The Bamboo Toilet Paper Scandal: Why We Only Stock Who Gives a Crap
Share
If you've switched to bamboo loo roll thinking you're doing your bit for the planet, you might want to sit down for this. A recent investigation by consumer watchdog Which? has been revealed that three of the UK's top five bamboo toilet paper brands contain barely any bamboo at all.
In the worst case, only 2.7% of the product was actually bamboo. The rest? Other woods, including acacia and eucalyptus, species directly linked to deforestation in places like Indonesia.
What the Investigation Found
Which? tested the UK's five bestselling bamboo toilet paper brands. Here's what they discovered:
| Brand | Bamboo Content | Our Stock Status |
|---|---|---|
| Who Gives a Crap | 100% bamboo | ✅ We stock this |
| The Cheeky Panda | 100% bamboo | Available elsewhere |
| Bazoo | 26% bamboo | ❌ Removed from our listings |
| Naked Sprout | 4% bamboo | Never stocked |
| Bumboo | 2.7% bamboo | Never stocked |
That's right - Bumboo toilet paper contained just 2.7% bamboo-like grass fibres. The rest was predominantly other woods, some of them heavily implicated in the very deforestation that eco-conscious shoppers were trying to avoid.
Why This Matters
Here's the uncomfortable truth: toilet paper is responsible for chopping down approximately 1 million trees every year globally. That's an enormous amount of deforestation just to be flushed down the pan.
When brands market themselves as "bamboo" or "100% bamboo", shoppers reasonably expect that's what they're getting. Many pay premium prices specifically to avoid contributing to deforestation. Discovering that your "eco-friendly" choice contains wood from deforestation-linked species? That's not just misleading - it's greenwashing at its worst.
Our Response: We Removed Bazoo
When these findings came to light, we acted immediately. Bazoo had been part of our product range, but we removed it from our listings as soon as the investigation results were published.
This wasn't an easy decision from a business perspective - Bazoo was selling. But our commitment to genuine sustainability isn't negotiable. If a product doesn't live up to its environmental claims, it doesn't belong on our shelves, regardless of how well it sells.
We'd rather lose revenue than lose your trust.
Why Who Gives a Crap Stands Out
Who Gives a Crap was one of only two brands that came through the investigation with flying colours - delivering exactly what it promises: 100% bamboo toilet paper.
But their integrity goes beyond just using real bamboo:
Supply Chain Transparency: Who Gives a Crap provides detailed information about where their bamboo comes from and how it's processed. No vague claims, no hidden ingredients - just straightforward honesty about their materials.
Proper Certification That Actually Means Something. Whilst all three problematic brands were FSC certified (raising serious questions about that certification process), Who Gives a Crap's entire operation demonstrates genuine environmental commitment that goes beyond a logo on the packaging.
Carbon Neutral Operations: They measure and offset their carbon footprint, publish sustainability reports, and are transparent about the environmental impact of their products.
Social Impact 50% of their profits go towards building toilets and improving sanitation in developing countries. To date, they've donated millions to WaterAid and similar organisations.
Plastic-Free Packaging Every roll arrives wrapped in paper, not plastic. The packaging is as thoughtfully designed as the product itself.
What About Recycled Paper?
Here's something interesting from a Which? investigation: they actually rank recycled toilet paper as more sustainable than bamboo.
Recycled paper:
- Diverts waste from landfill
- Uses significantly less water and energy than producing virgin paper
- Doesn't require growing new crops
- Reduces overall demand for tree-felling
We stock both bamboo and recycled options because different customers have different preferences, and both are vastly better than standard virgin wood pulp products. The key is that whichever option you choose from us, you can trust it's genuinely what it claims to be.
The FSC Certification Problem
All three brands caught selling misleadingly labelled products were FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified. This raises uncomfortable questions about what certification actually guarantees.
FSC has stated it will investigate these cases, but the damage to consumer confidence is already done. Shoppers who relied on that certification to make informed choices have been let down.
This is precisely why we don't just check for certification logos - we research suppliers, read investigation reports, and remove products that don't stand up to scrutiny, even when they carry "trusted" certifications.
How to Spot Genuine Eco Products
Given that even certified products can mislead, here's what to look for:
1. Brand Transparency Does the company openly share information about their supply chain, manufacturing processes, and materials? Vague marketing claims are a red flag.
2. Third-Party Testing Look for brands that have been independently tested. The Which? investigation is a perfect example - Who Gives a Crap didn't just claim 100% bamboo, they proved it under laboratory analysis.
3. Track Record Has the brand been caught greenwashing before? How do they respond when problems arise? Companies with genuine environmental commitments address issues head-on.
4. Realistic Claims Be sceptical of products that seem too good to be true. If something is marketed as "100% bamboo" but significantly cheaper than established bamboo brands, ask why.
5. Look Beyond the Logo Certifications matter, but they're not infallible. Research the actual company practices, not just the badges on their packaging.
Our Commitment to You
This scandal has reinforced something we've always believed: trust is earned through actions, not marketing claims.
Here's what you can expect from us:
We Do the Research We actively monitor investigations, read consumer reports, and stay informed about the products we stock. When watchdog organisations like Which? publish findings, we pay attention.
We Act on New Information When we discover a product doesn't meet our standards - even if it's selling well - we remove it. Your trust matters more than short-term revenue.
We Stock Products We'd Use Ourselves Every product on our site is something we'd be comfortable recommending to family and friends. If we wouldn't use it in our own homes, we won't ask you to.
We're Transparent About Choices We explain why we stock what we stock, including the reasoning behind choosing suppliers like Who Gives a Crap over cheaper alternatives.
We Admit When We Get It Wrong We stocked Bazoo in good faith, believing their claims. When the evidence showed otherwise, we acknowledged the mistake and corrected it immediately.
The Bottom Line
Not all eco-friendly products are created equal, and not all "bamboo" toilet paper contains what it says on the label.
Who Gives a Crap proved under independent laboratory testing that their products contain exactly what they promise: 100% bamboo, delivered with genuine environmental commitment and social impact.
That's why it's the only bamboo toilet paper brand we stock. We'd rather offer you one trustworthy option than five questionable ones.
Because when it comes to sustainability, you shouldn't have to guess whether companies are telling the truth. You should be able to trust that when we put something on our virtual shelves, we've already done that homework for you.
Shop Who Gives a Crap toilet paper Who Gives A Crap
Questions about our product selection? Get in touch - we're always happy to explain our choices and the research behind them.