Recycled Toilet Paper: Can "Green" Brands Offer Affordable Softness?

Buying toilet paper made from recycled fibers is a priority for my family. According to a report by Leslie Kaufman in the New York Times, old growth trees from Canada are used to make premium toilet paper. Ever since learning this alarming truth, I stopped buying ultra soft bathroom tissue (like Charmin and Cottonelle), no matter how enticing a bargain it seemed to be. From now on I want to spend my money at stores and with companies offering bathroom tissue made from recycled fibers. Thankfully, there are now several brands of "green" bathroom tissue that offer both recycled products and good value. But which brands are best? After trying out four different brands of recycled toilet paper from two stores, here are my findings:

1. White Cloud Green Earth Bath Tissue
Fiber content: 100% Recycled
Softest of all 4 brands compared, with good strength
Big rolls (396 sheets per roll)
Cost at Wal-mart: $4 for 6 giant rolls (1.8 cents per sq. ft.)
or $3 for 6 giants rolls after $1.00 off coupon (1.1 cents per sq. ft.)

2. Midwest County Fare Bathroom Tissue (store brand)
Fiber Content: 100% Recycled
Medium softness and strength
Small rolls in 4 pack (176 sheets per roll) or double rolls in 12 pack (352 sheets per roll)
Cost at Hy-Vee: $0.87 to $0.97 for 4 rolls (1.0 to 1.2 cents per sq. ft.); $5.77 for 12 rolls (1.2 cents per sq. ft.)

3. Scott Naturals Bathroom Tissue
Fiber Content: 40% Recycled (lowest of all brands compared)
Medium softness and good strength
Biggest rolls of all brands compared (440 sheets per roll)
Cost at Wal-mart: $2.68 for 4 mega rolls (1.3 cents per sq. ft.)

4. Marcal
Fiber Content: 100% Recycled
Minimal softness and medium-low strength
Double rolls (336 sheets per roll)
Cost at Hy-Vee: $2.50 to $2.68 for 4 rolls (1.7 to 1.8 cents per sq. ft.)
or $1.50 to $1.68 for 4 rolls after $1.00 off coupon (1.0 to 1.1 cents per sq. ft.)

After several months of trying these four brands out, which one do I like best? Probably my favorite is White Cloud Green Earth. The quality seemed the highest of all four brands, and the tissue is made from 100% recycled fibers. White Cloud Green Earth rolls are also large, which saves packaging space and means I do not have to change the roll as often.

However, since cost is important to me, I would still consider buying the other brands if I did not have a coupon for White Cloud Green Earth. My second choice would be the store brand, Midwest County Fare, since it offers good value, earth friendliness, and reasonable quality. The remaining brands, Scott Naturals and Marcal, I am unlikely to purchase again unless there is an irresistible coupon deal available.

In addition to hoping for more coupons for eco-friendly bathroom tissue, I would like to see more stores carrying earth friendly bathroom products. Several stores that I like to shop at (such as our local Target store) do not carry any recycled toilet paper whatsoever, which means I will not buy toilet paper there. As more people buy bathroom tissue that is made from recycled fibers, its availability should grow. Every store ought to carry at least one or two eco-friendly options for the growing number of us who care about the environmental cost of the paper products we choose to buy.

Source:
Kaufman, Leslie. "Mr Whipple Left It Out - Soft is Rough on Forests." The New York Times. February 25, 2009.