Remember at the beginning of the pandemic when toilet paper was selling out like wildfire? Yeah, that wasn’t exactly great for the planet. Toilet paper is a single-use item that we use every day without any second thoughts. But just how wasteful is this item that we use to clean our own waste? The answer is pretty crappy (pun intended). Considering toilet paper comes from trees, deforestation plays a major role in how they’re made. Have you every thought about using toilet paper made from bamboo? Or recycled paper? Toilet paper also comes wrapped in plastic which only adds to its carbon footprint. Thankfully, there are tons of toilet paper options out there that are sustainable for you and for the environment. That’s why I created this roundup of 7 different plastic free toilet paper brands.

FYI, this is a guest post written by Sydney Montagna, a zero waste advocate and aspiring writer. This post contains affiliate links. This means if you choose to purchase one of these items I will make a very small commission at no extra charge to you. Please see my disclosure policy for more information.

7 Plastic Free Toilet Paper Brands

Why switch to zero waste and plastic free toilet paper?

Did you know that toilet paper wipes out 27,000 trees a day? That’s equivalent to almost 270,000 trees worldwide! A single roll of toilet paper requires 37 gallons of water to make, which is incredibly wasteful for a single use product that’s quite literally being flushed down the drain. More than 83 million rolls are produced per day, which becomes nearly 125 million pounds of wood being used per day, as well.

To add insult to injury, most toilet paper options tend to come in plastic packaging that’s not exactly eco friendly. The plastic film wrapped around packs of toilet paper is excessive and often times unrecyclable. Most states don’t accept plastic film, so unless you have access to specific plastic film recycling drop off locations, it’s just creating more waste. Lets not forget all the fossil fuels and emissions that went into making that plastic film!

A popular and more environmentally friendly toilet paper option is bamboo. Bamboo is a grass that grows very quickly and up to 39 inches in one day. This makes it a renewable and sustainable resource. Bamboo is the perfect material for toilet paper as it’s made to be very soft, efficient and way more environmentally friendly. Bamboo TP uses 30% less water than conventional rolls.

Other zero waste toilet paper alternatives include recycled toilet paper, reusable TP and bidets. Yes, you read that right. There is such a thing as reusable toilet paper, also known as Family Cloth. Just find a clean cloth, do your business, and seal it away until wash day. If you’ve ever used or heard of reusable cloth diapers for babies, this isn’t much different.

Which toilet paper is plastic free?

All the brands on this list are plastic-free. They come to you in a cardboard box and are either package free inside, or wrapped in compostable paper tissue.

What do zero waste people use for toilet paper?

To keep things simple, here’s a quick list of what zero waste people use for toilet paper:

• Bidets: Usually used in combo with one of the plastic-free toilet papers on this list. Bidets are essentially sinks for your private parts and can be easily installed onto any toilet. I tried a Tushy bidet recently and absolutely loved it – here’s my full Tushy bidet review.
• Tree-free toilet paper: There are several options like this listed here. Tree-free typically means it’s made from bamboo which is an extremely fast growing renewable resource.
• Recycled paper toilet paper: Made from recycled content, which reduces its carbon and water footprint.
• Family cloth: Aka, reusable toilet paper made from actual cloth that’s washable (not my personal cup of tea but to each their own).

Does toilet paper have plastic in it?

Toilet paper is wrapped in plastic film. Unless you have access to plastic film recycling, you cannot typically recycle plastic film with curbside pickup. This can lead to a lot of waste. You’re better off avoiding it entirely, if possible. Even if you can’t afford the toilet paper on this list, try just grabbing individually wrapped toilet paper rolls at the store instead to cut back on waste!

Is bamboo toilet paper better?

Yes, bamboo toilet paper is definitely a better option for the planet and your bum. Trees are constantly being cut or burned down to make way for agriculture, palm oil, furniture AND toilet paper. And they don’t easily grow back.

Bamboo on the other hand is a fast growing, renewable resource. Bamboo requires no fertilizer and self-regenerates from its own roots, so it doesn’t need to be replanted.

Also, when compared to bath tissue made out of recycled pulp and virgin pulp, bamboo tops them both. In terms of softness, recycled toilet paper tends to be the least soft.

Sustainable, zero waste, plastic-free toilet paper brands

1. Reel Bamboo Toilet Paper

Searching for an earth-friendly toilet paper brand that doesn’t harm any trees? Reel Bamboo toilet paper is made from 100% bamboo, so no trees were harmed in the making. Everything is plastic free down to the tape being used! The rolls are wrapped individually, and shipping materials are completely biodegradable and recyclable. Each roll includes 3-ply paper made from bamboo fibers. There’s 24 rolls available in each box, individually and sustainably wrapped.

