ecoHiny is here to support you in all your sustainable endeavors. We love that you're interested in taking your toilet paper to the next level, so we've got the details you need to make the best decision!
With many options emerging on the market, you may need to make some comparisons in order to act in a good (eco) conscience. One type of toilet tissue is likely to have caught your eye as an eco-friendly option: recycled toilet paper.
It can be tempting to go with a recycled brand because recycling is good for the environment, right? Well, when it comes to your T.P., we encourage you to do your homework on recycled toilet paper.
In fact, you might find that recycled toilet paper doesn't deliver the desired environmental impact to meet your sustainable lifestyle goals.
Recycled Toilet Paper and Other "Eco-Friendly" Products
When evaluating eco-friendly claims, we want you to be well-informed.
Any item, from an article of clothing to a cleaning solution to a paper product, can be checked for its impact on the environment. Overall, you want to put your purchasing power toward a brand that is reputable, compassionate, and committed to true environmental change.
General Questions About Products:
- Is there full-cycle sustainability? (Think from sourcing to manufacturing to shipping.)
- Does the brand give back?
- What other products does this company sell, and are they eco-friendly as well?
- Does the product have third-party certification?
- What values and principles does the company uphold?
- Do they practice transparency?
Something else you should do is read and research product labels. Sometimes, the written details on a label reveal much more than eye-catching and persuasive packaging.
In addition to overall environmentally-friendly business practices and safe ingredients you want in all your purchases, when you're searching for the best bathroom tissue, there are some specifics to consider.
Questions Particularly About Toilet Paper:
- Does it break down and dissolve easily?
- Is it safe for all sewer and septic systems?
- Does it work in alternative toilets?
- Is it biodegradable?
- How was the material that goes into the paper harvested?
- Will purchasing this product help eliminate deforestation?
When it comes to becoming ecological with your wiping, two potential toilet papers top the list. Let's take a look at what recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper have to offer earth-conscious consumers.
The Truth About Recycled Toilet Tissue
The appeal of paper made with recycled ingredients lies in the fact that it helps mitigate the destruction of trees. However, this doesn't mean that recycled paper is tree-free.
Recycled toilet paper can contain three ingredients:
- Postconsumer recycled content-materials collected from curbside/office recycling programs
- Preconsumer recycled content-byproducts generated from the manufacturing of another product
- Wood pulp-pulp made by harvesting trees for traditional toilet paper products
A recycled toilet paper brand could be made up of only a percentage of recycled materials. The combination of postconsumer- and pre-consumer content provides the total recycled content. For example, recycled content copy paper with 30% postconsumer- and 10% pre-consumer content would have 40% total recycled content. (1)
The truth is, recycled toilet paper could still contain hardwood tree pulp.
Recycled toilet paper may also contain traces of chemicals or contaminants from the recycling process, such as chlorine or dyes. While these levels are typically low and considered safe, some people may be sensitive to these substances.
Other drawbacks of recycled toilet paper:
- Some recycled brands go through a bleaching process
- There have been traces of BPA found in some recycled papers
- It's often not as soft or strong as other options
- A mixture of chemicals is required to break down the recycled paper to create tissue consistency
It's just not the greenest option out there. Speaking of green, here's something else to think about.
Greenwashing and Recycled Paper
Some companies are guilty of what is known as "greenwashing." Just like whitewashing is defined as concealing or hiding a negative behavior to look better, greenwashing is trying to appear better, or in this case, greener, than you really are.
Because of the increasing popularity and appeal of green products, many companies are using terms and descriptions that appeal to consumers. Unfortunately, these terms and descriptions do not often apply to the actual product. Marketing a product as green and actually practicing those and abiding by green production and ingredient standards are two different things.
If your desire is to purchase green products for the sake of your health and your environment, then you want to ensure those products live up to their name. Refer to these three tips for spotting green versus greenwashing.
