Toilet paper, as we know it, has not been around all that long. Thankfully, you can use toilet paper these days and even join a toilet paper of the month club. Before toilet paper, many other things were used throughout the world and history, including natural items like stones, shells, and foliage to human-made tools such as wands with sponges or fabric on the end, broken pottery with enemy’s names written on it, and expensive lace used by the wealthy.
However, the first historical evidence of paper being used was in 589 AD in China when Yen Chih-Thui, once scholar, mentioned what paper he would not use to clean his backside due to what was scribed on it. But even that paper was a far cry from what is used today.
Though some attempted to market toilet paper in the US in the 19th century, most of the population opted for the free Sears catalog instead of paying money for toilet paper. However, when Charmin started marketing their toilet paper in 1928, the tides began to turn, and plumbers everywhere rejoiced.
Although most people don’t think twice about the toilet paper they use today, some have noticed the devastating effect it has on our planet. For example, it takes 1.5 pounds of tree pulp to create one roll of toilet paper, which is why the US is cutting down 27,000 trees every day to make TP.
The US is the biggest consumer of toilet paper in the world. Each American uses an average of 57 sheets of TP per day. Ultimately, all of us will kill about 400 trees over each of our lifespans so that we can wipe our backside.
Due to the mass use of TP globally, our forests are taking a significant hit. And we all know the negative impacts and severity of deforestation on our planet.
None of us want to go back to stones and corncobs; however, more sustainable options are available. The number one sustainable alternative is bamboo sourced TP. Bamboo grows faster than trees, produces more oxygen, and absorbs more carbon making it the ideal choice.
However, bamboo is not the only option for sustainable toilet paper. Companies like the Bath Tissue Club practice sustainable methods for harvesting and give back to the earth through donations and planting trees.
Though finding eco-friendly toilet paper is not always the easiest at the local markets, there is a better way to buy your TP, toilet paper subscription boxes. It may sound funny signing up for a toilet paper of the month club, but nothing could be simpler or more convenient.
Most of the toilet paper of the month clubs use earth-friendly practices and materials. Some of these companies even go so far as using plant-based tape to avoid using plastic of any kind. And, don’t worry, these companies did not trade comfort for the earth. The toilet paper of the month clubs listed below all carry soft premium quality toilet paper, often of higher quality than what’s in your bathroom now.
Why not try out other clubs too, like a book of the month club (or even a comic book club), so you have something to read while you’re in the bathroom?
Toilet Paper of the Month Clubs
- No.2
- Reel
- Bath Tissue Club
- Tushy
- Bippy
- Who Gives A Crap
No.2
No.2 was founded by Samira Far in 2018 when she saw the need for better quality, more earth-friendly toilet paper. Samira Far understood that toilet paper was not sustainable, killing thousands of trees every day. But more than that, it takes 20-50 years to recover those lost trees.
No.2 is a sustainable toilet paper option made from bamboo. Bamboo grows faster than trees, more than a meter per day, which means it recovers in just 4-6 years. Bamboo is a renewable, sustainable alternative to using hardwood trees for toilet paper.
In addition to using bamboo, No.2 is earth friendly in other ways, like:
- Uses recycled paper to protect individual rolls
- Uses soy ink safe for the planet
- Does not use plastic in their packaging
- Is Responsible Forestry Certified
Not only is this 3-ply toilet paper earth-friendly, but it is also durable, silky, and clog and septic safe. The paper is also dye and BPA free. Plus, each roll is covered in decorative paper that comes in more than 8 different patterns.
No.2 has been well received by consumers and was featured on the Today Show and in USA Today, Self, and Better Homes and Gardens.
No.2 toilet paper is available as a one-time order or subscription with a 5% discount and free shipping. If you are looking for a fun gift, No.2 is also available as a prepaid subscription.
The toilet paper comes in packs of 8, 24, or 48 rolls. If you opt for a subscription, you can choose from several different frequency options, from every week to every 12 weeks.
Reel
Reel was founded in 2019 by Derin Oyekan and Livio Bisterzo whose mission is to change lives. The duo both saw a need for change in the paper industry, specifically to create a more sustainable product. Plus, the way they saw it, they could also help others in the process.
Today there are 2.4 billion people who are without toilets forcing them to go to the bathroom outside. Not only does this rob humans of dignity, but it also poses a significant health risk to these communities.
Because of this, Reel has partnered with SOIL, a non-profit company in Haiti that treats the waste and transforms it into safe compost. SOIL uses this compost to help with reforestation, agriculture, and the reduction of climate change.
Reel makes sustainable, eco-friendly paper products. Reel uses 100% bamboo to make their toilet paper and paper towels. Their packing and shipping material are all biodegradable and plastic-free, including the tape. Plus, all of their products are free from BPA, inks, and dyes.
