In today’s environmentally conscious world, even our most basic household products deserve scrutiny for their ecological impact. Eco-friendly toilet paper has emerged as an essential sustainable alternative to conventional options that contribute significantly to deforestation and environmental degradation. As someone who has tested numerous sustainable bathroom products over the years, I’m excited to share my findings on the best eco-friendly toilet paper options currently available.
This review examines three top contenders in the eco-friendly toilet paper market: Seventh Generation Recycled Bath Tissue, Charmin Ultra Strong Clean Touch, and Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper. We’ll analyze their sustainability credentials, performance, comfort, and value to help you make an informed decision about which eco-friendly toilet paper best suits your household needs.
Why Choose Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper?
Before diving into the specifics of each product, it’s worth understanding why eco-friendly toilet paper matters. Traditional toilet paper production is responsible for approximately 15% of global deforestation, consuming millions of trees annually and requiring substantial water and energy resources. By switching to eco-friendly toilet paper brands, you’re making a meaningful contribution to forest conservation and reducing your carbon footprint.
Who Benefits from Eco-Friendly Toilet Paper?
These sustainable bathroom products are ideal for environmentally conscious individuals who want to reduce their ecological footprint without sacrificing comfort or hygiene. They’re perfect for those who:
- Prioritize sustainability in everyday purchases
- Have concerns about chemicals and additives in conventional products
- Want to support brands with transparent and ethical manufacturing practices
- Need toilet paper that’s gentle on sensitive skin
- Are looking to make simple but impactful lifestyle changes
If you’re willing to invest slightly more for products that align with environmental values, these eco-friendly toilet paper options offer excellent alternatives to conventional brands.
Product Overview
Seventh Generation Toilet Paper Recycled Bath Tissue
Key Features:
- 100% recycled paper (minimum 50% post-consumer)
- Chlorine-free processing
- No added dyes, inks, or fragrances
- 2-ply for softness and strength
- Septic-safe and RV-compatible
- 240 sheets per roll, 12 rolls per pack
Price: $47.88 Rating: ★★★★☆ (4/5)
Charmin Ultra Strong Clean Touch
Key Features:
- Strong diamond weave texture
- 4x stronger when wet compared to bargain brands
- Family mega rolls (equals 90 regular rolls)
- 3-ply for extra comfort
- Septic-safe
- 275 sheets per roll, 18 rolls per pack
Price: $28.99 Rating: ★★★☆☆ (3/5)
Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper
Key Features:
- 100% bamboo, tree-free material
- 3-ply strength with double-texture weaving pattern
- 57% more square footage per roll (360 sheets)
- Unscented and dye-free
- Individually wrapped rolls in paper packaging
- 100-day satisfaction guarantee
Price: $29.99 Rating: ★★★★★ (5/5)
In-Depth Reviews
Seventh Generation Toilet Paper Recycled Bath Tissue
Appearance & Design
Seventh Generation’s toilet paper comes in simple, environmentally friendly packaging that reflects the brand’s commitment to sustainability. The rolls themselves have a clean, no-frills appearance with a light natural color that comes from avoiding bleaching agents and dyes. While not the most visually striking product, its understated design speaks to its eco-friendly mission.
Performance & Features
As a 2-ply recycled toilet paper, Seventh Generation offers decent performance. The sheets provide adequate strength when wet, though not comparable to premium conventional brands. Its 240 sheets per roll provide standard coverage, and the pack of 12 rolls offers reasonable value for a recycled product.
The real standout feature is its environmental credentials. Made from 100% recycled paper with a minimum of 50% post-consumer content, this eco-friendly toilet paper significantly reduces the demand for virgin wood pulp. The manufacturing process is also chlorine-free, eliminating harmful chlorine compounds often released during conventional paper production.
User-Friendliness
The toilet paper tears cleanly along perforations and fits standard holders without issue. Some users might notice it’s slightly less soft than premium conventional brands, which is common with recycled bath tissue. However, most eco-conscious users find this a reasonable trade-off for the environmental benefits.
