Thursday, February 28, 2008

Wipe clean, wipe green: a guide to eco-TP

A lot of attention gets paid to going green in the bathroom. Eco toilets, recycling human waste, celebrity wiping habits, a lot of time gets spent on this issue -- and it may be justified. The NRDC estimates that if every household in the US switched just one roll of 'virgin' toilet paper with a roll of the recycled stuff, it would save 423,900 trees.

Here's the problem: the bathroom tissue aisle at the supermarket can be a frustrating place. It's a decision that you really don't want to spend much time on, yet when you get to the aisle there are a bajillion different choices. If you want to get in and get out quick, you've got to have a "go-to" brand. Here are a few suggestions:

  • 365 recycled TP is at the top of the Nation Resources Defence Council's list. It wins out with using over 80% of post consumer waste, and of course it's chlorine free. The only downside is that it's only available at Whole Foods, since it's their house brand.
  • Seveth Generation toilet paper is made from 100% recycled paper, with a minimum of 80% post consumer waste. It's bleached with a earth friendly chlorine-free process. Find Seventh Generation products.
  • Eco-Soft is Green Seal certified, so you can rest assured that you're getting a product that's good you the environment -- although it may not be super soft on your bum. The "soft" in Eco-soft is referring more to its soft impact on the environment. It's available in 2-ply, but as far as comfort goes -- think institutional.
Cascades 100% Recycled toilet tissue is chlorine free, and the company claims to use 80% less water than the industry average to produce its fine bathroom tissue.

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