What’s the problem with conventional toilet paper?
Harmful Toxins
Several harsh chemicals have been found in conventional TP:
- Chlorine is used to bleach the toilet paper so that it appears a bright white color, but it can irritate sensitive skin.
- Furans and dioxins are byproducts of the bleaching process and are highly toxic to the body and environment.
- Formaldehyde, a known carcinogen, is used to strengthen the toilet paper.
- PFAS, also known as “forever chemicals,” are highly toxic to the body. According to the National Library of Medicine, PFAS exposure is associate with a variety of health effects, including altered immune and thyroid function, liver disease, lipid and insulin dysregulation, kidney disease, adverse reproductive and developmental outcomes, and cancer.
- Dyes and fragrances are often found in conventional toilet paper, which can contain several chemicals that are harmful and can cause irritation or allergies.
Deforestation
Conventional TP uses wood pulp from trees - A LOT of trees. The toilet paper industry alone accounts for 15% of global deforestation. It’s estimated that 9.8 million trees are cut down each year just to meet the world’s toilet paper demands.
Why is this harmful? Our forests store vast amounts of carbon. When deforestation occurs, much of the carbon stored by trees is released back into the atmosphere as carbon dioxide, contributing to global warming and climate change. On top of that, wildlife habitats get destroyed, disrupting entire ecosystems and subjecting animals to greater threats from predation and lack of food and shelter.
Water and Energy Use
It takes up to 37 gallons of water and 1.3 KWh of electricity to make a single roll of conventional toilet paper! When you consider the amount of TP we consume collectively, that’s a lot of water and energy down the drain.
Cutting down trees is not sustainable.
To meet the world's TP demands, 27,000 trees globally get chopped down every single day. That's 9.8 million trees per year.
For perspective, the toilet paper we use in a single year stretches almost 50,000 times the distance around the Earth.
Why bamboo is better.
Toxin-Free
Bambooty is made from 100% ethically-sourced bamboo. Bamboo fibers create a natural softness in toilet paper, without the need for chemicals. Our toilet paper is completely free of bleach, dyes, and fragrances.
Because Bambooty is bleach-free, our toilet paper does not contain the harmful chemical byproducts, like furans and dioxins, that result from the bleaching process.
Bambooty, therefore, is not a threat to sensitive skin, and it won't contribute to any health problems down the road.
Sustainability
Bamboo is the fastest growing plant on the planet, with some types growing up to three feet per day! Bamboo can reach maturity anywhere from a few months to a couple years, while trees can take decades. This makes bamboo the much more renewable option.
After harvesting bamboo, its root system remains intact, and new stalks regenerate naturally. This prevents soil erosion, and it eliminates the need for replanting and the resource expenditure that goes along with it.
Additionally, growing bamboo doesn’t require pesticides, herbicides, or fertilizer, and requires far less water than trees, reducing its environmental impact.
Bamboo is a type of grass that breaks down naturally, so toilet paper made from bamboo is septic safe and 100% biodegradable.