Why Isn’t All Toilet Paper Made From Recycled Content?

#EcoAdvice from our expert

Dear Dr. Donley,

Now that toilet paper has somehow achieved nearly the same level of perceived importance as food and water across the United States, I find myself clinging to my last package of TP rolls — and for the first time, I’m actually reading the label. I don’t see any mention that it’s made from recycled paper. Why isn’t all toilet paper made from recycled content?

Signed,

Plying my hardest to just roll with it

You’d think that a product whose sole purpose is to shine where the sun don’t shine would be at the top of the list of candidates to be made from our abundant paper waste. As it turns out, this is increasingly not the case. And it’s mostly due to a demand for something most people don’t really need: extra, ultra, plush, fluffy softness.

To be clear, recycled wood pulp makes toilet paper that’s more than soft enough for the average rear end. But to assure consumers they’ll have the feeling of wiping themselves with a cloud or a pillow (or whatever disturbing image you want to conjure), companies often opt to clear-cut forests to get virgin wood pulp. Wood pulp from fresh-cut trees has more flexible fibers than recycled wood pulp, and therefore a softer feel. Without giving much thought to where that softness comes from, most people opt for it — unknowingly driving unnecessary logging that destroys wildlife habitat and pollutes rivers.

Most virgin wood pulp used for toilet paper comes from a mix of hardwood and softwood trees logged mainly from North and South America. A major source of U.S. TP is Canada’s boreal forest, where logging has increasingly encroached on lands that are sacred and vital to indigenous communities. Half of all birds in North America visit this sprawling forest at some point during the year, and it’s home to some amazing but highly endangered creatures, like the woodland caribou, American marten and Canada lynx. For all the awful reasons to cut down beautiful, living trees in this remarkable natural paradise, toilet paper comes in just behind Bed, Bath and Beyond catalogs (seriously, how did I get on their mailing list?).

On average each U.S. citizen uses about 140 rolls of toilet paper per year — the most of any country — and only about 2% of what we use is 100% recycled. That means 137 of those 140 rolls use at least some freshly cut down trees. And it’s not just the logging pressure, either. Paper production is notoriously resource intensive, using a lot of water and chemicals to turn what’s basically wood dust into clean, white paper. Nearly all of Amazon’s top-selling toilet papers are from brands that scored a D or F when graded on their recycled content and the chemicals used in their processing.

Once our world gets back to a semblance of normalcy, and people aren’t just grabbing every roll of toilet paper they can find, please make sure to buy yours 100% recycled. The more post-consumer content, the better (if it’s advertising how ultra-soft or quilted it is, then you’re probably looking in the wrong place). Not only does this save trees, but recycled paper has already been chemically processed and does not need as much the second time around, using about half the water and emitting half the air pollutants as virgin pulp.

Even better, if you want to cut the TP cord once and for all, the best thing you can do is ride the bidet train. You may remember bidets as that weird thing in your parents’ bathroom that your mom told you never to play with when you were a little kid (Awww, come on! It’s a mini-fountain!). They’re considered essential in many parts of the world and are starting to grow in popularity again in the States. The sensation takes some…getting used to, for the unaccustomed. But bidets are more hygienic, easier on the environment, and can save you money in the long term.

Stay wild and STAY HOME,

Dr. Donley

Dr. Nathan Donley is a scientist at the Center for Biological Diversity who answers questions about how environmental toxins affect people, wildlife and the environment. Send him your questions at AskDrDonley@biologicaldiversity.org

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