Trees don’t just stand there looking pretty — they’re the unsung superheroes of our planet. They battle air pollution, combat climate change, and even improve our mental and physical health — not to mention the countless ways they keep our ecosystems in balance. Without them, life as we know it wouldn’t be sustainable.

Think about it: we rely on trees for so many things — furniture, lumber and of course paper products, including toilet paper. Do you have any idea how many trees it takes to make traditional toilet paper? Go ahead, guess. More than that. Nope, even more. You’re getting closer. 

Spoiler alert: it’s too many. The effects of the traditional toilet paper industry are devastating to the planet, driving deforestation and harming our ecosystems.

The good news? You have the power to make a difference. By understanding how your bathroom habits affect the planet, you can take meaningful steps toward saving trees and ensuring a brighter future.

How many trees are cut down to make toilet paper?

How many trees does it take to keep us wiping? The numbers are staggering. Every year, 712 million trees are chopped down annually. To put it another way, nearly two million trees per day are needed to produce the 42 million tons of toilet paper used globally every year.

Over an average human lifespan,  57 billion trees will be needed to meet the world’s toilet paper demands. Canada’s boreal forest — the world’s largest intact forest — takes one of the biggest hits, as one million acres per year are cut down to feed the demand. 

The stats are shocking, but the bigger picture is even more concerning: all of the trees cut down to make toilet paper disrupt ecosystems, accelerate climate change and threaten the planet we call home.

The consequences of deforestation go beyond trees

Healthy forests mean healthy air, water and soil — but deforestation puts all of that at risk. Cutting down trees doesn’t just clear the land, it throws ecosystems into chaos. Animals lose their homes, plants vanish and biodiversity takes a nosedive.

And the land itself? It pays the price too. Without the protective canopy of trees, soil erosion kicks into overdrive, washing away nutrients and harming agriculture along with the ecosystems that depend on stable ground.

Then there’s the carbon fallout. Trees act as nature’s carbon vaults, absorbing and storing CO2. But when they’re cut down, all that carbon comes rushing back into the atmosphere, fueling climate change. A carbon footprint should be taken seriously, especially when deforestation drives it higher.

The impact doesn’t stop at the environment — there’s also a major social cost. Eliminating forests for toilet paper production also means displacing Indigenous communities, stripping them of their traditional lands, livelihoods and cultural heritage. It’s a loss far greater than just trees — it’s a loss of identity and balance.

We can do so much better.

What’s the deal with eco-friendly toilet paper?

There’s a world of environmentally friendly toilet paper out there, but if you’re wondering which rolls to add to your roster, let us humbly suggest... us?

Unlike traditional toilet paper, Who Gives A Crap helps save trees by making sustainable products, like 100% bamboo or recycled toilet paper.

Our premium bamboo rolls are made with 100% bamboo fibres, delivering that soft, cushy feel you’re used to while being kinder to the environment. Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world, so it bounces back much faster than trees.

And our recycled rolls? They’re crafted with 100% post-consumer paper — think old newspapers or forgotten math homework — giving that paper a brand new lease on life.

Conclusion: Save the trees, choose bamboo!

When it comes to saving trees, even small changes can make a world of difference.

Over a million trees are cut down to make TP daily, and the fallout is severe: destroyed ecosystems, rising carbon dioxide levels and the displacement of Indigenous communities. That’s why it’s more important than ever to cut back on the number of trees used to make traditional toilet paper.

Switching to tree friendly TP is a powerful way to fight back. Bamboo toilet paper grows back in no time, and products made with 100% recycled fibres give discarded paper a second life.

Ready for the ultimate so-loo-tion? Try 100% recycled or 100% bamboo toilet paper from Who Gives A Crap. It's a simple yet powerful way to protect the planet while keeping your bathroom stocked with the good stuff. Saving trees has never felt so good.