Natural toilet paper might be a confusing term because we assume all toilet paper is natural since it is not made of plastic, and we assume not made from a bunch of chemicals either. Sadly, this is not always the case for much of the traditional tree-based toilet paper we find in our stores. When we talk about natural toilet paper, we tend to mean versions that are produced in a way that causes less ecological damage than similar products on the market. Bamboo makes it possible to have a tree-free toilet paper
Natural toilet paper might include toilet paper that is made from ecologically friendly materials, that is able to be processed into toilet paper in a more eco friendly manner or is able to be more fully decomposed. While there are several types of toilet paper that claim to be natural, one of the best and most common types is bamboo toilet paper. Let us look at bamboo toilet paper and how its entire life cycle is better for the planet than traditional tree-based toilet paper, and why we love bamboo toilet paper!
Growing Bamboo
Much of our current toilet paper is made from trees, a resource that we know takes a long time to grow. Like the Chinese proverb that says: “The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now.” In addition, once a tree is cut down it is gone forever, and no longer can produce oxygen, provide shade, or provide habitats for other wild animals.
Bamboo on the other hand is a quick growing grass that replants itself removing the need to be replanted after harvesting. Also, unlike trees, bamboo must be harvested to stay alive. This means the harvesting of bamboo to make toilet paper can help bamboo itself survive instead of traditional toilet paper which simply leads to deforestation. Bamboo toilet paper is really a zero-waste toilet paper!
In addition, one interesting fact is that bamboo forests also produce up to 30 times more oxygen and absorb over 35 times more carbon than trees. This means that planting fields of bamboo can have a greater positive effect on an ecosystem than planting fields of trees. Taking this into account bamboo is pretty much a perfect resource for toilet paper, which we use only once before having to toss it down the drain. It makes sense to choose a material for our toilet paper that can be harvested with less environmental damage.
Turning Bamboo into Toilet Paper
Secondarily, it is important to consider the process by which bamboo is turned into toilet paper and how this process compares to the making of other types of toilet paper. Bamboo has a wide range of properties which means it can be turned into products such as toilet paper more easily. For example, bamboo is naturally odor resistant, antibacterial, antifungal, and hypoallergenic which means that fewer chemicals need to be used to process it into toilet paper.
Also, unlike other types of toilet paper such as recycled tree-based versions bamboo toilet paper does not require strong de-inking agents, or harsh chemicals such as BPA to be made. This reduction in chemicals helps protect our waterways and our water tables. Overall the process to make bamboo toilet paper is more eco-friendly than the creation of traditional or recycled toilet paper.
Disposing of Bamboo Toilet Paper
Finally, traditional toilet paper tends to clog pipes and become a major headache for those who oversee waste disposal because it often doesn't fully break down. Bamboo toilet paper on the other hand is 100% biodegradable which leaves both our personal plumbing and our communities water treatment facilities humming away happily. This has important environmental consequences since items that are not allowed to break down properly, tend to collect and end up in our landfills. Once it reaches our landfills it is unlikely it will ever be broken down because the factors needed to decompose are not present.
When we are thinking about natural toilet paper one great example is bamboo toilet paper. Bamboo toilet paper comes from renewable materials, is made in an eco-friendlier way than similar products, and tends to decompose fully reducing its chances of simply ending up in a landfill. There are plenty of reasons to why use bamboo toilet paper, and Seek Bamboo's bamboo toilet paper is incredibly soft!
For these and several other reasons bamboo toilet paper is a great option for those of us concerned with our ecological impact and want to be able to make small changes to our lives that will build up into a wave of big change for our communities and for our world. Most of us use toilet paper every day so this is a great place to start our journey into a sustainable and natural lifestyle.
Seek Bamboo offers a three-ply septic-safe bamboo toilet paper that customers love!
