Loo roll, toilet paper, bog roll or if you are feeling fancy, toilet tissue. Whatever your household calls it, we all use it, it’s one of those items on the shopping list that we all need, and when the nation thought it might run out, panic ensued.

The world population uses nearly 30,000 trees every day in toilet paper. That means we use 10 million trees each year in toilet paper. To produce one loo roll it takes 37 gallons of water, just for a single roll. Keep in mind the average British household uses 127 rolls each year so that’s 4,699 gallons of water, never mind the electricity and the chemical processes. 

How many of us have ever really thought about our toilet paper? I mean, beyond if there’s any left or not? How can we make this basic of all basic products more sustainable?

• Choose recyclable toilet roll and packaging

Well, as a starting point try to keep an eye out for toilet rolls produced using at least some recyclable materials, some are even made with 100% recycled materials and more sustainable woods like bamboo. Remember the cardboard roll can go in most household recycling bins or be used in family friendly crafts and as a seedling pot if you are feeling green fingered. The main issue most of the big brands face is the plastic wrapping, it doesn’t matter if you buy a two, four or a sixteen pack they nearly all come in plastic wrapping.  Try to look for brands that package their toilet rolls in paper rather than plastic. 

Aldi are now stocking recycled toilet paper in paper packaging for £2.49 for 9 rolls.

Waitrose are also doing their bit with their ECOlogical Toilet Tissue, 9 rolls for £4.00

Some supermarkets are moving their own brand in the right direction with test launches of paper wrapped packs, we’ve tested out a few alternatives to help eliminate this unnecessary plastic that wraps one of our most basic products.

• Toilet roll straight to your door

With convenient home delivery that can be done on an order by order basis or as part of a subscription, get in the rhythm and you’ll never run out again, most home delivery services use existing delivery services in a bid to reduce emissions. Averaging less than £1 per roll, this is an inexpensive sustainable change that is better for the environment with minimal effort. 

Who Gives a Crap
Made from eco friendly bamboo and delivered straight to your door with no plastic in sight, ‘Who Gives a Crap’ are the leaders in jazzy wrapping. Each roll is wrapped in a funky design and has a nice message to read whilst you…do your thing. The company donates 50% of its profits to help build toilets in the developing world, they really are commiting to tackle the fact that 40% of the global population don’t have access to a toilet.
£24 for 24 or £36 for 48, plus they do gift cards. A great gift for anyone moving house or the student in your life. 

Cheeky Panda
The first loo roll to be registered with The Vegan Society, another 100% bamboo option hence the name Cheeky Panda. Inspired by a trip to China the owners saw the amount of wasted bamboo at harvest time and created the brand from there. With a good selection of additional baby friendly products and the cheeky panda logo, this is a great family friendly option.
£21 for 24 or £36 for 45

Bumboo
With the fully naked, box only, no wrappers option available for a slightly cheaper price Bumboo are really stripping it back. They are 100% bamboo and the company plants a tree in an area affected by deforestation for every box sold. They call it beautifully soft and we would have to agree with this stylish elegant brand, perfect for the style and environmentally conscious.
£22.50 for 24 (with wrappers) or £38 for 48 (without wrappers) 

If you think you are going to miss your quilted, scented fancy big brand fear not as it’s only loo roll and for the sake of all that plastic every year it’s a small change we can all make. Although we do have a top tip if you want to get a bit fancy, a few drops of essential oil to the cardboard roll tubes or a sprig of lavender stored in the delivery box will add a beautiful scent to this bathroom necessity.