What’s the best biodegradable toilet paper?

You probably don’t want to spend all day thinking about toilet paper. It’s a simple everyday item made for a simple everyday function. As far as we’re concerned, the best toilet paper will do its job without a fuss and disappear afterwards. 

No extra wrapping, no unnecessary bleach, and no harsh chemicals left behind. 

At Naked Paper, we think it should be the norm for everyone. We know it’s particularly important for some of our customers who have more sensitive plumbing or toilets. In these cases, it’s not just enough to know that your toilet paper is as sustainable as possible, it needs to be biodegradable. 

So what does it mean for a toilet paper to be biodegradable, and how can you tell if yours makes the cut?

Why is it important for toilet paper to be biodegradable? 

Toilet paper doesn’t have a lot of claims to fame but it’s different from every other household product in one important way; how we dispose of it. 

Unlike wet wipes, facial tissues and kitchen rolls, which are thrown away with household rubbish, toilet paper is designed to be flushed. Because of this, it’s important that toilet paper breaks down quickly and completely as it moves through your plumbing, to make sure there’s no blockages or problems further down the line.   

So all toilet paper needs to break down in water. But when we refer to toilet paper as biodegradable we’re going a bit further. We’re specifically saying that it will break down naturally into materials that can be digested by microorganisms, and therefore won’t leave any lasting traces in the natural environment. 

We think all toilet paper should meet this standard. It’s particularly important for those of us who live with a septic tank or sewerage treatment system, or who enjoy wild camping.

 This is because toilet paper that’s disposed of in specialised non-plumbing toilets, or in the wild, needs to break down rapidly and naturally without creating any kind of chemical imbalance. 

To cut a long story short; it needs to be biodegradable

What makes toilet paper biodegradable?

Toilet paper starts to break down as soon as you flush, through a combination of the swirling water in the toilet and the twists and turns it takes through the pipes. The faster your toilet paper disintegrates, the easier it is for waste to flow freely.

One way to guess if your toilet paper will break down quickly is how many plys it has. 3 ply toilet paper feels thicker than the standard but it doesn’t break down as quickly as 2 ply stuff. This should be clearly labelled on the box, at Naked Paper all of our rolls are 2 ply. 

The second factor is a bit more difficult to see with the naked eye; fibre length.

Toilet paper made from shorter fibres tends to break down more quickly and easily. That’s because the structure is already weaker, meaning it takes less effort to fall apart.

This is where recycled toilet paper often performs better than virgin-fibre paper. Each time paper is recycled, the fibres get shorter. So recycled paper tends to be softer and more fragile, which makes it ideal if you need toilet paper that breaks down in a hurry. 

That’s disintegration covered. If you have a septic tank or sewerage treatment toilet you’ll also want to make sure the toilet paper can be digested naturally by the microorganisms that live in those systems. 

The most important thing here is not to add anything that could create a chemical imbalance. Naked Paper toilet paper is made without bleach or any harsh chemicals at all, so it’s a great shout. 

Is biodegradable the same as compostable?

We’ve established that Naked Paper is biodegradable. Does this mean it’s compostable as well? 

In theory, anything that is biodegradable should also be compostable; compost heaps and bins work to digest waste using the same kind of organic processes that we mean when we call something biodegradable.

But if a company wants to label their products as compostable in the UK, they need to meet some very specific criteria.

To say something is compostable, a company needs to specify:

• The conditions required (e.g. temperature, moisture levels)
  

• The time it takes to break down completely
  

• Whether it’s suitable for home composting or only industrial facilities

These specific requirements are laid out in the UK’s Green Claims Code, which helps prevent misleading environmental claims. At Naked Paper, we’re committed to following this guidance closely, you can read more about our thinking here. 

So, while our toilet paper is made from biodegradable materials, with no bleach, dyes, or harsh chemical additives, we don’t currently claim that it’s compostable, simply because we haven’t completed formal testing on time frames and conditions.

How to find the best biodegradable toilet paper

If you want a toilet paper that breaks down easily with a low chemical footprint, here are a few things to consider:

• Material: Recycled tissue often breaks down faster than toilet paper made from virgin fibres like trees or bamboo. 

• Additives: Avoid toilet paper with heavy bleach, dyes, fragrances, or lotions. As well as being completely unnecessary, these can interfere with breakdown and introduce unknown elements to the chemical balance of your toilet.
  

• Packaging: Hopefully you're not flushing the packaging your toilet paper comes in, but for extra marks we think this should break down naturally as well! Avoid plastic and look for options wrapped with card or paper for the most easily recyclable, low-impact wipe.

Toilet paper that disappears without a trace

Toilet paper that breaks down quickly and cleanly is better for the environment and essential for those of us with more sensitive systems. 

Whether you’re managing a septic tank, heading into the wild, or just trying to minimise your household waste, choosing a biodegradable option is a great way to lighten the burden on your own natural habitat. 

With 320 sheets on a roll, Naked Paper lasts longer than most other brands on the toilet paper holder. But once it’s flushed, it’s gone without a trace. 

Want to see how quickly you can make our bleach-free sheets disappear?