Tips:
- Don't fall for clever packaging. What colors or pictures appear on the outside do not indicate that what's inside is better for the environment.
- Look for specific sustainability statistics, not just vague percentages.
- Choose products that have been certified by third-party entities. These products will have what is known as an ecolabel. That means the product meets specific environmental criteria. For example, the Forest Stewardship Council offers certification for paper products that support responsible forestry. (2) (We'll give you a hint: ecoHiny has one!)
Recycled paper still requires the use of wood-based paper products. The paper put into recycled toilet paper originated from the use of our forests. Does using it lessen new tree loss? Yes, but it isn't an entirely tree-free, sustainable option.
While it has perks over traditional toilet paper, it's not going to make the environmental impact of a fully sustainable, renewable product with an eco-friendly manufacturing process.
Bamboo Toilet Paper: A Sustainable Alternative
To get the most sustainable and forest friendly option, you've got to go bamboo!
The real sustainable superpower of bamboo is its ability to grow incredibly fast. In fact, it's the fastest-growing grass on the planet.
Yes, it's a grass! (More on that later.) Guinness World Records even recognize bamboo's impressive growth rate! (3)
Traditional toilet paper and other paper products rely on the pulp from virgin hardwood trees, which take many years to replenish once harvested.
A few more brags about bamboo:
- Bamboo requires less water to establish and thrive
- Bamboo root systems aid in erosion control
- Bamboo does not need fertilizers or pesticides
- Bamboo is naturally antibacterial and antifungal
- Bamboo absorbs carbon up to ten times more than hardwood trees
ecoHiny's Commitment to Sustainability
We promise to be your tree-free partner committed to combating the effects of deforestation caused by the traditional toilet paper industry.
One of the major misconceptions surrounding bamboo is that it, too, contributes to deforestation. Here's where the fact that bamboo is actually a species of grass is significant.
Harvesting bamboo means zero disruption to our all-important forested lands because there's no damage to trees whatsoever. Since bamboo is grass, when it's harvested, the root systems and soil aren't disrupted; think mowing your lawn.
New bamboo shoots will simply sprout from the existing roots, and their fast growth means that the bamboo stand will be back sequestering carbon in no time! Because the traditional toilet paper industry razes thousands of acres of forest each year, bamboo toilet paper production means putting a stop to flushing our forests!
Plastic Free Packaging
Another perk of ecoHiny is our commitment to eco-friendly packaging. Our rolls are packaged and wrapped in recyclable materials, so we guarantee no plastics.
More on our sustainability promise:
- Fully biodegradable
- BPA free
- No dyes, fragrances, or parabens
- Carbon-neutral shipping
- 100% organic
- National Forest Stewardship Council certification
With ecoHiny, we ensure that you can check all the boxes when it comes to your sustainability goals!
Rethink Recycled Because Bamboo is Better
Be aware that recycled toilet paper may have some pluses, but you're not guaranteed to be making the dent in deforestation or choosing the most eco-friendly option like you do when you choose bamboo.
Bamboo's unmatched sustainability makes it the ultimate choice for eco-conscious consumers. With ecoHiny, we take care to ensure that every step is safe and sustainable for our environment. All you have to do is enjoy the satisfaction of using a toilet paper that's up to all your standards!
Help us spread the word about bamboo as a sustainable option by sharing this post. We also encourage you to explore our products to discover just how seamlessly ecoHiny 100% bamboo toilet paper can fit into your sustainable lifestyle.
Don't make the mistake of buying toilet paper that might not live up to its environmental promise. Recycled toilet paper is risky, but bamboo is a sure bet!
- "What do the terms "postconsumer," "pre-consumer" and "total recycled content" mean?" Stopwaste, www.stopwaste.org
- "A small label making a big impact." Forest Stewardship Council, fsc.org/en/what-the-fsc-labels-mean.
- "8 Amazing Bamboo Facts." One Tree Planted, onetreeplanted.org/blogs/stories/bamboo.
