What’s the Difference?
Unbleached toilet paper is in its natural condition, no chemical whitening, only uncooked plant fibres. That leaves its natural beige or light brown colour.
Bleached toilet paper is white because it undergoes a bleaching process to give it its bright white look. It’s also true that some bleaching techniques are safer than others, but all are involved in extra healing.
How exactly does the difference impact performance, health, and sustainability? Let’s take a closer look.
Chances are if you’re shopping for eco-friendly toilet paper, then you care about its effect on the environment. In this instance, unbleached toilet paper is superior.
Even bleaching, when done with safer methods like oxygen or hydrogen peroxide, demands more water, energy, and chemicals. This makes production less sustainable.
Unbleached toilet paper skips a bleached step in the process, which means it’s less processed and less damaging to the environment. And if you’re after the most sustainable option, take a look at our Luxury Bamboo Toilet Rolls.
For people with sensitive skin, allergies, or conditions such as eczema, unbleached toilet paper is usually the better option. Although most environmentally friendly bleached toilet paper doesn’t use strong chlorine bleach, some chemical residues from the processing can remain in the fibres. This can also lead to irritation or discomfort for those with ultra-sensitive skin.
Natural hypoallergenic toilet paper isn’t bleached or artificially whitened and is less harsh on the skin. We offer surface selection with our bamboo tissues that are soft, natural, and chemical-free if you are looking for gentle use on the skin.
Many people assume unbleached toilet paper is scratchier, but that’s not always true. It’s the material not its bleached or unbleached state that comes into play for the softness and strength of toilet paper. Bamboo toilet paper, for example, is itself stronger and softer than any wood-pulp toilet paper, bleached or not.
For many, bright white toilet paper seems “clean,” just because that’s what they’re used to. Bleached toilet paper appears white and clean, which can be aesthetically pleasing. However, the beige or light brown colour of unbleached toilet paper (as opposed to bleached) has no impact on its effectiveness. It’s simply a cosmetic choice.
Switching to unbleached toilet paper provides the same functional use without unnecessary processing.
Generally, unbleached toilet paper may be marginally cheaper, as it skips the bleaching process, which adds additional costs to production.
However, premium unbleached toilet paper, especially bamboo products, may be less cost-effective than regular toilet paper because of sustainable sourcing and production.
✔ The most eco-friendly option
✔ Fewer chemicals (ideal for sensitive skin)
✔ A stronger, more natural product
✔ The traditional bright white look.
✔ A smoother finish (although high-quality unbleached TP can be just as soft)
Not necessarily! Premium unbleached toilet paper, bamboo or otherwise, is just as soft as any bleached alternative.
No, this is just a natural colour, so it doesn’t leave any marks or residue.
If you do use bleached toilet paper, opt for Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF) product, in other words, this type of paper has been bleached with alternative, safer substances, that do not include chlorine, such as hydrogen peroxide or oxygen.
Right here! We recommend upgrading to our Luxury Bamboo Toilet Rolls, THE sustainable toilet roll, which is kind to your skin and the environment.
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