Private Brand Toilet Paper Receive Top Marks In Survey

Sustainability and paper products used around the home such as toilet paper can be at opposite ends of the spectrum when discussing ways consumers can use products that have less of an impact on the environment. 

A recent report from the Washington Post took a deep dive into the issue of sustainability and toilet paper, and found that private label products from Kroger and Whole Foods were among the top items now available to consumers.

Completing its own testing, and using information from the Natural Resources Defense Council’s ranking of the level of sustainability from dozens of toilet paper brands, the Post found that Kroger’s Simple Truth toilet paper was the softest among those products that received high marks from NRDC. The product is made from 100% recycled paper with up to 60% post-consumer recycled content, material that would normally be recycled or wind up in a landfill. 

While the Simple Truth product received a 5.5 out of 10 for softness (Charmin received an average score of 9.8), the Post reported noted that the softest toilet paper can be among the least sustainable. These types of products are usually made with virgin forest fiber and could include fiber from older trees that store large amounts of carbon.

Kroger’s Simple Truth toilet paper received an A rating from the NRDC. 

In terms of absorbency, Whole Foods tied for first with Everspring. Products from both are made of 100% recycled content and during the test, 0.5 milliliters of liquid passed through an average of eight sheets. 

The NRDC gave Whole Foods an A+ and Everspring an A. NRDC said it gave higher grades to products with larger amounts of post-consumer recycled content.

Additionally, Whole Foods 365 toilet paper (two-ply) finished second in the strength test, coming in behind Reel Paper, which is made from 100% percent bamboo.