The Environmental Impact of Regular Toilet Paper vs Bamboo

Toilet paper is one of the most used household items. We don’t often think about it we just buy it, use it, and move on. But the truth is, not all toilet paper is created equal. In fact, the type of toilet paper you choose can have a serious impact on the environment.

So, what’s the difference between regular toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper? Why does it matter?

In this blog, we’ll break down the environmental impact of both, so you can make a better, greener choice for your home and the planet.

1. Where Regular Toilet Paper Comes From

Most regular toilet paper is made from virgin wood pulp, which means it’s made by cutting down trees often from forests that have existed for hundreds of years. This process has several serious environmental effects:

🌳 Deforestation: Millions of trees are cut down each year just to make toilet paper.
🐾 Habitat destruction: Forests are home to thousands of species. When trees are removed, animals lose their homes.
🌎 Carbon emissions: Trees absorb carbon dioxide. Fewer trees mean more CO₂ in the atmosphere, contributing to climate change.

It’s estimated that over 27,000 trees are cut down every single day just to make traditional toilet paper. That’s a huge cost for something that’s used once and flushed away.

2. The Problem With Bleaching and Processing

Most regular toilet paper is bleached to make it bright white. But this process often involves chlorine or harsh chemicals that:

Can pollute water systems
Leave behind toxic byproducts like dioxins
Are unnecessary for hygiene or performance

These chemicals aren’t just harmful to the environment they can also irritate sensitive skin.

3. Packaging Waste: Plastic vs. Paper

Regular toilet paper is almost always wrapped in plastic packaging. These plastic wraps are:

Not recyclable in most UK curbside bins
Likely to end up in landfills or oceans
A major contributor to single-use plastic pollution

And once the plastic is in the environment, it takes hundreds of years to break down.

4. Why Bamboo Toilet Paper Is Different

Now, let’s look at bamboo toilet paper, like Master Roll.

🌱 Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. It grows incredibly fast some species grow over 1 metre per day.
🌿 When bamboo is harvested, the root system stays in place, meaning it can regrow without replanting.
🚫 It doesn’t require pesticides, fertilisers, or much water to grow.
🌍 And bamboo absorbs 30% more carbon dioxide than trees.

This makes bamboo a highly renewable resource and a much more sustainable alternative to tree-based paper.

5. Bamboo Toilet Paper’s Lower Environmental Footprint

Bamboo toilet paper has many environmental benefits over regular toilet paper:

Category	Regular Toilet Paper	Bamboo Toilet Paper
Raw Material	Virgin wood pulp (trees)	Renewable bamboo
Growth Time	20–50 years	3–5 years (or less)
Replanting	Trees must be replanted	Bamboo regenerates itself
Packaging	Often plastic-wrapped	Often plastic-free (like Master Roll)
Chemical Use	Often bleached with chlorine	Usually chemical-free or low impact
CO₂ Absorption	Slower	Faster and higher

Brands like Master Roll go even further by offering:

Plastic-free packaging
Individually wrapped rolls for hygiene
Biodegradable, septic-safe sheets

That means every roll you use helps reduce your personal carbon footprint and plastic waste.

6. Healthier for You and the Planet

The benefits don’t stop with the environment.

Bamboo toilet paper is often:

Softer and gentler on skin
Free from fragrance, chlorine, and dyes
Better for people with allergies or sensitive skin

When you use a product daily in such a personal way, it’s important that it’s both safe and clean. Bamboo toilet paper checks both boxes.

7. Long-Term Impact: Small Switch, Big Change

Switching to bamboo toilet paper may seem like a small act, but consider this:

If every UK household switched to bamboo toilet paper, we could save millions of trees every year, reduce plastic waste and cut down on water and chemical pollution.

That’s a major win for:

Forests
Wildlife
Oceans
Our future

By choosing Master Roll bamboo toilet paper, you’re not just making a smart purchase you’re making a meaningful contribution to a healthier planet.

Final Thoughts

The type of toilet paper you use matters more than you think. While traditional rolls come at the cost of trees, pollution, and plastic waste, bamboo toilet paper offers a cleaner, greener solution.

With Master Roll you get: