The Best Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper To Try In 2024

It doesn’t take an eco-warrior to realize how wasteful paper can be – including toilet paper!

Fear not, I am not advocating for people to stop using it! But it might be worth having a look at eco-friendly toilet paper alternatives!

There’s the obvious fact that toilet paper’s sole fate is to be flushed down the drain. But just manufacturing toilet paper in the first place can take an intense toll on the planet — especially its natural forests.

If you want to jump straight to the best sustainable toilet paper for the average household, you can’t go wrong with Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper. For those willing to do a little research, however, there are several environmentally friendly options just waiting to make your bathroom experience better for the planet and your bum!

Eco Friendly Toilet Paper 2024

Best Overall — Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper

It’s hard to imagine a toilet paper that stands head and shoulders above the rest. But in the world of eco-friendly paper products, Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper is a great contender.

The Reel Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper offers all of the standard eco-friendly features, including being free of bleach, dyes, and fragrances. This toilet paper is septic-safe (Reel recommends checking your septic tank’s specifications first) and is sold in completely plastic-free packaging.

You can purchase this eco-friendly toilet paper online or at select Target stores in boxes of 24 rolls. Each roll features 300 sheets of 3-ply paper. 

For more information, check out our Reel toilet paper review.

Best Premium Option — TUSHY Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper

TUSHY is more famous for its bidet products than for selling eco-friendly toilet paper. That doesn’t change the fact that TUSHY Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper is one of the best and most sustainable paper products on the market.

This environmentally friendly toilet paper is all-natural — there is no dye, fragrance, or bleach to be found! It’s also septic-safe and features 100% plastic-free packaging.

TUSHY sells its toilet paper in boxes of 36 rolls but you can also find smaller packages from select online retailers. Each roll includes 300 sheets of 3-ply bamboo paper.

Best Budget Option — Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper

Switching to sustainable toilet paper does not need to mean spending a small fortune on something that will literally be flushed down the drain! Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper is a budget-friendly alternative to more expensive eco-friendly toilet paper.

Despite being available at an affordable price point, Cloud Paper doesn’t cut corners. This toilet paper is dye- and fragrance-free. And it’s never whitened with bleach and is safe for nearly all septic tanks.

Cloud Paper Bamboo Toilet Paper is currently only available through the brand’s website (you can sign up for a subscription for hassle-free restocking). This toilet paper is shipped in boxes of 24 rolls and each roll contains 350 sheets of 3-ply paper.

If you’re interested in learning more about Cloud Paper and its innovative products, be sure to check out my Cloud paper review!

Best Recycled Paper — Who Gives A Crap Premium 100% Recycled Toilet Paper

Is this the most environmentally friendly toilet paper available? Not yet. But Who Gives A Crap Premium 100% Recycled Toilet Paper is committed to doing good — the company plans to eliminate all plastic packaging in 2021 and donates 50% of profits to charity — and we’re excited to see what else is in store!

This eco-friendly toilet paper is not made from a paper alternative like bamboo. Instead, it relies on recycled paper (sourced from regional offices, schools, and other paper waste producers). Of course, it’s also free of dye, fragrance, and bleach.

Who Gives A Crap toilet paper can be purchased online in boxes of 24 rolls. Each roll features 400 sheets of 3-ply paper that is safe for most septic systems.

Best Reusable Cloths — Marley’s Monsters Toilet Unpaper

While not for the squeamish, Marley’s Monsters Toilet Unpaper is an eco-friendly toilet paper alternative that can’t be beaten!

Made from 100% cotton flannel, this product eliminates the need for single-use toilet paper altogether. Just machine wash the cloths (Marley’s Monsters recommends washing the cloths within 2 to 3 days of use) and reuse indefinitely!

Marley’s Monsters Toilet Unpaper comes in packs of 24 cloths. Each cloth is the equivalent of 3 standard toilet paper sheets and features a single “ply” of fabric. And, as if this product wasn’t sustainable enough, zero plastic is used in the packaging.

Best Bidet Cloths — Bidet Cloths For Everyone

Does the thought of using washable toilet paper gross you out? Consider compromising with a set of Bidet Cloths for Everyone instead.

Using a bidet is great for the environment but many people still use toilet paper to dry off. Bidet Cloths for Everyone solve this problem by being soft, durable, and multi-use. They are also fully machine-washable.

These cloths are made of salvaged natural fibers (each set features slightly different colors and patterns depending on what type of fabric has been recycled!). They can be purchased directly through the brand’s website in sets of 10, 20, or 30.

Best Unwhitened Paper — PlantPaper

All sustainable toilet paper brands must eventually decide whether to whiten their product or not. If you’re looking to eliminate as many chemicals (innocuous or not) from your household as possible, PlantPaper may be the best eco-friendly toilet paper for you.

