Currently, all the bamboo pulp produced worldwide originates in China. That’s because bamboo grows abundantly there, and the infrastructure to process it is well-established.

Life cycle analyses comparing the impact of tree-free toilet paper produced in China and sold in North America to that of conventional tree paper brands indicate that, even with the incremental carbon and environmental costs associated with ocean freight, tree-free paper results in less carbon emissions by a factor of three. 

Simply put, tree paper is made by systematically destroying the most efficient system of carbon capture on earth: the Boreal Forest. The benefits of keeping those forests working as they’re supposed to far outweigh the costs of the alternative. 

While we’re on the topic, most “American” toilet paper isn’t actually made in America per se. The majority of the pulp now comes from carbon-intensive eucalyptus plantations in Brazil. These plantations stand where rainforests once thrived only a generation ago, with devastating impacts on wildlife, biodiversity, water supply, and global warming. Go ahead, check the package on your grocery store TP. More likely than not, it says “Made in the US with imported parts or materials.” Toilet paper hasn’t been made from American trees in generations.

There are six main PFAS compounds that account for the majority of PFAS that is detected in toilet paper and other household products—PFHxA, PFOA, PFDA, 6:2 diPAP, 6:2/8:2 diPAP, and 8:2 diPAP. We tested for all six of these, in addition to 22 additional compounds, which are far less prevalent. We tested PlantPaper for all 28 of these, and had zero detections.

We like to think of this as a very fractional cost over the course of a year to reduce harmful chemicals on your body and save old growth trees and forests, our stalwart against climate change. PlantPaper on average is about .20 cents more than comparable tree-based brands. The average person uses around 70 rolls per year, so that means the yearly cost is only around $15 more to make the switch to PlantPaper.

You bet! PlantPaper breaks down easily in septic systems. To see for yourself, try this test at home:

1. Put 4 squares of PlantPaper in a glass jar.

2. Fill the jar ¾ full.

3. Put back on the lid and shake heavily for 10 seconds.

4. If the paper has broken down into small pieces (it will!), then it’s septic-safe.

Compared to other 2- and 3-ply premium toilet paper brands, whether tree- or bamboo-based, PlantPaper breaks down quickly and completely.

Yes, PlantPaper is 100% free of bleach and formaldehyde.

Until recently, almost all toilet paper was made with chlorinated bleach, which, when combined with organic substances like tree pulp, produces dioxins, a class of highly toxic compound considered a “persistent organic pollutant” because of how difficult they are to eradicate. In the last few years, as the damaging effects of bleach on our bodies and the environment became harder to ignore, some toilet paper companies have switched to an ECF process, or Elemental Chlorine Free. This is an improvement over previous methods, but some elemental chlorine is still present in the process, resulting in the formation of dioxins that ultimately find their way into our waterways and bloodstreams. That’s why we chose to make PlantPaper TCF–Totally Chlorine Free. 

Most conventional toilet paper brands are also made with formaldehyde, a known skin irritant and carcinogen. PlantPaper contains zero formaldehyde.