The “is there a good recycled toilet paper out there” challenge

So, I haven’t always been perfect about buying fully recycled toilet paper. Mainly because of costs. With kids you go through a lot and recycled is almost always more expensive in my neck of the woods. However traditional, non-recycled toilet paper is terrible for the environmental so it is one of those products you should always buy green.

Secondly, when I do buy recycled toilet paper I don’t have major issues. It’s toilet paper not bedding. I don’t care that it’s not 100% cushy and mattress like.

That said I have a boyfriend who recently compared Marcal recycled toilet paper to a whole bunch of baddies; and I quote…

“It’s worse than a Brillo pad.
Poison Ivy leaves would be a step up.
Maybe we could use it to sand the coffee table.
It causes actual pain”

Note that I don’t agree. I don’t think Marcal was all that bad. Not as soft as traditional virgin toilet paper, but not sheer torture or even any sort of torture. My extremely picky son has also not complained. In fact, I’d probably buy it again BUT I have a live in boyfriend so nix that.

Also note though that my boyfriend is not the first to complain. I’ve heard plenty of people say they don’t think recycled toilet paper is soft enough; read all sorts of “recycled TP sucks” reviews, and so on. That said, I looked it up to see if there’s some issue that’s stopping recycled toilet paper from being manufactured in a softer way.

Grist, a green site I trust, notes that there are “Barriers to making it as soft as the virgin-tree-on-a-roll brands…The reason for this difference has to do with the fact that the texture of the starting fibers — whether virgin or recycled — influences the feel of the “end” product. Also, the fibers in paper shorten each time they’re recycled, making recycled paper less strong than the virgin variety. To compensate for this, some manufacturers use resins or mechanical means that help the recycled fibers stick together better. But making paper stronger also tends to make it stiffer.”

Other sites I found info on said much the same. So what to do? A challenge? Ok then. Here’s a round up of possible test subject choices:

These are the options I thought of. If you have an idea, let me know. I’ll maybe include it in a review and then later we’ll gather all the review subjects together for a round-up. And no I’m not installing a bidet at this time, so as green as it may be, please don’t suggest that. Oh and I don’t care if Walmart has some cream of the crop green toilet paper, I’m also not shopping there. Just an FYI.

Coming up soon some good reasons why you should used recycled toilet paper over virgin paper made toilet paper.

Have you liked any recycled bath tissues? Yes? No? Why or why not?

Comments

By Jessie

Dear sir,
Good day!
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We can supply toilet paper,handkerchief paper,napkin and so on.If you need,please contact us.What’s more,we can send samples to you in necessity.Hope we can establish long term business relationship in the future.
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Company:Baoding Hozhong Paper Co.,Ltd
Address: No.35, Baihua West Road,Baoding,Hebei,China
Tel: 0086-0312-3010875
Fax:0086-0312-7501976
Skype:Jessie1983_china
E-mail:Jessie198310@gmail.com
&bdhozhong@hotmail.com

By Julia Waters

Many moms use cloth diapers for their babies. Why not try washable restroom wipes? I had some cheap jersey cotton sheets hanging around, the sets you can get at Ross for about $15. I cut them up into medium sized panels and use them as hankerchiefs, pee rags, and sometimes as paper towels to wipe up smalls spills. You don’t have to sew edging because the ends don’t fray, and they are much softer on nose and behind than recycled toilet paper. I just wash them on hot (you can add white vinegar to boost cleaning power if you like) and voila! One sheet set can make hundreds of cloths. I usually keep a few rolls of recycled toilet paper on hand for poos and guests, but these cut our usage of paper way down. My husband prefers them to kleenex for his seasonal allergies. I have also tried the paperless deuce using a cheap soft plastic sports squeeze bottle with angled straw to wash, but I’m too lazy to do it all the time.

By Quico

I tried the 7th Generation brand, liked it, but did not like the price too much. Then I tried CVS but it’s only one-ply. Tomorrow I am going to try Trader Joes, which I hear is cheap.

By Peggy

I tried the new, improved 7G recently. My husband specifically asked that I not buy it again. I’m trying to remember his exact reasons, something about not being sturdy or bunching up, etc.

It was maybe slightly softer than before. Recycled TP can cause irritation and pain if you don’t wipe gently – particularly for women. I’m not sure what to say other than maybe buy some carbon credits if you can’t take it :)

By JulieF

My husband started buying Small Steps because he knew I wanted us to be greener and that was his contribution. I have to say, it’s no worse than Scott, which we always used because we have big family and well…you know how that goes.

Maybe you could cover the little ‘bidet’ contraptions that can be added to a toilet? That’s about as green as you can get-cut out toilet paper totally! lol :-)

I love how you go where most people won’t, Jennifer, it so rocks.

By Melissa

I have tried Seventh Generation, Whole Foods and Trader Joe’s. Out of those three, I’d say TJs was the best.

The top two things I look for in a toilet tissue:
1- That it doesn’t leave lint. (who needs lint left behind on their bums?)
2- That the roll doesn’t run out too quickly

By Michelle Sackett

Well this is the first time I have ever left my opinion on something and I am shocked at myself that it is about TP!! I have used a few of the green toilet tissues out there and have found them not to be at all bad!! I have never been the one to go out and buy that super soft garbage especially when my son could go thru a roll in one sitting!! I like the Marcal probably the best. Next would be the Seventh Generation. You need to purchase your tissue thru Amazon in bulk. That is the only way to go. That is if you have the room for 50 rolls or more!! I guess then the Green Forest would be my third choice. I don’t think for the money you get alot on the roll. I guess I’ll keep trying others until I find the one I like.