Like other popular brands, this 100% bamboo toilet paper is free of bleach, dyes, and fragrances. But PlantPaper takes things one step further by forgoing the whitening process entirely. 

This toilet paper can be purchased via subscription or from select online retailers. Each plastic-free package contains 8 rolls. PlantPaper features 200 sheets of 3-ply, septic-safe paper.

Best Mega Rolls — Betterway Premium Bamboo Double Rolls

Large households know how quickly a standard roll of toilet paper can disappear. Betterway Premium Bamboo Double Rolls make it possible to do better for the planet without needing to change the roll every day.

Of course, this eco-friendly toilet paper is free of unwanted chemicals like bleach, fragrance, and dye. It’s septic-safe and packaged without any plastic. Each roll contains 360 sheets of 3-py paper.

Betterway Premium Bamboo Double Rolls come in packs of 12 rolls — equivalent to 20 standard rolls. You can purchase this bamboo toilet paper via Betterway’s subscription service or various online retailers.

What To Consider When Switching To Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper

Material

Eco-friendly toilet paper can be made of several different materials. Each one comes with its own benefits and drawbacks — both for the planet and for the consumer.

Remember: The most sustainable material is not always the “best” on paper. It’s the one you and your family will most consistently use!

For example, it’s easy to see why some people would be hesitant to try out multi-use alternatives to toilet paper. Yet it’s hard to argue against this product in terms of sustainability alone.

Plumbing System

With modern toilet technology, it’s easy to take for granted that not all paper products are compatible with all plumbing systems. 

Double-checking compatibility is especially important for those reliant on a septic tank or alternative plumbing like a composting or incinerating toilet. 

Most eco-friendly toilet papers are perfectly safe to use with these systems. But confirming this fact could save you a ton of stress and money down the road!

Quality

Toilet paper has a fairly simple job. However, there’s nothing wrong with wanting the most comfortable bathroom experience possible. 

Ultra-strong and plush toilet paper is popular for a reason. 

Selecting the best eco-friendly toilet paper for you is largely about finding a balance between sustainability and comfort. Gone are the days when you had to sacrifice one for the other!

Cost

Toilet paper made from bamboo and other sustainable materials has a reputation for being extremely expensive. 

The good news is that this trend is changing. But it can still be difficult to find eco-friendly toilet paper that fits a tight budget.

If cost is an important factor for you and your household, it may be worth considering a bidet instead. Bidets may have higher upfront costs but can be much more affordable than eco-friendly toilet paper over the course of a lifetime.

Packaging

Packaging is just as important as the toilet paper itself. There’s little point in purchasing bamboo or recycled toilet paper wrapped in single-use plastic!

On top of looking at the type of packaging used, take the time to evaluate how much packaging each brand is using to sell its products. 

Opt for packaging that is labeled as “recycled,” “biodegradable,” and “compostable” whenever possible!

Availability

If you plan to purchase your family’s toilet paper from a local store, your options may be greatly limited. 

Keep in mind that many small retailers will happily stock brands that their customers request. So don’t hesitate to inquire. (The worst they can say is “no!”)

Not everyone is fortunate enough to live within walking or driving distance of an eco-friendly retailer. In these cases, selecting a toilet paper brand that offers convenient and affordable shipping is the best option.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is eco-friendly toilet paper more sustainable than a bidet?

Neither solution is perfect. While eco-friendly toilet paper and bidets lessen the load our bathroom habits place on the planet, both consume resources of their own.

Bidets can eliminate the need for toilet paper. But they still rely on treated water.

Also, manufacturing a bidet consumes valuable resources. So you shouldn’t install one in your bathroom if you don’t intend to regularly use it.

With that said, most research points to bidets as the more sustainable option (…if they are used consistently and without single-use toilet paper)

For the average household, this means opting to dry off with a reusable washcloth and ditching the toilet paper altogether. If you’re not willing to do that, you’re probably better off with eco-friendly toilet paper instead!

Can you compost toilet paper?

Yes, with one giant caveat!

Toilet paper in itself is compostable. After all, it’s just paper! This is true of both “traditional” toilet paper and bathroom tissue made of alternative materials like bamboo.

You should not compost used toilet paper at home. Used toilet paper, especially that which has come into contact with fecal matter, can easily spread disease. The average backyard compost pile does not get hot enough to reliably kill off these pathogens.

(You can, however, place used toilet paper in a composting toilet!)

Is bamboo toilet paper sustainable?

Bamboo paper is not the end-all-be-all of sustainability. But it’s better for the environment than paper made from freshly harvested trees.

Several factors go into whether bamboo is a truly sustainable solution or not. As a consumer, the best thing you can do is educate yourself about the production of bamboo products and only purchase from companies that adhere to responsible practices.

Last update on 2024-04-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API