Plastic Free Toilet Paper: 13 Best Eco-Friendly Options
Toilet tissue is an everyday consumable item and a throwaway product. But it also can create a big issue after disposal as it may clog municipal pipes, add to the burden on sewer systems and pollute water streams. Most of us don’t think about the consequences before we dispose of it as waste. The present-day toilet paper with chemical and plastic elements is becoming a serious environmental concern. It is time to go for more sustainable bathroom tissue and choose eco-friendly options. In this article, you will learn more about plastic-free, zero-waste, and eco-friendly toilet paper brands.
Why is Toilet Paper Bleached?
Toilet paper manufacturers often use bleach to give a whitish and soft appearance and to strengthen toilet paper. But this process has some hazardous effects on human health and the environment.
Most manufacturers use chlorine bleach in pulp and paper products producing byproducts containing some of the most dangerous synthetic chemicals. These include carcinogenic dioxins that can pollute water bodies, harm aquatic ecosystems, and enter the human food chain, causing health issues. You may have noticed on some products they claim “elemental chlorine-free bleaching” or “ECF bleaching”. This term doesn’t mean that the product is chlorine-free but rather that the product has been bleached using chlorine dioxide instead of elemental chlorine gas, which reduces the potential to form these harmful dioxins.
Some manufacturers have started using a chlorine-free process using hydrogen peroxide as a whitener which is generally more environment-friendly. Our recommendation is to look for “unbleached” toilet paper or bleached paper that uses alternatives to chlorine like the above-mentioned hydrogen peroxide or oxygen. Many toilet tissue products are made of recycled materials with fewer chemical inputs and toxic elements.
How is Recycled Toilet Paper made?
Have you ever wondered how is recycled toilet paper made? In case of interest, this video explains it very clearly.
Recycled Toilet Paper Found to Have Traces of BPA
A 2011 study published in the Journal of Environmental Science & Technology analyzed different paper sources for BPA traces. According to this study: “Whereas thermal receipt papers contained the highest concentrations of BPA (milligram-per-gram), some paper products, including napkins and toilet paper, made from recycled papers contained microgram-per-gram concentrations of BPA”. The source of BPA is due to contamination during the paper recycling process like through the ink of newspapers or products containing high BPA sources like thermal paper in receipts. It is to be noted though that these traces are only micrograms-per-gram, therefore very low.
Toilet Paper Releases PFAS Forever Chemicals into Wastewater
A new study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters on March the 1st 2023 found harmful chemical substances in toilet paper known as diPAPs or disubstituted poly-fluoroalkyl phosphates. These chemicals are used as an additive to optimize pulp production, however, traces remain in toilet paper, which leaches then into wastewater that is repurposed for irrigation and other uses. PFAS, aka per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, are known substances that are linked to certain types of cancer and even sperm count. The conclusion of the study suggested that toilet paper should be considered as a potentially major source of PFAS entering wastewater treatment systems. This study focused on the environmental aspect of these substances in our ecosystem, therefore there was no mention of how these harmful chemicals are impacting human health. We’ll publish more information as soon as more studies on this topic are released.
What Makes a Toilet Paper Eco-friendly?
We know it is overwhelming as they are hundreds and hundreds of brands to choose from and ultimately the choice is a compromise. However, consider these aspects when choosing sustainable toilet paper brands.
- Choose toilet paper that doesn’t cut trees, which means don’t buy virgin toilet paper. Instead, buy alternatives that are made with recycled paper. If you’re worried about the minimal traces of BPA, then opt for a tree-free paper made of bamboo fibers. However, from an environmental perspective recycled paper toilet will always be better than virgin paper toilet because the process of recycling paper has a lower carbon footprint than using virgin pulp even if this is certifed by the FSC (Forest Stewardship Council Certification).
- Choose unbleached toilet paper for the reasons listed above, it doesn’t utilize those nasty chemicals that make it “perfectly white”.
- Choose toilet paper that is made locally to avoid the carbon footprint associated with transportation.
- Choose paper that is not wrapped in plastic.
It’s very hard to find a product that ticks all the boxes, so we scouted the market for the best versions of this product that we could find.
