Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic Safe?


Eco-conscious consumers are quickly embracing the idea of bamboo toilet paper in a bid to conserve the environment. However, eco-friendliest is not the only benefit of bamboo toilet paper. This revolutionary sanitary product is easy on your bum as well as on your toilet system, including upflush toilet systems. But is bamboo toilet paper septic safe?

Yes, bamboo toilet paper easily breaks down by the scent of water, allowing the macerating pump to quickly turn it into a smooth slurry before pumping it up the sewer line or septic tank. In this guide, we highlight everything you need to know about bamboo toilet paper, including how it’s manufactured and the benefits it offers.

How Bamboo Toilet Paper is Made

The process of making bamboo toilet paper is surprisingly simple and straightforward. In fact both bamboo and regular toilet paper products undergo similar manufacturing processes – except that bamboo toilet paper is made from bamboo instead of recycled paper or wood chips.

First, the bamboo plant is broken down into fibers and turned into bamboo pulp. The pulp is allowed to soak and then pressed to form the actual paper. Afterward, the long sheets of paper are allowed to dry out until they have attained the right moisture level. Finally, the paper is rolled out into long logs of toilet paper that are finally cut into smaller rolls and packaged for sale.

Embroidered bamboo toilet paper

Benefits of Bamboo Toilet Paper

Bamboo toilet paper products offer a myriad of benefits over regular toilet papers that are produced from recycled paper or wood chips:

1: Bamboo Toilet Paper is Extremely Eco-Friendly

Bamboo products are among the most eco-friendly products you can find on the market. They are made of sustainable materials and break down fully and quickly. Bamboo is a renewable resource that is remarkably soft and strong. Their versatility and renewability means that they have a much smaller environmental impact.

2: Soft & Strong Material

 

Bamboo has the unique ability to make products that are perfectly soft yet surprisingly robust. Bamboo is widely used to make luxe materials that many people use in sacred rooms such as the bedroom and bathroom. Bamboo toilet paper, sheets, and robes have all become renowned for their incredible softness and durability.

3: A Renewable Resource

Bamboo trees are renewable resources that grow quickly throughout many parts of the world. The plant has been growing in Southeast Asia since time immemorial. You can even find native bamboo plants still growing in parts of South America and the US.

Moreover, bamboo is the fastest-growing plant in the world – it can grow up to 35 inches every day or 1.5 inches each hour! As a result, it can be replenished soon after being used. This makes it extremely easy to maintain the plant’s population.

Bamboo Forest

4: Bamboo Toilet Paper Breaks Down Easily

If you are eco-conscious, you will be curious to know how well bamboo toilet paper breaks down. These toilet papers understandably break down quickly, making them easy on the environment and your plumbing system.

5: Bamboo Toilet Paper Drain Well in the Pipes

Oftentimes, people flush items such as paper towels, small toys, and wipes down the toilet. These materials simply don’t break up, thereby clogging your toilet and backing up lines. A clogged pipe can affect the entire plumbing system in your home, which becomes even more problematic if you use a septic tank.

Unfortunately, very thick toilet paper can clog pipes. Bamboo toilet paper makes bathroom visits extremely comfortable while being easy on your dispenser and plumbing system. Other than being strong (yet soft) enough for use, bamboo toilet paper effortlessly breaks down in the water. Greywater will freely flow through your pipes without any clumps of toilet paper backing them up.

Even if you toss it into a trash bin, a thin sheet of bamboo toilet paper will quickly and naturally decompose without leaving any trace of existence on the planet.

Related Reading: Best Non Clogging Toilet Reviews And Buying Guide

6: Bamboo Toilet Paper Offers Better Performance

Bamboo toilet paper outperforms other regular toilet paper options across the board. When weighed up against toilet paper products made out of virgin pulp or recycled pulp, bamboo toilet paper comes on top of the list.

In terms of softness, recycled toilet paper offers the least softness. However, virgin toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper are neck and neck in this light. Bamboo toilet paper is both thick and soft, which provides the most comfort and absorbency you need.

When it comes to eco-friendliness, bamboo toilet paper again tops the list as it offers 100% recyclability as compared to only 30% or 40% for recycled paper. Virgin toilet paper comes at a distant third.

7: Free of Harmful Chemicals

 

Many toilet paper manufacturers use pretty strong chemicals to turn the greens and browns of trees into soft white papers you often use to wipe your bum. Chemicals such as chlorine, BPA, and bleach are usually found in toilet paper products that are made from both recycled paper and trees. Such harsh chemicals can be harmful not only to your skin but also to the environment. 

Fortunately, most bamboo toilet paper brands are typically hypoallergenic, making them great for people with sensitive bums. However, be sure to pick a product that explicitly states it is hypoallergenic and free of BPA and other bleaching chemicals or perfumes. To bring out the luxurious white color, manufacturers often use safer chlorine alternatives such as oxygen or hydrogen peroxide under controlled production processes.

Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Right for You?

If you’re thinking about switching to an eco-friendlier lifestyle, then you should consider ditching your traditional (recycled paper or wood chips) toilet paper and going for bamboo toilet paper. You’ll be surprised how these toilet papers are incredibly soft and strong yet breaks down easily after use. You will never again have to deal with frequent toilet clogs or septic tank clogs.

Other than being kind to your bum and the planet, bamboo toilet paper is safe for your septic system and your wallet. When shopping for the right bamboo toilet paper, consider features like printed, quilted, embossed, and scented models for aesthetic and decorative appeal. More importantly, go for hypoallergenic models if you have a sensitive behind.

Smith Edwards

Smith Edwards is a licensed plumber and writer with over a decade of hands-on construction and home improvement experience and has been providing home improvement advice for over 12 years. Along with his wife Julie, they are bathroom experts from home improvement to shaving and everything in between!

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