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Recycled or bamboo? We've got the low-down with the GHI's best buys

We all want to do our bit to live more sustainably, and if you’re looking for eco swaps you can make around the home, one product that can make your bathroom greener is eco-friendly toilet paper.

In the UK we each use an average of 127 rolls per year, meaning millions of trees are felled to keep up with supply. But, from supermarket staples to cult internet brands, environmentally-friendly loo roll is becoming increasingly available.

We put the market-leaders to the test to find the best ones, examining eco-credentials and taking everything from softness to subscription options into account.

It’s safe to say that cutting down trees to make toilet paper isn’t good for the planet. In fact, the greenest option is to forgo loo roll altogether in favour of alternatives like bidet attachments. If that doesn’t appeal, however, opting for toilet paper made with recycled materials or from a more sustainable resource like bamboo, comes in at close second.

However, it’s not just the product itself that you need to consider; everything from packaging (toilet paper is often packaged in unnecessary single-use plastic) to the supply chain (how your product is grown, created and transported) impacts eco-credentials.

Where the product is made also has an impact — a lot of bamboo is grown in China and some bamboo toilet paper is subsequently manufactured in China. This can impact the eco-credentials depending on how the the product is then transported, as air-freighted items have a high carbon footprint compared to other methods of transport.

It’s also worth thinking about delivery; picking some up when you’re doing your regular shop is better than driving to make a one-off trip, and a similar principle applies for online deliveries. If you’re buying directly from one of these brands, opting for a bulk delivery reduces the number of orders you’ll need, and gives you one less thing to think about for a few months.

Made from either bamboo or 100% recycled paper, the toilet rolls we tested are all better for the planet than standard loo roll — so you’ll be sure to find one that suits your lifestyle and needs:

Bamboo is a great resource for paper because it’s one of the fastest growing grasses on the planet, renewing within three to five years. "Bamboo is a very attractive renewable source for materials because it grows at much faster rates than trees," explains Paula Chin, Sustainable Materials Specialist at WWF-UK. "However, areas growing bamboo do not promote as much biodiversity as forests, especially in areas where land has been specifically cleared to grow it." Look for the FSC Certified 100% label for reassurance that no land has been cleared specifically to grow the bamboo and that the bamboo has been farmed in a more sustainable way.

While bamboo may be more environmentally-friendly than wood, it is still a raw material. The benefit of 100% recycled toilet paper is that it can be made without using new materials, providing a use for paper collected through recycling schemes, which can be sourced in the UK. It doesn’t tend to be as soft as bamboo, but it’s often made more locally. Be aware of any with the FSC Mix label because this means that a mixture of virgin and recycled fibres was used to make the toilet paper, reducing its eco credentials.

Ultimately, when choosing your toilet paper, you need to decide what you want to prioritise from a sustainability perspective; be that packaging, materials or how the product has travelled. If you really want to do research, look for toilet paper that is produced using a non chlorine-based bleaching process as this is better for the environment.

We put the toilet papers through a series of tests in the Good Housekeeping Institute, looking at how well the tissues tear along the perforations, absorbency, and how strong the sheets remain when wet. Our scoring takes into account what the loo rolls are made of, how they are packaged and where they are manufactured. We also sent the products out to a panel of testers to get their verdicts on how soft the toilet paper is, their likes, dislikes and whether they’d buy it or recommend it.

Scroll on for our winning wipers...

Made from 100% bamboo, our winning eco-friendly toilet roll seriously impressed our testers. Everyone said they would buy it again and would recommend it to family and friends. The soft loo roll perforates perfectly and has great tear strength. You can buy it in as little as a pack of four, which is ideal if storage is limited, and up to a batch of 45 rolls if you prefer to bulk buy.

It’s not made in the UK, but packaging is plastic-free and if you subscribe with the company, you can earn points and donate to charities including the World Land Trust (WLT). The company also donates to the WLT to offset its carbon, with funds going towards protecting the Khe Nuoc Trong rainforest in Vietnam.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 200 Recyclable packaging: Yes Pack sizes available: 4 rolls/9 rolls/24 rolls/45 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% bamboo

The quality of this eco loo roll really stood out, proving to be very strong when torn, with reliable perforations. The tissues weren’t as absorbent as some of the others we tested, and due to the pattern it did feel a little scratchy.

It's only available in a beige colour, as it’s unbleached to maximise eco-friendliness, and comes in plastic-free packaging. You can choose between buying six or 48 rolls at a time, making it a reliable bathroom addition.

