'Eco-friendly bamboo loo roll brands found not to contain that much bamboo'
Loo rolls made from bamboo are becoming more popular in our bathrooms - but some popular eco-friendly brands don't actually contain that much bamboo
Every day one million trees are chopped down to make loo rolls and this rate of deforestation is having a huge impact on our planet.
Green alternatives made from bamboo are becoming more popular in our bathrooms, as while trees can take years to grow, bamboo can take just hours – rising up to three feet per day. Plus, bamboo is cut above the root, meaning it can sprout again year after year.
But claims made by certain eco-friendly brands have been called into question after an investigation found some only contain tiny amounts. Which? carried out fibre-composition testing on five popular brands claiming to be made from “bamboo only” or “100% bamboo”. It found samples from Bumboo, Naked Sprout and Bazoo contained very low or low levels of bamboo-like grass fibres, just 2.7%, 4% and 26.1% respectively.
Instead, toilet paper was mainly composed of less eco-friendly fast-growing virgin hardwoods – mostly eucalyptus, with some acacia in Bazoo and Bumboo. Acacia has been associated with damaging deforestation in places such as Indonesia. Bazoo says it is “100% tree free” and Bumboo cites its “FSC-certified 100% bamboo from well-managed forests”. Naked Sprout talks of selling the “UK’s most sustainable tissue products”.
Two other brands, Who Gives a Crap and The Cheeky Panda, were also tested and shown to contain 100% bamboo, as claimed. Consumer champion Which? says that while the brands may not have deliberately misled consumers, they must take action to restore confidence. Emily Seymour, Which? Sustainability Editor, said: “Given so many shoppers are taking steps to be more sustainable, it’s vital they can trust claims made by brands, particularly when they are paying more for a product they believe is better for the environment.”
Bumboo said: “We have identified an issue in our supply chain and taken swift action so this can never happen again.” Bazoo added: “We are investigating this currently with the Forest Stewardship Council body and our manufacturer in depth.”
Naked Sprout said the bamboo pulp it uses is verified by a strict audit trail. As an alternative, try to buy recycled paper. Which? says at the top of the pile is 100% post-consumer waste paper.
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