Their toilet paper is available for a one-time purchase or part of a subscription, which saves you both time and money. Reel’s subscriptions come in 3 different frequencies every 4, 8, or 12 weeks. Each box of toilet paper contains 24 individually wrapped rolls.
The subscription is flexible and can be paused, canceled, or changed anytime. Also, when you sign up for the subscription you will also receive free shipping. Reel uses FedEx Smart Post, which is a combination of FedEx and USPS.
When you purchase from Reel you can be confident that you are supporting the global community and the planet.
Bath Tissue Club
Bath Tissue Club is based in Glendale, Califonia and their toilet paper is 100% American made. The Bath Tissue Club is a toilet paper subscription company.
Bath Tissue Club is part of the Forest For All Initiative, which is a non-profit independent organization that protects forests in the US and globally for future generations.
The toilet paper made by the Bath Tissue Club is sustainable, biodegradable, chemical-free, and hypoallergenic. Each of the rolls is 2-ply with 300 sheets per roll.
When you order from the Bath Tissue Club, their packs contain 24 rolls and are $29.99. There are 3 different subscription options:
- 1 box every 2 weeks
- 1 box every 4 weeks
- 1 box every 8 weeks
All of their toilet paper is safe for septic systems too. Unfortunately, you can not purchase toilet paper without a subscription. However, the toilet paper subscriptions are flexible and can be canceled anytime. Plus, if need to you can always skip a delivery or change the frequency of your shipments.
When you sign up with the Bath Tissue Club for their toilet paper subscription, they will donate money to the National Forest Foundation and plant a tree.
Tushy
Tushy is a unique company founded by Miki Agrawal in 2015. Tushy is much more than a toilet paper company; in fact, their primary focus is bidets.
Tushy offers a variety of products such as:
- Classic bidet
- Spa bidet
- Tushy system – includes bidet, ottoman, and tissue stand
- Bamboo toilet paper
- Bamboo towels
The Toilet Crusaders are passionate about the Tushy products and how they can help improve their customers’ health and the health and well-being of the global community.
Tushy strives to create eco-friendly toilet products that help to reduce wastefulness. But that is not their only goal; Tushy also works with Samagra, a company in India that strives to promote healthier and dignified living conditions to the urban poor.
The people at Tushy understand that people’s lives are cut short without proper waste management systems, and disease and parasites spread rapidly. This is why Tushy is dedicated to improving sanitation one toilet at a time.
Tushy toilet paper is available for a one-time purchase, or subscribers can sign up for their Clean Butt Club. The toilet paper subscription box includes 36 rolls at a discounted price of $59 per shipment. Shipments can be set up for every 1, 2, 3, or 4 months.
Each roll has 300 3-ply sheets and is packed in plastic-free packaging. Individual rolls are wrapped in decorative paper. All of the toilet paper is 100% bamboo and free of BPA and bleach. Plus, Tushy bamboo TP only takes .59 gallons of water to produce, whereas traditional TP uses 37 gallons of water to make.
Bippy
Bippy started after a conversation over margaritas when Lisa Frame asked her friend Isidro Hurtado, “Why are we literally flushing trees down the drain just so we could wipe our butts?” After posing this question, the two consulted their phones to find some pretty disturbing facts regarding the number of trees cut down every day to make toilet paper.
The two became so impassioned that they started researching the next day earnestly, calling hundreds of companies and testing numerous products. They soon discovered the benefits of using bamboo over hardwood for toilet paper.
And toilet paper is not the only eco-friendly thing about Bippy. The packaging is made from recycled material, and the tape is 100% plant-based, so everything Bippy uses is biodegradable and won’t be filling up any landfills.
Bippy’s bamboo toilet paper has two distinct sides, a textured side for cleaning and a soft side for “dabbing.” Each roll contains 250 3-ply sheets, and there are 24 rolls per pack. In addition to toilet paper, Bippy also makes toilet paper foam that transforms TP into a wet wipe.
You can purchase an individual pack for $32 or save almost 10% and sign up for the toilet paper of the month club for $29 per month. They have 6 different delivery options starting at 4 weeks and go up in 2-week increments to every 16 weeks. Subscriptions are flexible and can be adjusted as needed.
Who Gives A Crap
Who Gives A Crap was founded in 2012 by Simon, Jehan, and Danny, through an IndieGoGo crowdfunding campaign. This is another company that focuses on global issues, with the owners donating 50% of all profits towards projects that improve sanitation and build toilets in the developing world.
They offer 2 types of toilet paper, along with tissues, paper towels, and dream cloths. The toilet paper comes in either 24- or 48-roll packs and each roll is individually wrapped.
- Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper. These double length rolls are made from 100% bamboo. A box of 24 costs $34, while a 48-roll box costs $52. You save $10 if you order through a subscription and shipments can turn up every 8, 12, or 16 weeks.
- 100% Recycled Toilet Paper. This 3-ply toilet paper is made from recycled fibers. This time a 24-roll box costs $30 and a 48-roll box costs $48.
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