Alright, let's talk about a topic that's often left out of the conversation even though it’s a popular bathroom buddy…. toilet paper (TP). Did you know that most toilet paper on the market is full of formaldehyde, petroleum-based mineral oils, and more, camouflaged in every roll! This post will uncover the truth about TP and help you make the switch to non-toxic toilet paper that's better for your bum and also kinder to the planet.
Below are TP additives commonly found in conventional toilet paper. Bear in my mind, most of the ingredients below don't have to be disclosed to consumers. Chances are if use standard toilet paper, it probably contains these ingredients:
Chlorine (bleaching): Many traditional TP brands bleach their paper with chlorine to get a bright white color. However, the chlorine bleaching process not only releases harmful chemicals into the environment during production, but bleached products are harsh on your skin in some of the most delicate areas as well as being linked to other potential health risks. [1][2]
Furans & Dioxins: The chlorine bleaching process (mentioned above) creates furans and dioxins as by-products, which can have negative effects on both your health and the environment. Exposure to these chemicals in large amounts overtime can cause liver problems, reproductive issues, cancer risks, and more. [3]
Per- & Polyfluorinated Substances (PFAS): These substances are toxic fluorinated chemicals created by humans that can build up in our bodies and stay in the environment forever. They are potentially linked to health concerns such as reproductive problems, endocrine disruption, different types of cancer, and more. [4][5]
Formaldehyde: Some toilet papers contain formaldehyde to strengthen the paper when wet. However, formaldehyde is a known carcinogen (cancer-causing) and has been linked to skin aggravation as well as respiratory issues such as shortness of breath, asthma symptoms, and irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat. [6]
Petroleum-Based Mineral Oils & Paraffin: Guess what gives toilet paper that smooth texture? That’s right, petroleum-based mineral oils like Polyethylene glycol (PEG) and paraffin, which are derived from fossil fuels and have been found to be carcinogenic. [7]
Parabens: Parabens are preservatives often used in many different products to prevent mold and bacterial growth. While they are useful preservatives, they have been linked to hormone disruption and can lead to other unknown health concerns, so reducing paraben exposure when possible may be preferable. [8] Additionally, be aware that products marketed as paraben-free might include other harmful substitutes or less effective preservatives.
Gelatin: Gelatin is a protein that is created from animal collagen and is sometimes used as a binder for sheets of toilet paper. [9] If you don’t want any animal additives in your toilet paper, stick with vegan toilet paper options.
On top of all of that, around 27,000 trees are flushed down the toilet every day due to the use of traditional toilet paper instead of other toilet paper alternatives like bamboo paper. [10] Safe toilet paper is often made from bamboo, which reduces deforestation and promotes sustainability. However, be mindful, just because something is made from bamboo doesn’t mean it does not contain harmful chemicals. Overall, eco-friendly toilet paper makes for a happier bum and a healthier planet.
Be sure to check out my other posts about non-toxic baby wipes and eco-friendly tissues to ensure all of your bathroom paper products are free of harmful chemicals.
Top Non-Toxic Toilet Paper Options
With so many unhealthy toilet paper options on the market, it can be hard to muck through all of that sh** to find toilet paper that is safe. So, let's introduce you to some better for your bottom and more environmentally friendly toilet paper brands. Below are five non-toxic toilet paper choices.
Bamboo Story’s toilet paper is hypoallergenic and free from harsh chemicals, bleaching of any kind, formaldehyde, and dyes. It’s also made from sustainably sourced bamboo. I reached out to them and received confirmation that their bamboo toilet tissues do not contain any Bisphenol A (BPA), Bisphenol S (BPS), or petroleum-based additives.
PlantPaper toilet paper has no harsh chemicals and keeps additives to a bare minimum. Also, it’s free of 6 common PFAS compounds as well as indicating zero detections of 22 additional compounds. I reached out to them and learned that their toilet paper has been tested for heavy metals, formaldehyde, and dioxins, and was found to be free of all of them. PlantPaper also provided me with their most recent PFAS lab results (May 2021 & May 2023), which detected no PFAS or formaldehyde. However, they have not tested for BPS/ BPA or phthalates as the lab they work with advised that it is not necessary because there is no recycled paper content in their toilet paper or plastic packaging, so it is unlikely that any of these compounds would be found.
Furthermore, I questioned them regarding their production process and confirmed that their bamboo toilet paper is unbleached. After harvesting the bamboo, it is wood-chipped, then boiled/ steamed with no bleach or formaldehyde, allowing for the toilet paper to be free of bleach and maintain a natural brown bamboo color. Following the steaming process, the pulp is made into the sheets that become your toilet paper. They use bentonite (natural clay) as a binder for their sheets, which helps reduce the need of additives. I appreciated the transparency offered by this company about their products.
If you prefer more of a traditional toilet paper look, but without the harmful additives, Caboo’s toilet paper offers a great option. Their bamboo toilet tissues are made from sustainable bamboo and they use the Elemental Chlorine Free bleaching method to get the coloring of conventional toilet paper, but with less chemicals. I followed up with them and confirmed that the toilet paper is free of BPA, nylon, parabens, and fragrances, and they use a plant-based (though they did not clarify what plants) glue as a binder for the sheets. In addition to this, they said that they do not add formaldehyde to their products, but as it is a naturally occurring substance, they cannot affirm that trace amounts won’t be present (I appreciate their transparency regarding this matter). Also, they continuously test all of their products with an accredited independent laboratory and results yielded none detected for PFAS.
Panda Eco Paper’s toilet paper is made from bamboo sourced from ethical farms that do not use pesticides during the growing process. Their rolls are 100% unbleached, maintaining the real brown bamboo color and they are certified PFAS-free. This toilet paper is free of paraffins, BPA/ BPS, formaldehyde, dioxane, PEGs, fragrances, chlorine, and heavy metals. It’s also vegan, and they do not use any binder on the sheets. I appreciate the transparency of this company and their commitment to offering chemical-free products.
Seek Bamboo’s toilet paper is free of BPA, dyes, and fragrances, and is hypoallergenic. I reached out to learn more about their process and confirmed that their toilet paper is free of formaldehyde, petroleum-based mineral oils and paraffin, and they do not use bleaching of any kind on their products. Also, they stated that their toilet paper is free of PFAS, but they did not share testing results.
Available on their website.
Please note, some bamboo toilet paper may feel less soft than traditional toilet paper. Personally, I have not had any issues with it, and for me, the benefits of having chemical free toilet paper far outweigh a slight difference in softness.
With that being said, it's time to kick out the nasties from your bathroom bunch and welcome non-toxic toilet paper into your routine. Turn your bathroom into a chemical-free zone and contribute to a more eco-friendly world, one wipe at a time!
References
[10] https://89initiative.com/flushing-down-our-forests-toilet-paper-and-other-deforestation-issues/
Have you looked into Who Gives a Crap? That's the bamboo tp we use at home. I'd be curious to know what you find.