People debate whether bamboo toilet paper is better for the environment than recycled toilet paper. But the facts are clear if you do thorough research on the subject. We have the facts and we have compiled them for you in this post.

Is recycled or bamboo toilet paper better for the environment? Bamboo toilet paper is better for the environment than recycled toilet paper. To start with, bamboo tissue paper prevents deforestation. Its production also emits 30% less carbon than recycled tissue paper production. What’s more, bamboo requires less water and energy to grow, and bamboo tissues contain no harsh chemicals that can harm the environment. 

Truth is, both recycled and bamboo tissue papers are more friendly to the environment than regular tissue papers made from virgin pulp. But bamboo toilet paper outperforms recycled toilet paper in many ways. As you read on, we will show you the various reasons why bamboo toilet paper is better for the environment.

Is Recycled or Bamboo Toilet Paper More Eco-friendly?

Bamboo tissue paper is a better and more eco-friendly alternative. To start with, using bamboo solves the deforestation problem. Bamboo roll manufacturing also uses little to no chemicals, unlike recycled tissues that often contain harsh chemicals. Bamboo toilet paper is also better for the environment with regards to the carbon footprint. However, both toilet paper types are eco-friendly alternatives to virgin pulp toilet paper. 

In the section that follows, we will compare and contrast recycled and bamboo toilet papers. 

Bamboo Tissue Production Solves Deforestation

This is one of the most important areas where bamboo tissues are better than recycled tissue. Using bamboo instead of recycled tissue prevents deforestation. Many people will argue that recycling toilet paper also prevents deforestation. But this is only in theory, and that view is not entirely true.

Recycled paper loses some of its quality and strength, so manufacturers often introduce virgin papers to fortify its strength and increase its viability. What’s more, recycled tissue paper is at the end of the paper recycling chain. This means that you cannot recycle recycled toilet paper. 

Anyhow you look at it, you need virgin papers from hardwood to keep up the recycled tissue paper market. Hence, it inadvertently helps maintain hardwood-based paper production, which further encourages continued deforestation. 

Bamboo Tissues Use Little to No Chemical Additives

Most bamboo paper-making companies are environmentally conscious, so they use no chemicals at all. A few brands that use chemicals only use bleaches. In the case of recycled washroom paper, the manufacturers cannot do without chemical additives. Some of these chemicals, such as bisphenol-A, are toxic to the environment. You can also check out this article that we have written titled, is bamboo toilet paper sustainable? We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Bamboo Toilet Paper Helps Conserve Energy

Breaking down and mixing recycled toilet paper requires lots of energy. This excludes the energy used for the pressing process and manufacturing proper. Bamboo toilet paper production helps conserve energy. The process simply involves harvesting, shredding, and boiling bamboo. Then after this, the manufacturers will roll it into tissue paper. You can also check out this article that discusses if toilet paper is made from recycled paper. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Bamboo is a Renewable Resource

Bamboo regrows quickly after you harvest it, without the need to replant it. It is a highly renewable plant that helps replenish diminished land. Conversely, recycled paper is not so renewable. 

You need a constant supply of used virgin paper to keep making recycled tissues. These virgin papers, in turn, require cutting down and planting new trees (which take a lot of time to grow).

Bamboo Consumes Less Water 

Trees consume more water than bamboo. Growing bamboo consumes at least 30% less water than growing hardwood trees. There is already a risk of water shortage on our planet, and this threatens its sustainability. As such, the less water consumption of bamboo makes it better for the environment.

Bamboo Tissues Have Lower Carbon Footprint

The entire production cycle of bamboo toilet paper emits 30% less carbon than that of recycled tissue. Carbon emission is one of the causes of climate problems on the earth. So then, less carbon emission is better for the environment.

✅ Video – Who Gives a Crap 100% Recycled vs Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper Review

This video showcases the 100% recycled and premium bamboo toilet rolls of the same brand. You will see a side-by-side comparison of both options. The information in this video will help you decide the best sustainable tissue paper for you. Click the play button to watch the video now.