Durability & Quality
While not as plush as some premium options, Seventh Generation’s 2-ply construction offers decent durability for everyday use. It’s designed to break down properly in plumbing systems, making it compatible with septic systems and even suitable for RV use, where toilet paper breakdown is crucial.
Value for Money
At $47.88 for 12 rolls, Seventh Generation sits at a higher price point compared to conventional toilet paper. However, when considering the environmental benefits and the quality of the product, many users find the price justifiable for a truly eco-friendly toilet paper option.
Charmin Ultra Strong Clean Touch
Appearance & Design
Charmin Ultra Strong features the brand’s recognizable packaging with clean blue accents. The toilet paper itself has a distinctive diamond weave pattern that contributes to its strength and cleaning power. While offering an appealing look and feel, it’s worth noting that Charmin’s eco credentials are less robust than dedicated eco-friendly toilet paper brands.
Performance & Features
This toilet paper excels in performance, offering superior strength when wet (claimed to be 4x stronger than leading bargain brands). The diamond weave texture provides excellent cleaning with less paper usage, which does offer some environmental benefit despite not being made from recycled or alternative fibers.
With 275 sheets per mega roll, equivalent to 5 regular rolls, the package provides substantial volume. The 18 Family Mega Rolls claim to equal 90 regular rolls, making this an economical choice despite the initial price point.
User-Friendliness
Charmin Ultra Strong offers a premium user experience with excellent softness and strength. The sheets tear cleanly along perforations, and the product is easy to install and use. For those transitioning from conventional to eco-friendly toilet paper, this option might provide the most familiar experience.
Durability & Quality
The standout feature of Charmin Ultra Strong is its exceptional durability. The 3-ply construction and special weave pattern create a product that maintains integrity when wet, reducing the amount needed per use. While not made from recycled materials, the reduced usage per visit offers a different kind of environmental benefit.
Value for Money
At $28.99 for what equals 90 regular rolls, Charmin Ultra Strong offers excellent value in terms of quantity and performance. However, if your primary concern is selecting the most eco-friendly toilet paper option, the value calculation might differ despite the impressive performance metrics.
Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper
Appearance & Design
Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper presents a clean, modern aesthetic with thoughtful paper packaging for individual rolls. The toilet paper itself has a premium look with a consistent texture and clean edges. Its natural light color comes from avoiding bleaching agents while maintaining an appealing appearance.
Performance & Features
As the best bamboo toilet paper option in our review, Betterway offers exceptional performance with its 3-ply construction and innovative double-texture weaving pattern. One side provides a smooth, soft surface while the other offers a textured grip for effective cleaning.
Each roll contains 360 sheets, which is 57% more than many competing brands, addressing a common complaint about sustainable toilet papers running out quickly. The 100% bamboo construction is entirely tree-free, making this one of the most eco-friendly toilet paper options available.
User-Friendliness
Betterway bamboo toilet paper breaks the stereotype that sustainable options must compromise on comfort. In blind tests cited by the manufacturer, 96% of people preferred its softness over other eco-friendly toilet paper brands. The paper tears cleanly along perforations and works well with standard toilet paper holders.
Durability & Quality
The 3-ply construction provides excellent strength and absorbency, with the company claiming twice the absorption of many competing products. Despite its strength, it breaks down appropriately in plumbing systems. The unscented, dye-free composition makes it particularly suitable for sensitive skin, adding another dimension to its quality profile.
Value for Money
At $29.99, Betterway offers exceptional value considering the sheet count per roll and the premium 3-ply construction. When factoring in the 100-day satisfaction guarantee, which essentially makes this a risk-free purchase, the value proposition becomes even stronger for those looking to try eco-friendly toilet paper options.
