'Eco-friendly bamboo loo roll brands found not to contain that much bamboo' (original) (raw)

Loo rolls made from bamboo are becoming more popular in our bathrooms, as while trees can take years to grow, bamboo can take just hours - but some popular eco-friendly brands don't actually contain that much bamboo

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

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.