sensitivities it will be worth every penny.
About the Brand: Bim Bam Boo is a women-owned and run company. It was set up to address feminine hygiene issues caused by traditional toilet paper. It is an ISO-9000, FSC, and USDA-certified brand.
✔ Climate Pledge Friendly
✔ 100% Recycled Paper
✔ No added Dyes, Inks, or Fragrances
Why I Recommend It: Seventh Generation is made from recycled post-consumer waste paper. I like that it's whitened without chlorine and comes with no added dyes, inks, or fragrances.
It’s safe for septic systems and compatible with low-flow toilets in RVs and campers
Personal Experience: If you aren't a fan of bamboo paper, this recycled toilet paper is the next best thing.
It still fulfils the criteria of saving trees, although there is an energy cost to the paper recycling process. It's also cheaper than many bamboo brands on a cast-per-sheet basis.
Again this is only a 2-ply, and I would prefer compostable paper wrapping, but this toilet paper does a pretty good job. It comes wrapped in 100% recycled plastic. This at least helps to reduce plastic bottle and plastic bag waste.
About the Brand: Seventh Generation is a brand that’s been on my radar for a while.
I’ve already recommended their trash bags, and I’m not the only one to have the opinion that they're a sustainable brand. The Natural Resources Defense Council also rates Seventh Generation highly. The brand scores an A on the NRDC "Issue with Tissue" list.
Why It's My Favorite Reusable Option: These 100% cotton flannel reusable toilet wipes were the most absorbent and softest reusable option I tested.
The edges are carefully sewn to prevent fraying. This is a durability feature that many other wipes and cloths could not match.
Personal Experience: Marley's Monsters Toilet UNpaper wipes are pieces of soft material. They have been designed to be used, washed, and used again. I'm sure it's the perfect solution for some families…just not the Miller family!
The problem for us arose with the storage and washing of the wipes. My wife didn't want to wash them with anything else. And putting a wash on just for 24 wipes wasn't eco-friendly.
However, putting these issues aside, I was amazed by how soft and absorbent they were during testing. They performed at a comfort level that standard toilet paper can't match.
If you can get into a routine that works for your family, these wipes are worth a try.
If your whole family uses these wipes regularly, you'll have more than 24 and a proper storage bin. Then, once a week, you can wash a full load of wipes for the following week.
About the Brand: Marley's Monsters is based in Eugene, Oregon. The brand was founded to reduce waste and offer sustainable alternatives to everyday items.
The chemicals used or produced by the traditional toilet paper industry can also have a significant impact on human health.
If these risks concern you, using unbleached toilet paper is a good way to mitigate them.
Bamboo grows rapidly and requires no pesticides. Natural bamboo toilet paper is usually soft, strong, and biodegradable. It also requires less water and fewer chemicals for processing compared to traditional wood pulp.
Recycled toilet paper is a more sustainable alternative because it doesn't involve the destruction of any more trees. It’s essentially a way of reusing paper that would otherwise end up in landfill.
Some reports state that recycled toilet paper can contain BPA. However, the levels are so low that there is nothing to worry about. You actually come into contact with higher levels of BPA from your bank cards.
Like bamboo, hemp grows quickly and doesn’t require pesticides or herbicides. It produces more fiber per acre than trees and can be used to make soft, durable paper. Hemp toilet paper is less common but is gaining popularity as an eco-friendly option.
Wheat straw toilet paper could become the next big thing next year - or so I'm told.
It’s an agricultural byproduct that would otherwise be incinerated, so very much a zero-waste option.
This is a byproduct of sugarcane processing and can be used to make toilet paper. Using bagasse reduces waste and doesn’t require additional land or resources since it’s a byproduct of the sugarcane industry.
Look for toilet paper brands that carry the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. This certification verifies that the wood or bamboo was sourced from a sustainably managed forest.
Bamboo is a plant, not a tree, but it can still be FSC-certified. In this context, the certification confirms that the habitat, water resources, and biodiversity have been protected. It's also an indication of responsible harvesting and fair labor practices.
As consumers, we’ve been programmed to believe that the best quality toilet paper is the whitest and brightest.
However, paper is not always naturally bright white, meaning bleach is often used to get the desired color.
Most bleaches contain chlorine, which can be toxic to humans. That's not something you want coming into contact with your delicate areas.
Change to unbleached or chloride-free brands to avoid the health and environmental consequences of chlorine.
Ecolabels and certification help give you peace of mind that eco-friendly toilet paper brands have values that match your own.
Some of the more common ones to look out for are FSC (as mentioned above), as well as Ecologo, B-Corp, and Green Seal
Check out the A-Z of Green Certifications for more details.
Make sure your loo roll doesn't add to the global plastic waste problem! Choose products with recycled cardboard packaging instead.
Many countries (such as China, India, Singapore, South Korea, Thailand, and Indonesia) rarely use toilet rolls. So it is perfectly possible to use less toilet paper, or avoid it altogether. Here are some ways you can do this:
The terms biodegradable and compostable are slightly disingenuous when describing toilet paper.
That's because most types of paper are biodegradable and compostable anyway. But it doesn't mean they're all eco-friendly (and many are not).
It's often bleached using chlorine compounds, which contain harmful chemicals.
In my tests I found Reel Bamboo Paper to be the softest brand.
The terms biodegradable and compostable are slightly disingenuous when describing toilet paper.
That's because most types of paper are biodegradable and compostable anyway. But it doesn't mean they're all eco-friendly (and many are not).
Take the time to evaluate each brand based on the criteria I've outlined in this article. Never take their claims at face value.
In an ideal world, we wouldn't be cutting down trees to make paper - period.
Unfortunately, we don’t live in an ideal world. Mainstream consumers and brands have been slow to turn their back on bathroom tissue made from virgin tree pulp.
However, there are now plenty of toilet paper brands with a lower environmental impact, but that still suit all budgets.
In my eyes, the best eco-friendly toilet paper option is a Reel Premium bamboo roll subscription. It's sustainable, affordable, comfortable, and convenient.
Whatever route you decide to go down, please try to be tree-free. Avoid any brand that insists on chopping down boreal forests.
Where do you buy your eco-friendly toilet paper? Are you a subscription convert like me? Or have you been brave enough to make the switch to reusable toilet paper? Drop me a line and let me know.
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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