It’s no secret that we all use the bathroom. But did you know that there are harmful chemicals on the products we are using on our most sensitive areas? Yep, I am talking about toilet paper. Most commercial toilet paper is loaded with toxic ingredients. Luckily for us, there are a bunch of eco-friendly and non-toxic toilet paper brands out there today to protect us from those unnecessary dangers.
This is not an article about why you shouldn’t use toilet paper, I haven’t gone that eco-crazy. But there are a lot of better alternatives that won’t expose us to toxic chemicals, so let’s get into it!
What’s the deal with toilet paper?
According to Industrial Shredders, toilet paper is made from a combination of water, tree pulp, chemicals, and bleach. Often refer to as “chemical pulp”. Terrifying, I know.
The College of Neuropathic Medicine reports a handful of toxic chemicals used in the toilet paper process including chlorine, furans and dioxins, formaldehyde, petroleum-based mineral oils, and fragrances.
- Chloride is used to bleach the paper and can cause skin irritation and infection in women
- Furans and dioxins are produced from the byproducts of chloride bleach and are highly toxic causing a number of health problems including liver problems and reproductive issues
- Formaldehyde, a toxic gas often found in glues, adhesives, fertilizer and so on. It’s used to keep the paper from tearing and is directly linked to cancer
- Petroleum-based mineral oils, well-known carcinogens cause skin and respiratory issues including cancer
- Fragrance (often times petroleum-based) are hormone disruptors. They have been known to reduce sperm production, reproductive malformities, as well as liver and breast cancer reports Non-Toxic Revolution
Environmental Harm
Not only is toilet paper harmful to our own health, it’s also harmful to the health of our ecosystem, as well.
The Issue with Tissue reports the chemicals from the toilet paper process are polluting not only our air, but our water.
TP production is polluting our world and depleting our resources.
Data from The World Counts
- 712 million trees annually
- 1,165 million tons of water annually
- 78 million tons of oil annually
Deforestation is also a huge problem, as you can imagine. According to The Good Roll, forests and wildlife in the Canada’s Boreal Forest and the Sweden’s Great Northern Forest (as well as many others) have been decimated.
A Better Alternative – Non-Toxic Toilet Paper
Instead of choosing conventional virgin toilet paper, there are a few better alternatives.
> Recycled Toilet Paper
Recycled toilet paper is exactly like it sounds. Recycled. Not in the way you may be thinking either. It’s not used TP, it’s used printer paper, newspaper, and other office stationery being derived from the landfill.
This TP is also bleached but not in the traditional sense. Postconsumer recycled paper uses non-chlorine bleaching methods explained here.
Recycled TP is more environmentally friendly and more cost effective than the virgin stuff.
> Bamboo Toilet Paper
Bamboo TP is, in my opinion, the best option. According to Eco&Beyond, bamboo is unique in the fact that it has its own root system that regrows continuously. It doesn’t need to be replanted each year, and even better, the soil doesn’t need to be disturbed. This makes it a wonderful renewable resource.
Another plus about bamboo is that it is hardy and doesn’t require chemical pesticides or fertilizers. The fibers of bamboo are naturally antibacterial says Bim Bam Boo.
Both bamboo and recycled paper are better alternatives to virgin toilet paper in terms of environmental impact and to minimize your exposure from unnecessary chemicals.
Some Brands that Don’t Suck
Thankfully there are some pretty reputable brands making significant changes to this toxic system. Here are some of my favorites.
Tushy
A company known for their affordable bidet’s has created an organic bamboo TP. Tushy says, “no irritating bleach, dyes, or
cancer-causing BPAs in our butt paper”.
This product is 100% biodegradable and made with significantly less water making it a win for us and a win for the environment.
Reel
This bamboo TP is 100% plastic free (wrapped in paper), and contains no inks, dyes, or BPA’s. I can speak to experience when I say this product is durable yet gentle on the skin.
Reel knows how bad our current process is and they are leading the pack in trying to change it. Unlike many of the other brands, Reel can be purchased in store, specifically Target.
Repurpose
Repurpose is another 100% bamboo non-toxic toilet paper brand. According to Repurpose, bamboo it’s naturally antibacterial, anti-fungal, and hypoallergic. It’s also RV-friendly. Repurpose is trying to help you reduce your carbon buttprint. Get it, ha.
Who Gives a Crap
Who Gives a Crap is such a fun brand, from the name to their decorative individual wrapped toilet paper rolls. But it’s not all fun and games with them, they are dedicated to giving back. Fifty percent of all proceeds are donated.
A certified B Corp, this company has created both an organic bamboo TP and a 100% recycled TP. Their rolls are double the size of traditional rolls making them seem more expensive, but you are actually getting more bang for your dump.
Bim Bam Boo
Bim Bam Boo knows exactly how toxic conventional toilet paper is. Their website explains how susceptible our bodies (specifically our nether regions) are to chemicals. Their products are toxic-free, lint-free, durable yet velvety soft. I love how they are passionate about sustainability and education people about these environmental issues like deforestation.
Choosing a non-toxic toilet paper should definitely be on your list of things to do. It’s an easy way to contribute as well as reduce your exposure to unnecessary chemicals.
Let me know in the comments what your favorite eco-TP is! Happy wiping!
This post contains affiliate links meaning I may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase using these links. That being said, I only recommend products I love and trust.
