When shopping for tissues, choose chlorine bleach-free and formaldehyde-free products made with post-consumer recycled or bamboo pulp. Our favorite tissues are certified by SFI, the Rainforest Alliance, or FSC, which indicate that brands are sourcing pulp from responsibly managed forests to help with biodiversity restoration and forest conservation. 

Ingredients and Materials

Virgin Paper Pulp

Virgin pulp is the most popular paper pulp used in tissues, but also the most damaging pulp component. America’s favored virgin pulp comes from the Canadian boreal, where industrial logging for America’s tissue industry currently claims one million acres of forest every year. This practice harms the lives of the Indigenous Peoples in the area and kills off local animals, including caribou, which are indicator species that serve as a barometer of health for the forest. On top of these injustices, industrial logging releases carbon that had previously been stored in the forest’s soil and reduces the number of trees that can absorb earth-warming greenhouse gasses. The NRDC reports that making tissues from 100% virgin fiber generates three times more CO2e than tissues made from other types of pulp. Unfortunately, most of the major tissue brands still rely primarily on virgin pulp, but luckily there are alternatives emerging with lower environmental impacts.

Recycled Paper Pulp

It’s not all hopeless, so don’t go crying just yet! Recycled paper pulp is an increasingly popular alternative to virgin pulp that minimizes damage to forests and requires only half the water of virgin pulp products. There are two sources of recycled paper pulp: pre-consumer and post-consumer waste. Pre-consumer pulp comes from sources like obsolete paper stock or unused paper products, while post-consumer pulp comes from used paper that has been recycled to give it a second life. Both types of pulp are a massive improvement on virgin fiber in terms of protecting forests, but post-consumer pulp does way more to reduce overall waste. The EPA recommends buying tissues that contain at least 10-15% post-consumer recycled pulp, but don’t be afraid to go above and beyond; more post-consumer recycled pulp = less waste. 

Bamboo

Bamboo is another popular pulp alternative. It’s important to note that the use of bamboo – in paper products and as a construction material – is nothing new. Bamboo has an extensive history in Asia and South America, and it’s about time we stop colonizing the use of bamboo here! Bamboo can grow 20 times faster than trees in the boreal and its cultivation is gentler on the land than the clearing required to harvest virgin wood pulp. According to the NRDC, tissues made from bamboo pulp release 30% fewer greenhouse gas emissions compared to tissues made from virgin pulp. At the same time, bamboo can also be considered an invasive plant, is water intensive, can require significant fertilizer application, can have impacts on biodiversity, and can result in forest clearing (i.e. deforestation). So, don’t let anyone fool you into thinking that ALL bamboo is more sustainable simply because it is bamboo. If you shop for bamboo tissues, it’s important to look for the FSC certification to ensure sustainable sourcing and transparency in the supply chain (more on this below).

Chlorine Bleach

Most conventional facial tissues use chlorine bleach to give them that bright white sheen. Unfortunately, chlorine bleach contains harmful environmental pollutants called dioxins. These dioxins are emitted during manufacturing, poisoning waterways and animals, and sometimes making their way into our bodies through food. At high levels of exposure, dioxins can cause hormone and immune imbalances, allergies, and even cancer. Look for tissues that are unbleached or chlorine-free.

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colorless, strong-smelling chemical found in an array of products, including those made with wood and paper. Products made with formaldehyde can release the chemical in gas form which, when inhaled, is known to cause skin, eye, nose, and throat irritation.

Certifications

Here are some certifications to look for when shopping this category.

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