When I began looking for ways to reduce my plastic waste, I went for the big wins first–things like large laundry detergent bottles or all the seltzer and water bottles we used. Toilet paper is not actually very high on the list for me. But every time I bought toilet paper wrapped in plastic is bugged me. The product is paper, why can’t the package be paper? And so, I have been on the hunt for TP wrapped in paper for awhile.
It turns out that when you look for plastic-free paper products, manufacturers add a lot of other environmentally friendly attributes. Usually they are made from recycled paper or from bamboo. And I am all for that. But sometimes the experience involves some tradeoffs. That is why my new favorite toilet paper is Betterway. It has all the benefits with minimal tradeoffs.
Plastic-Free
For a long time I bought 365 brand toilet paper made from recycled paper. While not the exact same experience as a name brand 3-ply product, it was soft enough and strong enough. But the plastic packaging was frustrating.
Finding plastic-free toilet paper is more difficult than I expected. There are no stores in our area that sell TP in paper packages. Years ago, I could buy Scott tissue wrapped in paper, but I can no longer find that option. So I had to move online. Most of the brands I have found online are made from bamboo, though some are made with recycled paper. The hard part was finding a product that was soft, strong, and cost effective.
Soft and Strong
Many of the brands made from 100% bamboo or recycled paper turned out to be rough and/or flimsy. While we were willing to make some tradeoffs for TP that is better for the environment, if the product is too thin or weak, you just end up using more anyway. Bettwerway is both strong enough and soft enough to make it an easy switch. The paper outer wrap is probably more substantial than necessary (could they save more paper by making it thinner?) but it includes interesting facts about saving plastic and preventing deforestation.
The downside of any of these paper products that you order online, is that they have to be shipped to you. The good news is that the corrugated cardboard shipping box can be recycled, but the bad news is that it is extra packaging.
None of these plastic-free options is a bargain. In general, I found these brands to cost at least 50% more than traditional brands of toilet paper–not a great value.
Things I Love:
- Plastic-free!
- Bamboo is a great sustainable option
- Softer than other bamboo toilet papers I tried
- 3-ply and strong enough
Things I Don’t Love:
- Only available online
- Way more expensive than traditional toilet paper
Product Info:
- Order from the website, where it is less expensive than on Amazon
- https://www.gobetterway.com/
Betterway Toilet Paper Rating
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