Remember when toilet paper was not wrapped in plastic packaging?  Maybe you don’t because those days are largely gone.  So, we McSisters went on a search to find toilet paper without the plastic packaging.  Our research taught us that toilet paper has an environmentally destructive path long before it reaches your bum.  We certainly do not want to go without toilet paper, but the things we have learned about this seemingly innocent product are alarming. According to the NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council) many major toilet paper brands found in the United States come in part from one of the most climate-critical ecosystems on the planet: the Canadian boreal forest. This forest is one of the most intact forests left on the planet and we are using it to wipe our bums.   The destruction of the forests to make the pulp to make the toilet paper and the making of the plastic for the packaging create a huge impact on climate change.  The good news is that there are lots of great toilet paper products on the market today made of recycled paper or bamboo.  My personal favorite is the NRDC ‘A’ rated ‘Who Gives a Crap’ recycled toilet paper (https://us.whogivesacrap.org).  I don’t know what I like best about the company. . . the fabulous sense of humor of the marketing team. . . the fact that 50% of the profits build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. . . no plastic packaging. . .each roll is wrapped in fun paper that can be reused for origami or wrapping paper. We can save our forests a few bums at a time.

What can you do?

• Read NRDC report about toilet paper. https://www.nrdc.org/experts/jennifer-skene/toilet-paper-driving-climate-crisis-every-flush

• Be mindful of the toilet paper you buy.  Here is the NRDC score card of at home tissue product options: https://www.nrdc.org/sites/default/files/issue-with-tissue-2022-scorecard.pdf  Notice the ever popular Costco Kirkland brand has an F rating.