Recycled vs. Bamboo Toilet Paper Review

Recycled materials have lower impacts on the environment than virgin pulp tissue paper. But then, bamboo toilet paper has the least impact on the environment. You can consider both as eco-friendly toilet paper options. However, the better option for the environment is bamboo toilet paper. It is the most eco-friendly toilet paper alternative available on the market today. We have also written this article that we have written titled, bamboo toilet paper vs recycled. Check out the article for an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Pros and Cons of Recycled Toilet Paper

Pros of Recycled Toilet Paper

• It reduces the number of trees cut down for paper production.
• It decreases how many materials end up in landfills.
• Recycled products require less energy (about 28-70% less) and water to manufacture

Cons of Recycled Toilet Paper

• Recycling involves the use of energy and chemicals to break the recycled material down.
• The chemicals used for de-inking and whitening recycled papers are toxic to the environment. Bisphenol-A, for instance, is toxic to the environment and can cause heart and fertility problems, among other health risks in humans. 
• Recycled papers have shorter and weaker fibers.

Pros and Cons of Recycled Toilet Paper

Pros of Bamboo Toilet Paper

• Bamboo toilet rolls discourage deforestation.
• Bamboo is very resilient and adaptable. It grows in diverse land and climatic conditions. It even helps replenish depleted soil.
• The bamboo plant is renewable. It grows back again after you cut it, so you wouldn’t have to replant it. More so, it grows back very quickly.

Cons of Bamboo Toilet Paper

• Bamboo requires shipment of the raw material across oceans, almost half-way around the globe. This emits carbon emissions, although its carbon emission is still lower than both virgin and recycled washroom paper.
• Many brands still make use of bleach in their manufacturing process. This is not safe for the environment.

Should You Use Bamboo or Recycled Toilet Paper?

In the end, you should use the option that suits you best. However, if you are looking for an eco-friendly alternative, then bamboo toilet paper is a better option. Bamboo plants absorb 5 times more CO2 than trees. At the same time, it releases over 35% more O2 into the atmosphere. Buying bamboo toilet paper encourages the cultivation of more bamboo. And this, in turn, has many positive effects on the environment. There are many reasons why you should use bamboo toilet paper, you can check out this article titled, why use bamboo toilet paper for more information.

When you cut down a tree, you would have to replant it. And the newly planted tree will take about 30-60 years before it fully matures. In the case of Bamboo, you don’t have to replant the crop. It regrows naturally and matures in 4-6 years. This makes bamboo a more sustainable raw material for paper production.

Which Toilet Paper is Best for the Environment?

Bamboo toilet paper is the best for the planet. The next after bamboo tissue paper is 100% recycled tissue paper. You can consider either of these options if you are concerned about the safety of the environment. But bamboo tissue paper is the best. Virgin pulp tissue paper is not good for the environment at all. We have also written this article that discusses the benefits of bamboo toilet paper. You can check out the article to learn the many benefits that you can get from using bamboo toilet paper.

What are the Best Alternatives to Toilet Paper?

Only about 25-30% of people in the world use toilet paper. The rest use alternatives such as water, reusable cloth, napkins, and sponges. Other possible alternatives include bidet, towels, sanitary pads, and washcloths. If you are using any of these alternatives, make sure not to flush them down your toilet, as that may cause plumbing problems.

Is Bamboo Really Eco-friendly

Bamboo is really eco-friendly for many reasons. The plant is very sustainable, grows fast, and doesn’t require any fertilizer or chemicals. Hardwood trees require pesticides, lots of water, and plenty of labor, compared to bamboo cultivation. More so, bamboo releases more oxygen and absorbs more carbon dioxide from the environment.

These, and many more reasons, are the eco-friendly advantages of bamboo. However, there are a few downsides too. These include the risk of soil erosion in bamboo plantations and the use of bleach by some bamboo toilet paper manufacturers. But then, there is no better option for eco-friendly toilet paper than bamboo toilet paper. You can also check out this article that we have written that discusses if bamboo toilet paper is environmentally friendly. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.

Conclusion

Without contradictions, bamboo toilet paper is better for the environment than recycled toilet paper. Those who care about the environment may consider switching to bamboo toilet paper.