Recycled and bamboo toilet paper are eco-friendly alternatives to regular toilet paper, but which of them is considered to be more environmentally safe? Trees are cut down to produce regular toilet paper which can affect the environment. If you are looking for a green alternative, recycled and bamboo toilet paper are popular options that you can choose from. However, you need to make a decision on what product you should use that benefits the environment more. To help you get started, we have shared tips and information about recycled and bamboo toilet paper.
Which toilet paper is more environmentally safe, recycled or bamboo? Bamboo toilet paper is more environmentally safe as compared to recycled toilet paper. Both toilet paper is more eco-friendly than regular toilet paper. On the other hand, bamboo toilet paper is considered to be more environmentally safe for many reasons. Bamboo is a sustainable material used to avoid deforestation. While recycled toilet paper is made from recycled materials, it loses its quality and strength every time it is recycled and virgin paper is sometimes added into the process to make it stronger.
Is bamboo toilet paper better than recycling? What are the advantages and disadvantages of both types of toilet paper? Which toilet paper is considered the most eco-friendly? These are some of the questions that we will discuss in this article. Let’s get started!
What is Recycled Toilet Paper?
Recycled toilet paper is made from 100% post-consumer waste like office paper, newspaper, magazines, and textbooks and pre-consumer sources like off-cuts from printers or wood pulp. The use of recycled toilet paper significantly lowers deforestation. Using recycled toilet paper means that lesser trees are being cut down to provide fresh air, homes for animals, and protect the soil from erosion.
What are the Advantages of Recycled Toilet Paper?
One of the advantages of using recycled toilet paper is that it does not require or increase the demand for trees to be taken down and also lessens the amount of material that goes into landfills. Moreover, recycled toilet paper reduces the amount of energy and materials that go into the manufacturing process. Making recycled toilet paper involves 28% to 70% less energy consumption as compared to making virgin paper. You can also read this article that discusses if toilet paper is made from recycled paper. We have shared helpful information that you can refer to.
What are the Disadvantages of Using Recycled Toilet Paper?
A disadvantage of using recycled toilet paper is that the process still involves the use of energy and chemicals to break down and mix the recycled paper. Moreover, it uses chemicals like BPA to whiten and dye recycled paper. Take note that high exposure to BPA has been linked to fertility problems, heart disease, and other conditions. Lastly, paper loses more and more of its quality every time it is recycled. It can only be recycled up to six times before the fiber gets too weak.
What is Bamboo Toilet Paper?
Bamboo toilet paper makes use of the world’s fastest-growing plant to create a more sustainable, skin-friendly, and eco-friendly toilet paper. It is a better alternative as compared to regular wood pulp. Despite being grass, bamboo has similar properties to hardwoods like birch, maple, and oak which are usually mixed with softwood trees like pine to make regular toilet paper. It is 100% biodegradable and is also a renewable source. You can also check out this article that discusses if bamboo is a tree or grass for an in-depth discussion about the topic.
What are the Advantages of Bamboo Toilet Paper?
Bamboo is a resilient and adaptable plant that can grow even in inhospitable conditions. It does not contribute to the problem of deforestation and does not require many nutrients or pesticides as compared to trees and other plants. Bamboo is a renewable source and re-grows after it is harvested so it does not require replanting. Moreover, bamboo requires less land and water to grow.
What are the Disadvantages of Bamboo Toilet Paper?
One of the disadvantages of bamboo toilet paper is that most large brands are still using bleach in the manufacturing process which is not only unnecessary but is also harmful to the environment. There are some places where bamboo does not grow and some countries pay extra for the shipment of the bamboo which can add to its overall cost.
Is Bamboo Toilet Roll Better than Recycled?
Bamboo toilet paper is better as compared to recycled ones. Using bamboo avoids the problem of deforestation. The production of bamboo toilet paper uses no or fewer chemicals than recycled toilet paper though some manufacturers still involve bleaching. Bamboo is a sustainable and renewable source that helps the environment. As compared to trees that take 30 years to grow, bamboo is considered one of the fastest-growing plants and can grow a few centimeters per day. You can also check out this article that we have written titled, is recycled or bamboo toilet paper better for the environment for more details.
