The Bamboo Factor: While bamboo itself is considered a miracle crop because of its incredible growth rate and low water requirements, once the bamboo is cut, it must then be processed into soft, white paper. The safety of the finished product, however, rests entirely in the idea of a “closed-loop” factory. If the company uses harsh chemical solvents or even elemental chlorine to leach the difficult bamboo fibers, then we’re right back to square one. To get the full benefits of bamboo, we must find companies that emphasize mechanical processing over chemical-based techniques.
How to shop smarter: Products to watch
But when it comes time to fill the bathroom, things get a little fuzzy. While the peer-reviewed studies cited in this conversation so far haven’t mentioned any specific brands, further independent tests have tried to fill in those blanks.
It is, of course, absolutely essential to take these results with a grain of salt, as most of these tests are merely a series of spot checks, not exhaustive tests of a wide variety of brands. Take, for instance, a 2023 report conducted by Mamavation, in partnership with Environmental