We Asked the Experts: Is Bamboo Actually Sustainable?

Bamboo is a popular alternative to tree paper, wood, plastic, and other materials. But is it sustainable — and should you make the switch to bamboo paper and other bamboo-based products? To help us see the forest for the trees is 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) publication. We discover whether bamboo is actually sustainable, delve into bamboo toilet paper versus alternatives, and highlight other eco-friendly products crafted from this versatile material.

Bamboo seems to have crept its way into various industries and products, with everything from bamboo clothing to sheets to paper cropping up across different retailers. Bamboo is marketed as an eco-friendly material largely because the plant grows lightning-fast — up to 35 inches per day and 1.5 inches per hour — doesn’t require fertilizer, and self-regenerates from its own root system, so no replanting is required.

So it's all positives for bamboo, right? Not necessarily. While there was a long-term belief that bamboo was able to absorb carbon dioxide and produce 35% more oxygen than trees of a similar size, a 2016 study found that bamboo may actually emit carbon dioxide, calling its eco-friendliness into question (although other experts disagree with the findings). There are also other factors to take into account when weighing bamboo's sustainability, such as the environmental impact of shipping bamboo, or the chemicals used in the production processes for certain items like clothing and textiles.

Still, transitioning to bamboo products can have its share of upsides, especially when comparing bamboo products like toilet paper against conventional tree-based alternatives.

How is bamboo toilet paper made?

To make toilet paper, bamboo stalks are broken down into fibers. The fibers are added to a treatment that turns them into a pulp, which is then soaked, pressed, and turned into rolls of toilet paper. Voilà!

Is bamboo toilet paper safe for your septic tank?

Bamboo is safe for septic tanks and sewers because it’s a type of grass. Since bamboo is a natural material, it’ll dissolve in water quickly and naturally, leaving nothing behind to back up your system.

The Grove Co. tree-free line of everyday products (including toilet paper) is made from 100 percent, fast-growing bamboo fibers. Our bamboo is responsibly grown on family farms in China without the use of fertilizers or pesticides, and unlike other harvested bamboo, the bamboo sourced for the Grove Co. line of paper products is not a source of food for panda bears.

Grove also partners with the Arbor Day Foundation to replant forests across the U.S. You heard us right: with every purchase of a Grove Co. paper product, you help replant American forestland.

You can choose from 3-ply tree-free toilet paper for added plushness and comfort, durable 2-ply paper towels in a roll that lasts twice as long as a traditional alternative, or our soft and absorbent 1-ply napkins or 3-ply tissues.

Bamboo is used to make more than just paper products

Bamboo is a super-versatile crop that’s used to make everything from sustainable toothbrushes to bamboo cutting boards, compostable bandaids, flooring, and kitchen utensils — and even bamboo clothing.

Switching to bamboo made goods can be an easy swap to reduce plastic in your home and transition to more sustainable, eco-friendly options. Plus, 100-percent bamboo products (like bamboo plates and cutlery) can often be composted, and even partial bamboo products (like toothbrushes) can likely be sent for commercial composting once the non-bamboo portion has been removed.