How is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made?
Making bamboo toilet paper is simple and easy. The first step is to turn bamboo into a pulp and then press it into paper in giant-sized rolls. These giant rolls are then divided into smaller rolls. No chemicals and fragrances are required to create bamboo toilet paper. You can also check out this article that discusses where toilet paper is made. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Better for the Environment?
Bamboo toilet paper is better for the environment because it is made from a sustainable and renewable material that regenerates and grows super fast. Bamboo requires less water and land to grow. Moreover, no chemicals and pesticides are used in the production of bamboo toilet paper.
Regenerates
Bamboo is good for the environment because it regenerates faster. Bamboo forests can reach maturity in only five to seven years. Because they regenerate, they can be harvested every year, unlike trees that take up to 30 years to grow and do not regenerate once cut.
Grows Fast
Bamboo is known as the fastest growing plant on the planet. The Guinness book of records has listed bamboo to grow up to 91 centimeters or 35 inches in just a day.
Less Water
Bamboo uses its root network to get water from the ground and is very efficient in doing so. It is estimated that bamboo uses 30 percent less water as compared to hardwood trees.
Less Land
Aside from requiring less water, bamboo also requires less land to grow. The roots of the bamboo can grow in very high density which means that you can harvest more material per square foot.
No Chemicals
While some manufacturers include the use of bleach in making bamboo toilet paper, it does not use chlorine, dyes, ink, and fragrances. These chemicals are bad for the body and can cause allergies and irritation. Moreover, the chemicals also end up in soils and rivers.
Carbon Footprint
It takes a lot of energy to turn pulp into toilet paper. Water and electricity are needed which can emit a lot of CO2 in the atmosphere. Even recycled toilet paper toilet requires a lot of energy in its production. On the other hand, the process of making bamboo toilet paper has a smaller carbon footprint. You can also check out this article that we have written titled, bamboo toilet paper vs recycled. We have shared an in-depth discussion about the topic.
Is Bamboo Really Eco-Friendly?
Bamboo is eco-friendly for many reasons. It can absorb five times more carbon dioxide as compared to trees and produces 35 percent more oxygen. It is listed as the fastest growing plant on the planet and is also renewable. Bamboo can grow up to three feet in just a day and can reach maturity within four to six years.
✅ Video – What are the Benefits of the Bamboo?
Peepal Baba shared the video below on YouTube. It talked about the benefits of bamboo. If you are interested to know the many benefits that you can get from the bamboo plant, you can watch the video below.
Does Bamboo Toilet Paper Block Drain?
Bamboo toilet paper does not block drains. While the material is soft and strong, it easily dissolves when flushed down the toilet so you do not have to worry about blocked or clogged drains. We have also written this article that discusses if bamboo toiler paper block drains. You can check out the article for more tips and information about the topic.
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Flushable?
Bamboo toilet paper is flushable. As compared to regular or even recycled toiler paper, the ones made of bamboo dissolve faster so it fully disintegrates when it gets into your septic system.
Bamboo Toilet Paper Environmental Impact
Bamboo toilet paper has a positive environmental impact on the planet. Not only is it a renewable and sustainable raw material, but it also requires less water and land to grow. Using bamboo to create toilet paper also reduces deforestation. Bamboo can grow up to 35 inches in a day as compared to trees that can take up to 30 years. Moreover, bamboo can re-grow after being cut and can be harvested every year. On the other hand, trees cannot re-grow once they are cut.
Conclusion
You have reached the end of this article that discusses if recycled or bamboo toilet paper is more environmentally safe. We have found out that when it comes to environmental safety and benefits, bamboo toilet paper is no doubt the winner. The raw material of bamboo toilet paper which is bamboo is sustainable, renewable, and regenerates faster as compared to trees.
Moreover, the production of bamboo toilet paper has less carbon footprint and uses no chemicals like chlorine and fragrances. We hope that this article has answered your questions about which toilet paper is more environmentally safe. Thank you for reading!