We Asked the Experts: Is Bamboo Actually Sustainable?
In recent years, bamboo has become a popular alternative to wood pulp harvested from trees, plastic, and other materials. But just how sustainable is bamboo, and should you make the switch to bamboo household paper and other bamboo-based products?
To help us see the forest for the trees, we’ve reached out to Shelley Vinyard, co-author of The “Issue with Tissue 2.0: How the Tree-to-Toilet Pipeline Fuels Our Climate Crisis,” a Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report. In this article, we explore whether bamboo is actually sustainable and delve into whether the average home should make the switch.
Is bamboo actually sustainable?
Bamboo has made its way into various industries and products, with everything from bamboo clothing to sheets to paper cropping up across different retailers.Thanks to its incredible growth rate — up to 35 inches a day — its ability to thrive without fertilizer, and the fact that it regenerates from its own roots (no replanting needed), bamboo is often marketed as a super sustainable material.¹ However, this doesn’t paint the whole picture.
For years, bamboo was lauded for absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing up to 35% more oxygen than other plants. Yet, a 2016 study found that bamboo may actually emit carbon dioxide, calling its eco-friendliness into question.²
There are also other factors to consider when weighing bamboo's sustainability, such as the environmental impact of shipping bamboo and the chemicals used in the production processes for certain items like clothing and textiles. Still, transitioning to bamboo products has its share of upsides, especially when comparing bamboo products against conventional tree-based alternatives. Let’s look at toilet paper as an everyday example.
Bamboo toilet paper vs. regular toilet paper
Products made from 100% bamboo are biodegradable and compostable, but that’s not the only reason bamboo paper products are better for the environment than those made from trees. Most of the tree-based toilet paper used in the U.S. isn’t sustainably-grown or recycled. It’s made with virgin wood pulp from the Canadian boreal forest, which plays an important role in supporting biodiversity and storing carbon. And with the average American using over 140 rolls of TP per year, that’s a lot of trees getting flushed down the toilet.³
“Bamboo tissue products produce 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions than those made from 100% virgin forest fiber,” Shelley Vinyard says. This is especially problematic when we look at some of the companies behind the big names in traditional toilet paper. “P&G, Kimberly-Clark, and Georgia-Pacific all continue to make their household tissue products from 100% virgin forest fiber and have not incorporated any recycled or alternative fibers into these products,” says Vinyard.
How is bamboo toilet paper made?
To make toilet paper, bamboo stalks are broken down into thin fibers. The fibers are then turned into a pulp, which is then soaked, pressed, and turned into rolls of toilet paper. Just as simple as processing wood, but without the intense depletion of forest ecosystems.
Is bamboo toilet paper safe for your septic tank?
The last thing you want is clogged pipes — we get it. Luckily, bamboo is generally safe for septic tanks and sewers because it’s a type of grass.⁴ Since bamboo is a natural material, it’ll dissolve in water quickly and naturally, leaving nothing behind. Just be sure to carefully read the labels of your bamboo toilet paper, to ensure it will be safe for your home septic system.
Bidet vs. bamboo toilet paper: Which is more sustainable?
While bamboo is a great alternative to traditional paper, adding a bidet to your bathroom will lower your need for paper products altogether. And now, bidets are gaining popularity in the US.
“Bidets are a great alternative to using tissue products,” says Vinyard. “In fact, bidets require less water per use than the tissue-making process does.” Combine bamboo toilet paper with a bidet for maximum sustainability.
More sustainable bamboo products
Bamboo is used to make more than just paper products. It’s a super versatile crop that’s used to make everything from toothbrushes to bandaids, flooring, kitchen utensils, and even clothing. Switching to bamboo is an easy way to reduce plastic and other non-renewable materials in your home, without making a ton of tradeoffs since it can be made durable or dissolvable as needed.
Plus, 100% bamboo products like bamboo plates and cutlery can often be composted at home, and even partial bamboo products like toothbrushes can be sent for commercial composting once the non-bamboo portion has been removed.
Sources:
1 Guinness World Records. (n.d.). Fastest growing plant. Guinness World Records. Retrieved November 14, 2024, from https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/fastest-growing-plant
2 Zachariah, E. J., Sabulal, B., Nair, D. N. K., Johnson, A. J., & Kumar, C. S. P. (2016). Carbon dioxide emission from bamboo culms. Plant Biology, 18(2), 227-234. https://doi.org/10.1111/plb.12435
3 Statista. (2020, March 9). Toilet paper consumption in selected countries worldwide. https://www.statista.com/chart/15676/cmo-toilet-paper-consumption/
4 Supeck Septic Services LLC. (n.d.). Bamboo Toilet Paper & Your Septic System. Retrieved November 25, 2024 from https://supeckseptic.com/bamboo-toilet-paper/