Pros & Cons
Seventh Generation Toilet Paper Recycled Bath Tissue
Pros:
- Made from 100% recycled paper, reducing virgin forest impact
- Chlorine-free processing prevents harmful chemical release
- No added dyes, inks, or fragrances makes it good for sensitive skin
- Compatible with RVs and septic systems
- Strong sustainability credentials
Cons:
- Higher price point than conventional options
- Not as soft as premium conventional brands
- Fewer sheets per roll than some competitors
Charmin Ultra Strong Clean Touch
Pros:
- Exceptional strength and cleaning efficiency
- Fewer sheets needed per use
- Superior softness compared to many eco-friendly options
- Excellent value in terms of quantity
- Consistent quality and performance
Cons:
- Not made from recycled or alternative fibers
- Less eco-friendly than dedicated sustainable brands
- Bulky rolls may not fit all toilet paper holders
Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper
Pros:
- 100% bamboo construction is fully tree-free
- Premium 3-ply strength with innovative dual-texture design
- 57% more paper per roll than average
- Gentle on sensitive skin with no dyes or fragrances
- 100-day satisfaction guarantee
- Individually wrapped rolls for convenient storage
Cons:
- Higher upfront cost than conventional options
- May not be as widely available as mainstream brands
- Bamboo sourcing transparency could be improved
Alternatives & Comparisons
When comparing these eco-friendly toilet paper options, each offers distinct advantages depending on your priorities:
For maximum environmental impact: Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper stands out with its 100% tree-free construction from rapidly renewable bamboo, making it the most sustainable option in our lineup. Compared to Seventh Generation, it offers better softness and more sheets per roll, though at a slightly lower recycled content percentage.
For budget-conscious consumers: Charmin Ultra Strong provides the most sheets for the money, especially when considering how few sheets are typically needed per use. However, if environmental impact is your primary concern, the savings might not justify the reduced eco-credentials.
For sensitive skin: Both Seventh Generation and Betterway excel here with their free-from formulations. Betterway’s 3-ply construction offers additional gentleness, while Seventh Generation’s recycled content provides different environmental benefits.
Other eco-friendly toilet paper brands worth considering include Who Gives A Crap recycled paper and bamboo options, and Caboo bamboo and sugarcane toilet paper. These alternatives offer different balances of sustainability, performance, and price points.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Is bamboo toilet paper really more sustainable than recycled paper? A: Both bamboo and recycled paper offer significant environmental benefits over virgin wood pulp. Bamboo grows much faster than trees and requires fewer resources, while recycled paper reduces waste and decreases demand for fresh tree harvesting. The “most sustainable” choice depends on factors including sourcing practices, processing methods, and transportation impacts.
Q: Will eco-friendly toilet paper clog my plumbing? A: Quality eco-friendly toilet paper brands, including all three reviewed here, are designed to break down properly in plumbing systems. In fact, many are tested specifically for septic-safe performance. If you have particularly sensitive plumbing, Seventh Generation’s recycled bath tissue has an excellent track record for dissolving efficiently.
Q: Why is eco-friendly toilet paper more expensive? A: Sustainable toilet papers often cost more due to smaller production scales, more expensive raw materials, and more rigorous environmental certifications. However, products like Betterway offer more sheets per roll, potentially balancing the cost difference over time.
Q: Do bamboo toilet papers feel different from regular toilet paper? A: Modern bamboo toilet papers like Betterway have significantly improved in texture and softness. Their 3-ply construction and dual-texture weaving create a premium feel that many users find comparable or superior to conventional options.
Conclusion
After thoroughly testing these eco-friendly toilet paper options, Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper emerges as our top recommendation, earning a perfect 5-star rating. Its combination of sustainable bamboo material, premium 3-ply construction, generous sheet count, and thoughtful design creates an exceptional product that doesn’t compromise on performance or environmental credentials.
Seventh Generation offers a solid alternative for those specifically seeking recycled content, while Charmin Ultra Strong provides a middle-ground option for those transitioning to more sustainable choices but still prioritizing familiar performance.
Ultimately, switching to eco-friendly toilet paper represents a simple yet impactful change that reduces your environmental footprint without sacrificing comfort or hygiene. With options like these becoming increasingly accessible and competitive, there’s never been a better time to make the switch.
Click here to check the latest price on Amazon and see why Betterway Bamboo Toilet Paper has become a top choice for environmentally conscious households looking to make sustainable choices without compromising on quality.