Key Specifications Sheets per roll: 200 Recyclable packaging: Yes Pack sizes available: 6 rolls/48 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% bamboo

Give back when you stock up — this brand donates a percentage of its profits to charity Just A Drop, which provides clean water for school children in Kenya. You can buy up to 96 rolls in one go, which is ideal if you have a big family, and there’s also the option to buy 24 if storage is more limited. You get a substantial 300 sheets per roll, too.

This bamboo toilet paper felt strong with decent perforations, although it did fray when we tore along them. It also wasn’t particularly absorbent. It’s unbleached and chemical-free, which is why the colour isn’t the most attractive to have in your bathroom, but this does boost its eco creds.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 300 Recyclable packaging: Yes Pack sizes available: 24 rolls/48 roll/96 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% bamboo

This is another toilet roll that does more than just clean up; profits support Traidcraft’s Fair Trade work with artisans and producers around the world. It’s made from 100% recycled paper and scored top marks for absorbency.

It’s very affordable and comes in a four pack — or you can bulk buy 10 packs for a total of 40 rolls. However, with only 166 sheets per roll, it has fewer than most brands (vs Who Gives a Crap 400 sheets, below) and the packaging isn’t plastic-free, either. That said, if you’re on a budget or looking for a more compact supply, this shouldn’t disappoint.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 166 Recyclable packaging: Can be recycled with your shopping bags Pack sizes available: 4 rolls/40 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% recycled paper

You can only buy this eco toilet paper in a batch of either 60 or 80 rolls at a time, so if making a bigger outlay isn’t for you, scroll onto our next recommendation. If you have the storage room for all this loo roll, however, it’s soft and tears well.

It’s not as absorbent as some of the other brands we tried, and it’s not made in the UK, but if you’re after a comfortable-to-use bulk buy that doesn’t disintegrate too quickly, it’s a great option.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 200 Recyclable packaging: Yes Pack sizes available: 60 rolls/80 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: No Made from: 100% bamboo

A recent eco addition to supermarket shelves, this one has a lot more to it than its eye-catching, plastic-free packaging. It’s made in the UK and we liked how transparent the brand is about its manufacturing process, transforming magazines and newspapers into this end product.

Its absorbency was good and its tear strength, decent. The perforations let it down though with the loo roll tending to tear in half more often than other brands. The 2-ply paper also felt quite rough to use. It’s affordable though and easy to pick up when you’re doing your weekly shop.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 190 Recyclable packaging: Yes Pack sizes available: 9 rolls only Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% recycled paper

Something of a cult brand, Who Gives A Crap is well known for its toilet roll subscriptions and fun packaging. It can even double up as gift wrap if you’re feeling thrifty, and features facts and activities to pass the time when you’re on the loo. Half of its profits get donated to charities such as Water Aid to help build toilets around the world, and the fact it’s made from 100% recycled fibres impressed our testers.

You get lots of soft sheets per roll — 400, in fact — but they feel thin, which may make you want to use more when wiping. The perforations aren’t great either, and the plys frayed when torn. They are a pricier option, but if you’ve got the room to store them, these toilet rolls should last you a long time.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 400 Recyclable packaging: Yes Pack sizes available: 24 rolls/48 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% recycled paper

Made entirely from recycled cellulose — natural fibres like wood and paper — this toilet paper is soft and boasts good absorbency and perforations, but the sheets are narrow.

Available in packs of nine, these rolls will last a while without taking up precious storage space. Alternatively, you can buy in bulk — you’ll receive five packs of nine, which you could split up and slide into small spaces to store if need be.

It’s not made in the UK, and although we liked the look of the packaging, it’s made from plastic, which some may find an off-putting factor.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 200 Recyclable packaging: No Pack sizes available: 9 rolls/45 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% recycled paper

When you’ve unpacked these toilet rolls, the plastic-free packaging can be added to your compost or food-waste bin. The loo roll itself felt soft but thin, and didn’t always absorb well. It also frayed when tearing along the perforations.

There’s the option of a subscription for faff-free restocking, and most of our testers said they would buy it again. Unfortunately, it’s not made in the UK, but the company does plant a tree for every purchase.

Key specifications Sheets per roll: 300 Recyclable packaging: Yes – Okay to compost Pack sizes available: 24 rolls/48 rolls Safe to use in septic systems: Yes Made from: 100% bamboo