The first thing most people notice about PlantPaper is its silkiness and strength. PlantPaper doesn’t pill or tear due to bamboo’s exceptionally high tensile strength. It also doesn’t create dust or lint in the way many tree-based toilet papers do. On the reverse side, PlantPaper’s unique dimpling pattern also provides more grip, so people find they use fewer sheets.

Most toilet paper sold in the U.S. and Canada is made from wood pulp, sourced from old-growth trees in the Canadian Boreal Forest and carbon-intensive eucalyptus plantations in South America. The Boreal forest is one of the world’s most important carbon sinks, storing more carbon than all known oil, gas, and coal reserves combined. Clear-cutting releases millions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, and even replanted forests can take over a century to recover—if they recover at all.

Bamboo is one of the world’s fastest growing plants, capable of growing up to three feet in 24 hours. It requires little water, no fertilizer and regenerates on its own after cutting. The more regularly bamboo is harvested, the faster it grows. PlantPaper is made of 100% FSC® Certified, unbleached bamboo.

We start with 100% FSC-certified carbon neutral bamboo, primarily from the species neosinocalamus affinis, valued for its unique pulp characteristics which allow it to create a toilet paper of exceptional strength and softness. While most other brands, tree-based and tree-free alike, bleach their pulp to turn it white, PlantPaper uses no bleach or dyes of any kind.

PlantPaper has 200 sheets per roll, with each sheet measuring 4.3” x 4.3,” with total surface area of 18.5 square inches, about 20% larger than conventional sheets.

PlantPaper’s core is made to fit most standard roll holders, and is 100% recycled and compostable.

PlantPaper is 100% free of bleach—no artificial whitening or dying process of any kind. The color you see reflects the natural color of the bamboo fibers themselves.

Conventional toilet paper is whitened by ECF bleaching. Relative to traditional chlorine bleaching, numerous studies have found that ECF significantly reduces but does not completely eliminate the production of dioxins in the papermaking process.

Early toilet paper wasn’t bleached at all—it started as a simple paper product meant for direct contact with skin. Bleaching existed at the time, but it was used for industrial paper, not personal care. As toilet paper became mass-produced in the 20th century, manufacturers began bleaching it to make every roll look bright white and uniform.

Yes. PlantPaper is rigorously lab-tested and shown to be free of bleach, formaldehyde, PFAS, BPA, BPS, dioxins, and heavy metals. It is made entirely without dyes or fragrances.

Yes. PlantPaper consistently tests negative for PFAS, commonly known as forever chemicals. 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 test for all six of these, in addition to 22 additional compounds, which are far less prevalent. PlantPaper tests negative for all 28 of these, as well as organic fluorine, a marker for PFAS.

PFAS are a group of man-made chemicals used to make products resistant to water, grease, and stains. They’re often called “forever chemicals” because they don’t break down easily and can persist in the environment and the human body over time. PFAS have been used for decades in everything from nonstick cookware and food packaging to textiles and some paper products. Because they’re so persistent, scientists and regulators have increasingly focused on reducing unnecessary exposure wherever possible.

A PlantPaper subscription saves you time, effort and money—as much as $50 per year. It also means you never have to worry about running out, and you’ll always have the right amount on hand. No more emergency runs to the corner store, no more hauling toilet paper around. You can adjust or pause anytime, and we’ll always let you know before an order ships. Our subscription portal makes it easy—no password necessary.

Compared to “premium” tree paper brands, PlantPaper typically works out to the same price, or even a bit cheaper.

When comparing PlantPaper to other bamboo brands, it’s not apples to apples. PlantPaper is the only leading bamboo brand that is 100% bleach-free. PlantPaper’s sheets are also 20% larger than other bamboo brands, and thicker too, meaning you use less. PlantPaper subscribers who’ve switched from other bamboo brands report using 30-40% fewer sheets.

On a per roll basis, using the largest pack sizes available, PlantPaper costs about the same as other bamboo brands. Taking into account sheets per roll, PlantPaper typically works out to about $10 more per year per person than other bamboo brands.

Most toilet paper embossing exists to hold plies together or add decorative branding. When we developed PlantPaper, we realized embossing could do more. Our dot-matrix pattern creates two distinct textures: a silky side designed for gentle dabbing, and a grippier side that improves pickup and absorbency. The result is better performance, fewer sheets used, and less abrasion.

We could go on about bamboo’s exceptional silkiness and strength, but we think it’s better to let our customers tell you themselves.

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

Put 4 squares of PlantPaper in a glass jar. Fill the jar ¾ full. Put back on the lid and shake heavily for 10 seconds. 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 more quickly and completely. The majority of clogs are not the result of a change in paper, but rather due to underlying bellies and back-ups in the pipes that gradually worsen over time. Still, no matter what paper you’re using, if you’re a heavy wiper (you use more than 10-15 sheets of toilet paper per visit), consider flushing midway to reduce stress on your system. There’s no truly universal measure of septic safety, because no two septic or plumbing systems are exactly alike. But toilet paper that passes this test will pass easily through almost any well-maintained plumbing system.

If you're still unsure, it's always best to get a second opinion from a professional plumber.

Yes! PlantPaper is shipped 100% plastic-free. Both our outer cardboard shipping box and inner boxes are 100% recycled and compostable. Our rolls come packed in boxes of 8, without annoying individual wrappers to avoid waste. These boxes are great for under-counter storage and make it easy to break up your order for multiple bathrooms.