Recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper are often presented as competing alternatives to conventional virgin wood pulp products. In reality, both seek to reduce reliance on forest-derived fibre and offer environmental benefits compared with traditional tissue production.

Recycled toilet paper is widely recognised as a more resource-efficient alternative to virgin wood pulp and recycling is - generally viewed as positive, an approach to keep materials in use and out of landfill. By extending the life of existing fibre, recycled paper can reduce demand for raw materials and lower environmental impacts associated with harvesting and processing virgin fibre.

However, recycled fibre streams are not without challenges.

Unlike bamboo or virgin pulp, recycled paper is made from materials that have already been used for other purposes. These material inputs may include office paper, cardboard, packaging, magazines, receipts and similar paper products, each with their own inks, coatings, additives and contaminants.

Read more: Why our toilet paper is FSC® 100% certified bamboo

Recycled fibre streams can also introduce additional complexity. A 2024 study investigating PFAS in paper grades used to manufacture recycled paperboard found that contamination may arise from previous product uses, additives, packaged goods and the collection and recovery process itself. The authors highlighted the potential for certain contaminants to circulate through paper recycling systems rather than being introduced at a single point in manufacturing.

This does not mean recycled paper products are inherently problematic, nor does it diminish the environmental benefits of recycling. It does, however, highlight an important consideration: recycled materials are part of a much broader material stream, and understanding what enters that stream matters. Transparency, testing and manufacturing controls remain important regardless of whether a tissue product is made from recycled fibre, virgin pulp or alternative fibres such as bamboo. The research highlights that measures must be developed to minimise these exposure opportunities.

Read more: What chemicals are found in toilet paper

Recycling paper also requires additional sorting, de-inking and processing steps to produce a soft, usable tissue product. The environmental benefits of recycled fibre remain significant, but like any manufacturing system, the process involves trade-offs that should be understood rather than overlooked.

For consumers, this reinforces the importance of transparency. Understanding where materials come from, how they are processed and what testing is undertaken can be just as important as whether a product is made from virgin, recycled or alternative fibres.

For us, the decision to use bamboo was influenced by several factors. Bamboo is a rapidly renewable resource that regenerates after harvesting and can be grown specifically for fibre production. It also provides a consistent fibre source without relying on the quality and availability of recovered paper streams.

At the same time, we recognise the important role recycled fibre plays in a circular economy. Extending the life of existing materials is often preferable to continually extracting new resources. Rather than viewing bamboo and recycled paper as direct competitors, we see both as part of a broader shift away from virgin forest fibre for single-use tissue products.