This is one of those questions that seems simple but has layers (like a good roll of TP!). So, how is toilet paper actually made? Let’s dive into the process, starting with something called pulp – a mix of water and fibers that come from wood. Doesn’t sound like much now, but trust us, it’s the start of something magical.

First, we’ve got to break it down. In this case, breaking down wood fibers into pulp, which is basically a watery sludge. Think of it like the soup of the paper world. Once those fibers are floating around, it’s time to squeeze out the water and dry the mixture super fast. This creates a soft, flat form (ply) that eventually becomes paper. For TP, the paper is rolled into giant "mother rolls" (yes, really big rolls) that are far too large for your bathroom. These mothers get sliced, diced, and perforated until they’re ready to become the rolls we all know and love. Easy, right?

But the real question is: where do those fibers come from?

The problem with most toilet paper 

Most toilet paper pulp comes from virgin trees. Yes, actual trees! A shocking 1 million-plus trees are cut down every day just to keep up with the world’s toilet paper needs. And no one reuses TP… at least, we really hope they don’t.

This process involves chopping down trees, shipping them around the globe, and then breaking them down into pulp. It’s an energy-intensive, water-guzzling method that results in paper soft enough for your bum. But at what cost? All that work for something that gets flushed away after just one use. Talk about a waste of resources!

How Who Gives A Crap does it differently

Now, let’s talk about us, the eco-friendly heroes of the toilet paper world! At Who Gives A Crap, we use 100% bamboo and 100% recycled paper to make our TP. For our recycled TP, we source post-consumer waste, like school and office paper. This ensures that all of our paper is Grade A and BPA-free. (Ever notice that BPA can lurk in receipts? Yeah, not great for your bottom or the planet!)

The magic behind recycled TP is that it's much easier to turn paper into more paper than it is to turn a tree into paper. Imagine soaking a piece of looseleaf paper in water versus a log – which one do you think breaks down faster? Exactly! We do the hard work of filtering, cleaning, and drying that recycled pulp to make sure it’s just as soft, comfy, and strong as the tree-based stuff, without all the destruction.

The mother roll: size matters

Once we’ve created that beautiful, pulp-filled sheet, it’s time to turn it into the mother of all rolls. These mother rolls are massive. Like, comically huge. No way would one of these fit in your bathroom! So, we chop them down to size, combine layers (ply), and add perforations for that perfect tear.

At the end of the day, our TP is just as comfy and reliable as anything else on the market, but here’s the kicker – we didn’t need to cut down a single tree to do it. Sounds too good to be true? Nope. It’s just good, clean fun.

Time to roll!

So, there you have it – a behind-the-scenes look at how toilet paper, especially ours, is made. It’s not rocket science, but it does take some ingenuity and care for the planet. Want to see for yourself how awesome tree-free TP can be? You’ll just have to try a roll. We promise you’ll be impressed!