The 2×12 Reduction Challenge continues! March is the second month of our plastic reduction challenge: 2 plastic reductions x 12 months. Our first permanent plastic reduction for the month continues our bathroom theme from February – we’ve switched to eco-friendly toilet paper! When you think about plastic reduction, toilet paper may not be the first thing that comes to mind, however, almost all TP comes wrapped in thin plastic that cannot be recycled.

Our solution has been to switch over to a mail subscription TP that is made from recycled paper and is wrapped in paper instead of plastic. And as a bonus, the brand makes TP fun! It’s called “Who Gives a Crap“. Their marketing brings a bit of whimsy and humor to their eco-friendly TP. Lots of G-Rated toilet humor and silly puns, who doesn’t love that??

Benefits of Who Gives a Crap

In addition to being excited to cut down on plastic, we’re also pretty stoked on all of the other great benefits of Who Gives a Crap TP. Here’s a few:

• Their basic 3-ply version (what we’ve decided to use) is made from recycled paper. No trees harmed in the making of this TP!
• They also have a premium version that’s made from bamboo, which is a more sustainable option.
• They’re a certified B Corp! The founders donate 50% of all profits to help people in developing countries build toilets – which can help prevent the spread of disease.
• And, each extra large roll is wrapped in super cute paper. Keeps the TP hygienic and makes it a fun conversation piece if you display it in your bathroom.

We were a bit hesitant about trying Who Gives a Crap given that it comes in large deliveries (i.e., 24 or 48 rolls), but fortunately they are offering a Free Trial. The trial includes both types of TP, a box of tissues, and a roll of paper towel. Though it isn’t the most luxurious TP, it is perfectly adequate in our opinion. We are happy to make the switch!

Save the Trees

This post is supposed to be about plastic reduction, but let’s also take a moment to talk about saving our forests. I was recently horrified to learn that many of the “luxury” TPs out there (e.g., Charmin, Quilted Northern, TJs Super Soft Bath Tissue) are continuing to use paper pulp from virgin forests. They are cutting down trees from actual forests. I’m an optimistic person, so I had (naively) assumed those days were long gone. I didn’t think much about where my TP came from, but if asked I probably would have guessed that TP came from recycled paper or orchards grown specifically for this purpose. Nope. They are cutting down old-growth forests to create TP – something we use for mere seconds before literally flushing it down the toilet! Not only are forests important for the many animals who live in them, but they are also crucial in the fight against climate change. Forests absorb carbon, and when they are cut down that carbon gets released back into the atmosphere. Bottom line, it’s really not a good thing to cut down forests.

To learn more about what’s happening to old growth forests, such as the Boreal Forest in Canada, visit the NRDC’s website. They also have a great TP buying guide that rates common TP brands. The “Super Soft Bath Tissue” that we were buying from TJs gets rated a D. Wrapped in plastic and killing trees. A big fat D! That was a hard pill to swallow, but I’m relieved that we’ve found a solution, because as it turns out, we really do give a crap.

xoxo, Nicole