While toilet paper is compostable, it’s production has a negative impact on our planet.
Most toilet papers are made from trees that take several years and lots of water to grow. These trees also require a lot of water and energy to be processed into a soft paper. On average, each toilet paper roll requires 37 gallons of water to produce.
Because toilet paper is so essential to our daily lives, it also contributes to a significant amount of deforestation. Considering we need trees to remove carbon dioxide from the air and produce the oxygen we need to breathe, toilet paper production contributes to climate change.
Deforestation also threatens biodiversity by robbing wildlife of their natural habitats, and displaces indigenous peoples from their ancestral lands.
The final nail in the coffin is the plastic packaging that toilet paper is wrapped in when purchased from the store.
So what are some plastic-free, tree-free alternatives to toilet paper that are sustainable? Explore the top three ways to remove these issues from your carbon footprint:
Recycled paper
If you’re interested in a recycled option, choose post-consumer recycled paper when possible. This means that the paper used to make the product could not be recycled in another way, so you prevented it from going to a landfill.
Also look for a certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), which certifies that the paper is recycled, the percentage of recycled material it contains, and whether or not the product was bleached with chlorine.
Who Gives A Crap is a very popular option for recycled toilet paper.
Their boxes contain 48 rolls of 400 sheets and can be purchased individually or on a subscription basis. The product is made from post-consumer recycled office paper and is septic tank safe. Carbon neutral shipping is also used to deliver these boxes to your home.
Who Gives A Crap is committed to helping others and gives 50% of their profits to community organizations in developing countries that establish healthy sanitation systems to reduce death and illness related to water contamination.
Bamboo
Because bamboo grows quickly, requires less land and water, and releases 30% less greenhouse gasses when processed, it is considered a more sustainable option.
Bamboo toilet paper is also softer and more durable than recycled papers. Choose a brand certified by the FSC trees were not cut down to grow the bamboo and the processing is chlorine-free.
Reel is a highly acclaimed tree-free toilet paper that is bamboo based.
This eco-friendly option offers subscription boxes of 24 rolls with 300 3-ply sheets individually wrapped in recycled paper packaging. The paper itself is also free from inks, dyes, BPA, and plastic.
Reel is also a company committed to giving back, donating a single-use biodegradable toilet to someone in need for every roll that is purchased.
Bidet
Installing a bidet in your bathroom removes the need to manufacture toilet paper altogether.
However, this can be a costly investment that is not available to everyone. For a more affordable option, consider building a hose attachment into the wall next to the toilet that can create the same effect.
Many countries around the world such as the Philippines also use a simple bucket of water as a low-tech alternative to the bidet.