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Simple Green: Recycled Bathroom Tissue

070908holder.jpgDouble-ply puts a serious squeeze on resources: If every U.S. household replaced just one roll of virgin toilet paper with 100% recycled ones, it save 423,900 trees. If we replaced one 12-pack, it would conserve 1.7 billion gallons.

So which brands spare more than a square?

 
 

This simple switch is not a big deal. Think of your last trip anywhere abroad. The U.S. has the cushiest tush treatment just about anywhere on earth, and most of these brands aspire to our softie standards.

The Natural Resources Defense Council put together a handy little cheatsheet that also includes facial tissue, paper towels and napkins.

The kindest roll of all? Whole Foods' 365. It's 100% recycled with more than 80% post-consumer content.
Other top ones include Ambiance, April Soft, Earth First, Fiesta, Planet and Seventh Generation, all with a straight 80% post consumer.

Photo credit: Restoration Hardware, which just so happens to be having its bath sale

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green ideas, recycled, bath, paper products

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Comments (18)

If you do this, make sure you keep quiet about it -- you wouldn't believe the aggravating jokes, if not outright disgust, when people hear the words "recycled toilet paper." I guess they envision it being made from other people's toilet paper.

I stopped buying the stuff, mostly because the Seventh Generation brand, at least, is just darn uncomfortable, scratchy and nonabsorbent. My ex called it "John Wayne toilet paper"....

posted by Cheryl on July 9th 2008 at 11:28am
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I'm trying to follow... 1.7 billion gallons?

posted by peekay on July 9th 2008 at 11:28am
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What about Marcal? They say 100% recycled, so I've been buying their paper towels, napkins, and toilet paper. Recycled from what, I don't know... but I'd like to!

posted by 1p5v on July 9th 2008 at 11:37am
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I presume it means gallons of water saved in the processing and bleaching of the wood pulp, etc.

posted by Cheryl on July 9th 2008 at 11:38am
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I use Marcal, also. Maybe a higher percentage of it is pre-consumer.

posted by Joan A. on July 9th 2008 at 11:45am
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I actually like seventh generation toilet paper. I don't like the fluffy, linty stuff. Maybe that makes me a hard ass ;).

posted by chrisB on July 9th 2008 at 11:46am
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Yes, it looks like Marcal uses 40% post-consumer paper. But it is more available for me, and not too expensive. And it is 100% recycled.

posted by Joan A. on July 9th 2008 at 11:46am
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I've been recycling since the 80s. I don't commute and I'm downright stingy about using my car. I've even given up disposable plastic water bottles. But I draw the line at recycled toilet tissue -- and facial tissue -- because it's just too @#$% scratchy.

posted by purlgreyhound on July 9th 2008 at 11:54am
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I'm with purlgreyhound. I don't like the fluffy stuff either, but have yet to find a recycled brand I can tolerate. I guess that makes me a soft ass :)

posted by ValHalla on July 9th 2008 at 12:33pm
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I'm sorry, I simply don't have a square to spare.

Out of curiosity, is more energy used to recycle toilet paper than to make new toilet paper?

posted by MCNicole on July 9th 2008 at 1:04pm
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I work at home and just hop in the shower and clean off with the handheld shower nozzle. A retrofit bidet gizmo might be nice to have too (like the Toto Washlet).

All paper does, recycled or now, is just spread it around.

posted by Poster on July 9th 2008 at 1:19pm
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Have fun rubbing your bum with sandpaper.
I'll stick to my charmin.

posted by mscot on July 9th 2008 at 2:50pm
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I've used recycled TP for years. Who needs to know, really? It's not like your guests are going to ask, "So, where's the bathroom, and what brand of TP do you have on hand?"

posted by kuroneko on July 9th 2008 at 4:59pm
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I know some people from middleeast or southeast asia keep a pet bottle handy by the toilet and wash themselves after...you know...
I thought it was environmentaly friendly, but then we still have to consume water.
Which is a greener solution??

posted by tomomo on July 9th 2008 at 5:24pm
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"I work at home and just hop in the shower and clean off with the handheld shower nozzle"

Why not just go out in the woods and use leaves to wipe up?

posted by GHB on July 9th 2008 at 5:45pm
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Poster, that was just oversharing.

posted by greer on July 9th 2008 at 6:16pm
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I had a Toto bidet toilet installed when I replaced the master bath toilet. My brother will walk to the other side of the house rather than use it!! At first, my housemate wouldn't use it either. Now that he has used it, he likes it. Expensive. But, when I move, my Toto is going with me and I'll have my plumber install a basic toilet in this house. My personal choice in bathroom tissue would be soft/fluffy.

posted by williamsweyr on July 10th 2008 at 6:59am
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I lived with my grandparents when I was a teen in Brazil for a couple of years and I remember there was a bidet in every bathroom in every house, restaurant, you name it. I remember when I saw my bathroom when my grandmother was showing me around and I asked why there was a waterfountain in the bathroom. I felt silly when she explained but I was born here so she stopped laughing only after 2 minutes.

posted by Snugglitas on July 15th 2008 at 11:33am
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