Best Plastic Free Toilet Paper Brands in 2023
Sustainable and eco-friendly alternatives to toilet tissue have become quite popular today, and manufacturers have come up with various products using natural and recyclable materials. The best brands of eco-friendly toilet paper are given below.
Please note that the brands are not ranked in terms of the best product, but are listed per geography starting with the US and Canada first.
This post contains affiliate links, which means we may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link. This helps us continue the hard work we put into researching products and solutions.
1. Boardwalk Standard 100% Recycled Toilet Tissue (USA / Canada)
Boardwalk Standard is a good option for sustainable toilet paper. It is a 2-ply tissue comprising 65% post-consumer and 35% pre-consumer waste, making it more eco-friendly overall.
This toilet paper is affordable, sustainable, and conveniently used in workplaces, schools, offices, or homes. The product is seemingly chlorine-free and made up of 100% recycled fibers. No chemicals, inks, or dyes are used in this product, so it is good for you and the environment.
Material: 100% recycled paper (65% post-consumer and 35% pre-consumer waste)
Manufacturing country: made in Canada
Ply rating: 2-Ply
Size: pack of 96 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 400
Packaging: This product comes with no plastic – all wrapped in paper covers and in a cardboard box.
Delivery:
2. Seventh Generation Recycled Toilet Paper (USA)
This company is based in the U.S. and manufactures toilet rolls using recycled raw materials from North America. The company applies rigorous testing methods to ensure this sustainable toilet paper is septic-safe and is compatible with low-flow toilets in RVS and campers. The 2-ply toilet paper is soft with less bulk but still strong. It is free from chlorine and contains no artificial fragrances or dyes.
Material: 100% recycled paper
Manufacturing country: made in the USA
Ply rating: 2-Ply
Size: pack of 60 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 500
Packaging: The individual rolls in this composition are wrapped in paper, however, please note that there are also packages of six rolls that are wrapped in plastic.
Delivery:
Related: Plastic Free Laundry Detergent: 10 Eco-Friendly Options
3. Bumroll Recycled Toilet Paper (USA)
The company manufactures toilet tissue in the USA, and California with 100% recycled paper. It is BPA-free and doesn’t contain coloring additives or artificial fragrances. The manufacturer uses hydrogen peroxide for whitening and avoids any traces of chlorine. Bumroll toilet paper plants trees by donating 2% of its profits to the National Forest Foundation.
Material: 100% recycled paper
Manufacturing country: made in the USA
Ply rating: 2-Ply
Size: pack of 24 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 400
Packaging: Individual rolls wrapped in paper.
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4. Marcal Toilet Paper (USA / Canada)
Marcal makes toilet paper in the U.S.A. and is Green Seal Certified for its eco-friendly products. The toilet tissue comprises 100% recycled paper with a higher ratio of post-consumer waste content, which makes it more sustainable. It is strong, absorbent, septic-safe, and virtually lint-free.
Material: 100% recycled paper
Manufacturing country: made in the USA
Ply rating: 2-Ply
Size: pack of 48 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 242
Packaging: The product comes in plastic-free packaging with rolls individually paper wrapped, considering the hygiene aspects. It makes Marcal toilet paper a good option for offices, workspaces, or camping.
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5. Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper (USA)
This product is made from bamboo fibers, making it eco-friendly without synthetic ingredients. This toilet paper doesn’t contain any additives for fragrance or coloring. This 3-ply, plant-based toilet tissue is packed in cardboard boxes with plastic-free tape. The product is ultra-soft yet very strong, so you don’t have to sacrifice quality for sustainability. The toilet paper is whitened using a safe elemental chlorine-free (ECF) process.
Material: bamboo fibers, grown in protected and renewable, naturally grown forests in Southwestern China.
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 3-Ply
Size: pack of 24 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 300
Packaging: no plastic packaging, the rolls are individually wrapped in paper and come in a cardboard box.