Reel encourages people to do their best to reduce their carbon footprint. This includes switching to zero waste toilet paper without inks, dyes, chlorine, or harm to trees. Your conscience will be clear knowing you’re not contributing to one of the top causes of deforestation.

You can do a one time purchase or choose their subscription service. They have the options of delivery every four, eight or twelve weeks.

2. Seventh Generation Toilet Paper

If every household in the U.S. replaced one 24 pack of conventional virgin fiber toilet paper with Seventh Generation toilet paper, we could hep save over 4.9 million trees. Each toilet paper roll is made from 100% recycled paper and at least 50% is post-consumer recycled paper. All packaging is recyclable and made from recycled materials, as well. A pack has 24 count with 240 sheets per roll. This toilet paper is completely ink free, chlorine free and dye free.

Seventh generation is septic safe and made with rainforest alliance certified paper. They’re designed with softness and strength that’s even compatible with low flow toilets in RVs and campers!

3. Bim Bam Boo Toilet Paper

Who doesn’t want a smooth, gentle toilet paper that won’t irritate their skin? Bim Bam Boo toilet paper prides themselves on creating a strong and delicate hypoallergenic toilet paper that’s perfect for young bums and adult bums. This toilet paper is completely free of pesticides, sprays, dyes, gmo’s and plastic. Every ingredient is sustainably sourced and certified BioPreferred plant based. Each roll is made with 100% bamboo- which means no trees were harmed. Every box of BBB saves 32lbs of trees from getting flushed!

Bim Bam Boo is organic and lab-tested for sensitive skin. A single roll of conventional TP has a gallons worth of chemicals, so switching to this all natural toilet paper. One package comes with 24 individually wrapped rolls containing 295 sheets. Let the good times unroll!

4. Who Gives A Crap Premium Toilet Paper

When you place an order with Who Gives A Crap, 50% of the profits are donated to their charity partners who work in water, hygiene and sanitation. This helps millions of people gain access to water- all because you’re using toilet paper. Their rolls are made from 100% bamboo; being described as “soft and strong as a unicorn’s mane”. You have a choice between 48 rolls or 24 rolls when you purchase from them.

Besides having a witty name, Who Gives A Crap toilet paper rolls are individually wrapped with biodegradable and recyclable paper. They also provide a toilet paper option where the rolls are made with 100% recycled fibers. Both types of rolls- both bamboo and recycled- are 3-ply and come with 370 sheets per roll.

You can do a one-time purchase or subscribe and have it delivered every two, three, or four months. Subscribing will save you $10 on your first order!

Want more info? Here’s a FULL in-depth review of Who Gives A Crap toilet paper!

5. Tushy Toilet Paper

Did you know that one roll of bamboo TP only takes 0.59 gallons of water to make, while conventional TP takes 37 gallons? Tushy Toilet Paper uses 30% less water than conventional brands. Also, because it’s made from 100% bamboo fibers, it absorbs 35% more CO2 per hectare than equivalent plants. Each roll is free of bleach, chlorine, dyes and BPAs- it’s all natural. The packaging is made from biodegradable paper and extremely beautiful to look at.

Tushy delivers straight to your door in zero waste and recycled packaging. Each order comes with 36 rolls and 300 sheets each. You can subscribe and have it delivered every 1-4 months.

6. Cloud Paper

is on a mission to put a stop to deforestation. These rolls are made from 100% bamboo and are completely free of chlorine, bleach, BPAs, inks and pesticides. The packaging is plastic free, compostable and recyclable, as well. It breaks down just as easily as leading TP brands, which makes it septic friendly- only difference is Cloud Paper is much better for the planet!

You can order their packs of 24 rolls one at a time, or use their handy subscription service that will deliver right to your door every two, three, or four months. Cloud paper is 3-ply and each roll has 350 sheets.

7. Pure Planet Toilet Paper

Leave your bum feeling smooth and fresh by using Pure Planet Toilet Paper. Each roll is made with 100% bamboo, making it completely renewable and sustainable. It’s made with all natural ingredients, so there’s zero trace of any BPAs, chemicals, dyes or bleach. Instead of being wrapped in plastic, each roll is individually hand-wrapped in paper with adorable marine-inspired designs. The packaging is biodegradable and compostable, so there’s no worries about anything being left behind in a landfill.

Pure Planet rolls are 3-ply and come with 36 rolls when you order one at a time or use their subscription service to have their toilet paper delivered to your door every 1 to 20 weeks.

What’s your favorite plastic free toilet paper brand?

For more zero waste bathroom essentials, check out Zero Waste Toilet Cleaner: Citrus Toilet Fizzies, or how to have a zero waste bathroom.

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