Short answer: bamboo toilet paper can be a better choice, but it depends on multiple variables, what you’re comparing and what matters to you. If you’ve been hearing a lot about bamboo toilet paper — that it’s hypoallergenic, contains no bleach, is more sustainable or is simply safer to use, you’re not alone. There are plenty of claims about what makes bamboo toilet paper ‘better’. Here, we cover what actually goes into making toilet paper, what the research tells us and the questions worth asking before you decide what to buy and use.

Why is bamboo used to make toilet paper?

Toilet paper must be two contradictory things; soft and strong. Historically, tissue manufacturers have achieved this by selecting and combining fibres with differing properties. Longer softwood fibres from pine or Douglas fir provide strength, while shorter hardwood fibres such as eucalyptus can contribute softness and a smoother surface.

Bamboo offers another fibre source with properties suitable for tissue production. Research into non-wood fibres has found that bamboo can provide good tensile strength and water absorbency, although, as with conventional wood fibre, there are trade-offs between strength and softness. 

Bamboo doesn't inherently make toilet paper soft because it is bamboo. Fibre characteristics, pulping, refining and the way the tissue itself is manufactured all influence how the finished sheet feels and performs.

Is bamboo toilet paper more sustainable?

What do we mean by sustainable? Generally most people would interpret sustainability as resource preservation; how resources are sourced and used today so that the ecosystems and resources we depend on can continue into the future. If that is the definition we need to consider sourcing. But sourcing is more than material choice — bamboo, trees or recycled paper, and therefore one toilet paper cannot be more sustainable than another based on material in isolation. In reality, fibre sourcing and tissue conversion are very separate variables.

Bamboo is a renewable fibre, but being made from bamboo doesn't automatically make a product responsibly sourced. Where the bamboo comes from, how it is grown and whether its sourcing can be independently verified should be considered. Certification can help provide that traceability. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), for example, applies standards to both forest and non-timber forest products, including bamboo, and provides chain-of-custody certification to trace certified material through the supply chain. Then there is processing and manufacturing.

Turning any plant fibre into soft, white toilet tissue requires processing. Fibre needs to be pulped and the resulting tissue may be bleached, refined and converted into the finished product. A 2021 study comparing seven tissue-paper production pathways found that the choice of fibre alone did not determine the outcome. Processing choices mattered too, with bleaching having a significant influence on the sustainability rankings. Similarly, recent research comparing bamboo and conventional wood-fibre tissue reinforces an important distinction: the fibre source and the way that fibre is converted into tissue are separate considerations.

So bamboo tells you what the toilet tissue is made from but it isn’t telling you everything about how it was made, transported to you. This is also why it's worth looking closely at product claims. Toilet paper marketed as bamboo isn't necessarily made exclusively from bamboo; products can contain blends of bamboo, wood, sugarcane or other fibres. Look for clear information about fibre composition, sourcing and independent certification. 

There are considerations post manufacturing too: how the product is packaged, how far and efficiently it is transported, how it performs in use and what happens to its packaging and the product at the end of its useful life all contribute to a more holistic picture.

So, is bamboo toilet paper more sustainable? It can offer a responsibly sourced alternative to conventional virgin wood fibre, but bamboo alone isn't enough to establish that one toilet paper has a lower environmental impact than another. It is always important to always do your research. 

Is bamboo toilet paper soft?

Yes, but what we perceive as softness in toilet paper is actually rather complicated. Studies investigating this topic describe softness as a subjective perception influenced by several physical characteristics of the sheet, including its surface texture, friction, strength, bulk and even the way it responds when handled. 

Broadly softness is considered in the following ways: surface softness — the smooth feeling of the tissue against the skin, and bulk softness — the cushioned, yielding feeling you get when you squeeze or crumple it in your hand. Current research into tissue softness shows that both are influenced by a combination of fibre characteristics and how the tissue is manufactured. 

Tissue manufacturers have developed drying, creping and converting technologies specifically to influence these characteristics and create a softer-feeling product. Creping changes tissue structure and flexibility while converting processes such as embossing and combining multiple plies can increase bulk and influence how soft the finished roll feels. Fibre selection matters too.

And softness can also be added. Manufacturers may use chemical softening agents during production or apply lotions and other ingredients to the finished tissue. Some toilet papers are now marketed with ingredients such as coconut oil, shea butter and aloe vera. So an especially thick, white, plush toilet paper isn't necessarily soft because of the fibre it is made from. Fibre, construction, mechanical processing and any treatments or additives all contribute to how the finished product feels.

READ: Softening agents in toilet paper and why we don’t use them

Does bamboo toilet paper contain chemicals?

Like other toilet paper, bamboo toilet paper goes through a manufacturing process that can involve chemical inputs at different stages, from turning the raw fibre into pulp to bleaching and softening the tissue. What is used varies between manufacturers. Toilet paper may also contain or be manufactured using softening agents, wet-strength additives, lotions and other processing chemicals.

Rather than assuming a product is “chemical-free” and by association “safe”, look for manufacturers that are transparent about their processes, ingredients and independent testing. EcoRoll toilet paper is independently tested by SGS for regulated heavy metals and PFAS. Testing found no detectable PFAS, with results below the laboratory method detection limit. 

Read more about what we test for and why in What chemicals are found in toilet paper?

Is bamboo toilet paper better for sensitive skin?

Fibre does not alone determine whether one toilet paper is inherently better for sensitive skin simply because it is made from bamboo. When irritation does occur, other characteristics of the finished product may be more relevant than the fibre source. This research into reactions to toilet paper suggests that other characteristics of the finished product may be more relevant. Reactions to recycled toilet paper appeared to be irritation caused by its rougher texture rather than the presence of potentially toxic ingredients for example. 

There are also published case reports investigating reactions to conventional toilet paper. Researchers were unable to obtain information from manufacturers about the chemicals used to produce their toilet paper because the formulations were considered proprietary. Their subsequent review identified formaldehyde and its derivatives among chemicals used in the wider paper industry to create properties such as wet strength, although the researchers could not establish exactly what was present in the toilet paper involved in the case. If sensitive skin is a consideration, the texture of the finished tissue and the use of added fragrances, lotions, preservatives or other ingredients may therefore be more useful things to consider.

Is bamboo toilet paper better than recycled toilet paper?

Not necessarily. Bamboo and recycled toilet paper are different approaches to reducing reliance on conventional virgin tree fibre. Bamboo uses a renewable plant fibre, while recycled toilet paper keeps existing paper fibres in circulation for longer. Which is the better choice depends on factors including sourcing, processing and the finished product. 

We compared the two in more detail: Bamboo versus recycled toilet paper, which is better?

Is bamboo toilet paper safe for septic tanks?

Yes, bamboo toilet paper can be safe for septic tanks, but again, the fibre is not going to determine whether a toilet paper is septic-safe. What matters is how readily the finished tissue breaks apart in water. Thick, highly durable toilet papers can take longer to disperse, while using excessive amounts of any toilet paper can contribute to plumbing problems. EcoRoll toilet paper is suitable for septic tanks. 

Read more: What toilet paper is best for septic tanks?

So, is bamboo toilet paper better?

Bamboo can be a strong alternative to conventional virgin-fibre toilet paper, but fibre is only one thing to consider. You need to look at fibre sourcing, how it is processed, what chemicals and/or additives may have been a part of the manufacturing process. Then there is the packaging and lastly — and importantly, how the finished toilet paper performs. The most important thing is to look beyond the word bamboo and ask questions about the product you're actually buying.