Delivery:
Related: 9 Best Toothpaste Without Plastic and BPA
6. Caboo Bamboo Bathroom Tissue (USA / Canada)
Caboo toilet tissue is made from bamboo fibers and leftover sugarcane pulp. This toilet paper is free from chlorine, plastic, artificial fragrance, and color additives. It is a 2-ply tissue that is soft, strong, and safe for the environment. They are proud “Panda Friendly” i.e. they source bamboo in the Sichuan Western Region of China which is not a food source for panda bears. The bamboo pulp is bleached using a non-toxic ECF bleaching method.
Material: bamboo fibers & sugar cane pulp
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 2-Ply
Size: pack of 8 rolls
Price / 100 sheets: from US $3 (individual rolls wrapped in paper)
Packaging: It uses plastic-free and recyclable materials for packaging.
Delivery:
7. Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper (USA / Canada / UK)
Betterway is a US-based company that claims their toilet paper is one of the softest bamboo TP on the market. It is hypoallergenic, unscented, and dye-free. It has a double-texture weaving pattern with two sides: smooth for extra comfort & textured grip for the cleanest wipe. The toilet paper is whitened using an elemental chlorine-free (ECF) process.
Bamboo harvesting and paper manufacturing is done in China.
Material: 100% al natural, non-GMO bamboo from FSC-certified forests
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 3-Ply
Size: available in packs of 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 360
Packaging: 100% plastic-free packaging and each roll are wrapped in compostable paper.
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8. Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper (USA / Canada / UK)
Cloud Paper paper rolls are 100% bamboo and bleached with a TCF method. TFC stands for totally chlorine-free, which means they are 100% chlorine free bleached. There is an adhesive used to keep the first sheet attached to the roll, which is made entirely out of cornstarch. The rolls also don’t have any added scents, dyes, or pesticides.
Material: 100% responsibly sourced bamboo
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 3-Ply
Size: available in packs of 12, 24, 48, and 96 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 300
Packaging: 100% plastic-free packaging and each roll are wrapped in recycled paper.
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9. Bambooloo Bamboo Toilet Paper (USA / Canada / Singapore)
Bambooloo is on a mission to create sustainable homecare alternative that are better for the people and the planet. Their premium toilet paper rolls are made with responsibly sourced bamboo, which uses 90% less water and 70% less carbon to produce than regular wood based toilet paper. This toilet paper has been designed in the USA with dual sided WaveClean textured rolls offering a soft and slinky side and a ‘Get to Grips’ side. Their 2-PlusPly technology is 48% thicker than 2-ply papers, has the same comfort and luxury of 3 ply but with less waste and resource usage.
Material: FSC certified bamboo
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 2-PlusPly technology
Size: available in packs of 12 or 24 rolls.
Sheet count per roll: 330 super size
Packaging: ships with zero plastic packaging.
Delivery:
- Amazon USA
- Amazon Canada
- Amazon Singapore
10. Eco Cheeks Unbleached Bamboo Toilet Paper (Australia)
Eco Cheeks is a business based in Australia that makes unbleached bamboo toilet paper using 100% FSC bamboo which is an incredibly sustainable and pest free plant. It can grow over 1m a day and there are no chemical pesticides or herbicides needed. Their aim is to create safer more sustainable options for our everyday disposable paper products with no harmful chemicals and help the fight against deforestation by being tree free. Their “zero nasties” promise ensures no chlorine bleach, fragrance, inks, dyes, BPA or formaldehyde in any of their producs. They think that these nasty chemicals shouldn’t be on the most absorbent area of our body, causing irritation or possibly making their way into our bloodstream.
Material: 100% FSC bamboo
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 3-Ply
Size: pack of 36 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 300
Price / 100 sheets: from AU $0.51 (you can subscribe and save 5% or buy bundles, like buying toilet paper together with plastic free paper towel etc. to save even more)
Packaging: plastic-free packaging with rolls individually wrapped in paper. They also have the naked rolls which are not individually wrapped in paper, for those who want to reduce their environmental impact further and have the same quality bamboo rolls, but with true zero waste packaging.
Delivery:
Check out the latest price on:
11. Who Gives a Crap (Australia)
This Australia-based company manufactures two types of plastic-free toilet paper. One of these is made from plant-based bamboo fibers and is more eco-friendly. The other type is made of recycled material which is the most sustainable. It is a 3-ply tissue that is soft and comfortable.
50% of profits are donated to build toilets in the developineg world and they are a certified B corp for their social & environmental impact.
Material: recycled paper or bamboo fibers
Manufacturing country: made in China
Ply rating: 3-Ply
Size: pack of 48 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 400
Packaging: The packaging is compostable and made with recyclable material, including the central role. The packaging also keeps the roll moisture-protected and dust-free.
Delivery:
12. Ecoleaf by Suma Ecoleaf Toilet Tissue (UK)
It is made of 100% recycled materials and is chlorine-free. The packaging is done with compostable material that reduces the chances of waste generation. The UK-based cooperative called Suma has been around since 1977 and has an excellent reputation for providing plant-based, chemical-free, and eco-friendly products that reduce environmental impact.
Material: 100% recycled paper
Manufacturing country: made in the UK
Ply rating: 4-Ply
Size: pack of 4 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 250
Delivery:
13. Uranus Wipes (UK)
It is a 4-ply plastic free toilet paper made with 100% recycled paper (75% post-consumer and 25% pre-consumer waste paper). The toilet paper is BPA-free, reducing the chances of filling up landfills and water bodies after disposal. This product is chlorine-free and hygienically made with lint-free and antifungal qualities.
The toilet roll is packed in eco-friendly Kraft paper that avoids the issue of plastic waste generation. The U.K.-based manufacturing company is committed to delivering products that contribute toward reducing carbon footprint.
Material: 100% recycled paper (75% post-consumer and 25% pre-consumer waste paper)
Manufacturing country: made in the UK
Ply rating: 4-Ply
Size: pack of 9, 18 or 45 rolls
Sheet count per roll: 150
Delivery:
Further Tip: Invest in a Bidet or a Bidet Attachment
If you have to renovate your bathroom and have enough space investing in a bidet will save toilet paper and water long term. A bidet is very popular in France and Italy and it is also very hygienic as it allows to wash your private parts straight after toilet use.
If home renovations are not in sight, then you can easily add a bidet attachment to your toilet seat. There are many versions on the market for any budget. While a bidet attachment is a little less practical than a proper bidet, it’s an affordable way to save on paper, possibly cutting down trees.
You wash your private parts with water (and soap) and then use a cloth, often also called family cloth, to dry that area. The cloth is individual and washed often in a regular washing machine load.
Final Thoughts
There has been increasing awareness and interest in promoting earth-friendly, zero-waste, and sustainable paper products, including toilet paper. Initially, it may be challenging to switch to new products and find the one that suits. Still, by taking some conscious steps, you can support the mission of eliminating plastic waste and environmental issues and contribute toward reducing the overall carbon footprint.
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Comments
Shane
January 24, 2024 at 8:00 pmIn Australia other options include: Cheeky, About a Dog, Emotions, ZeroCo, How We Roll Co, Flushedeco, Oobamboo (unbleached), Peekapoo, Ecocheeks (unbleached), and Bamper (unbleached).
Who Gives a Crap is one of the companies using Chlorine Dioxide while trying to greenwash consumers.
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I'm Plastic Free
January 29, 2024 at 10:38 amHi Shane,
Thank you! We list Eco Cheeks as well in the article and their unbleached bamboo toilet paper, but yes in the meantime there are many more players on the Australian market. Our audience is mainly based in the North America, but we’ll trying to update this article asap with a few more Aussie companies. Thanks for the info regarding Chlorine Dioxide, we’ll look into this too.
Kind regards,
Simona
Alex Durrell
October 7, 2023 at 4:29 amHi sales,
We are reaching out to you regarding Toilet roll 2-Ply White, 4.2″ x 3.3″ Sheet, 500 Sheets per Roll (Case of 96). We are looking forward to purchasing 800 cases of those. This would be an ongoing purchase, Kindly get back to us with the availability and best pricing at your earliest convenience time,Thanks.
I'm Plastic Free
October 9, 2023 at 6:06 pmHi Alex,
we do not wholesale products we only do research about products and recommend the one that we think are best.
Kind regards,
Simona