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Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 4:59 pm
by Boustrophedon
I am being bombarded by adverts for so called ecological toilet roll that is 100% biodegradable and made from bamboo so "no trees are cut down".

I thought all toilet paper was biodegradable?

Is there any ecological difference between farming and harvesting 1000 ton of wood or a 1000 ton of bamboo, save for the extra thousands of miles it has to be shipped?

Or is it as I contend a big con?

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:08 pm
by dyqik
Boustrophedon wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 4:59 pm
I am being bombarded by adverts for so called ecological toilet roll that is 100% biodegradable and made from bamboo so "no trees are cut down".

I thought all toilet paper was biodegradable?

Is there any ecological difference between farming and harvesting 1000 ton of wood or a 1000 ton of bamboo, save for the extra thousands of miles it has to be shipped?

Or is it as I contend a big con?
Bamboo grows much faster than trees, so less land area is involved in producing it at a certain rate. Against that is the cost of shipping it from China.

Googling produces what appear to be manufacturers studies like this. which suggest it has about 3/4 to 1/2 of the carbon cost of recycled toilet paper across the full manufacturing cycle. There are references there that you can follow up.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:43 pm
by Boustrophedon
Thanks.
Is there any British made toilet paper?

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:51 pm
by nezumi
If comfort is a factor, I recently decided to buy the eco bog roll* as it was only a very small amount more expensive than normal (mid-range) roll and it's exactly as comfortable and ever so slightly thicker so you do end up using less as well. It gets a thumbs up from me and will buy again. If it lives up to the eco credentials all the better, but it's a solid choice just for quality and comfort.

* Amazon's own in bulk because it turns out cheaper overall. Yes I'm aware of the Amazon thing but I'm shielding so I've got a little less choice than most.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:55 pm
by malbui
nezumi wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:51 pm
If comfort is a factor, I recently decided to buy the eco bog roll* as it was only a very small amount more expensive than normal (mid-range) roll and it's exactly as comfortable and ever so slightly thicker so you do end up using less as well. It gets a thumbs up from me and will buy again. If it lives up to the eco credentials all the better, but it's a solid choice just for quality and comfort.

* Amazon's own in bulk because it turns out cheaper overall. Yes I'm aware of the Amazon thing but I'm shielding so I've got a little less choice than most.
Well, as long as it gets a thumbs up rather than a thumb through...

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:58 pm
by monkey
dyqik wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:08 pm
Boustrophedon wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 4:59 pm
I am being bombarded by adverts for so called ecological toilet roll that is 100% biodegradable and made from bamboo so "no trees are cut down".

I thought all toilet paper was biodegradable?

Is there any ecological difference between farming and harvesting 1000 ton of wood or a 1000 ton of bamboo, save for the extra thousands of miles it has to be shipped?

Or is it as I contend a big con?
Bamboo grows much faster than trees, so less land area is involved in producing it at a certain rate. Against that is the cost of shipping it from China.

Googling produces what appear to be manufacturers studies like this. which suggest it has about 3/4 to 1/2 of the carbon cost of recycled toilet paper across the full manufacturing cycle. There are references there that you can follow up.
It's a pretty bad invasive species where I am, where it's escaped from peoples gardens and a few farms. We also have a bog roll factory nearby. Seems like a good start to me.

(There used to be a bike company that made frames out of bamboo kind of close, but that didn't catch on)

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:14 pm
by dyqik
Boustrophedon wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:43 pm
Thanks.
Is there any British made toilet paper?
Well, the Tories do print their manifestos...

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:16 pm
by dyqik
nezumi wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:51 pm
If comfort is a factor, I recently decided to buy the eco bog roll* as it was only a very small amount more expensive than normal (mid-range) roll and it's exactly as comfortable and ever so slightly thicker so you do end up using less as well. It gets a thumbs up from me and will buy again. If it lives up to the eco credentials all the better, but it's a solid choice just for quality and comfort.

* Amazon's own in bulk because it turns out cheaper overall. Yes I'm aware of the Amazon thing but I'm shielding so I've got a little less choice than most.
Who Gives A Crap is a good option if it's not too expensive for you. 50% of profits going to fund toilet construction in developing countries is a good thing, and it's not that much more expensive than supermarket rolls of reasonable quality here (the cheap stuff being false economy as you use so much more of it).

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:23 pm
by nezumi
dyqik wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:16 pm

Who Gives A Crap is a good option if it's not too expensive for you. 50% of profits going to fund toilet construction in developing countries is a good thing, and it's not that much more expensive than supermarket rolls of reasonable quality here (the cheap stuff being false economy as you use so much more of it).
I will definitely consider it next time I need bog roll, but yeah, I am on a pretty strict budget so I do need to be very price conscious. I'll have a proper look closer to the time.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:29 pm
by Beaker
monkey wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:58 pm

(There used to be a bike company that made frames out of bamboo kind of close, but that didn't catch on)
I had a ride on a bamboo bike once. I fancy building one at some stage.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:35 pm
by monkey
Beaker wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:29 pm
monkey wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:58 pm

(There used to be a bike company that made frames out of bamboo kind of close, but that didn't catch on)
I had a ride on a bamboo bike once. I fancy building one at some stage.
I knew someone with one, never got a go on it though :(

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:37 pm
by Bird on a Fire
malbui wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 6:55 pm
nezumi wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:51 pm
If comfort is a factor, I recently decided to buy the eco bog roll* as it was only a very small amount more expensive than normal (mid-range) roll and it's exactly as comfortable and ever so slightly thicker so you do end up using less as well. It gets a thumbs up from me and will buy again. If it lives up to the eco credentials all the better, but it's a solid choice just for quality and comfort.

* Amazon's own in bulk because it turns out cheaper overall. Yes I'm aware of the Amazon thing but I'm shielding so I've got a little less choice than most.
Well, as long as it gets a thumbs up rather than a thumb through...
There was an entry for this in Viz's Profanisaurus about this. Apparently it's called "Shaking hands with the French", in reference to the famous photograph of Channel Tunnel workers shaking hands through a hole in the rock when their tunnels met.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 05, 2021 10:10 pm
by Boustrophedon
Who Gives A Crap is sold locally, I may try it out.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Wed Jan 06, 2021 2:31 am
by Martin_B
dyqik wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:08 pm
Boustrophedon wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 4:59 pm
I am being bombarded by adverts for so called ecological toilet roll that is 100% biodegradable and made from bamboo so "no trees are cut down".

I thought all toilet paper was biodegradable?

Is there any ecological difference between farming and harvesting 1000 ton of wood or a 1000 ton of bamboo, save for the extra thousands of miles it has to be shipped?

Or is it as I contend a big con?
Bamboo grows much faster than trees, so less land area is involved in producing it at a certain rate. Against that is the cost of shipping it from China.
Bamboo doesn't have to be from China. My uncle used to grow it in Cornwall.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:22 pm
by kerrya1
dyqik wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 7:16 pm
nezumi wrote:
Tue Jan 05, 2021 5:51 pm
If comfort is a factor, I recently decided to buy the eco bog roll* as it was only a very small amount more expensive than normal (mid-range) roll and it's exactly as comfortable and ever so slightly thicker so you do end up using less as well. It gets a thumbs up from me and will buy again. If it lives up to the eco credentials all the better, but it's a solid choice just for quality and comfort.

* Amazon's own in bulk because it turns out cheaper overall. Yes I'm aware of the Amazon thing but I'm shielding so I've got a little less choice than most.
Who Gives A Crap is a good option if it's not too expensive for you. 50% of profits going to fund toilet construction in developing countries is a good thing, and it's not that much more expensive than supermarket rolls of reasonable quality here (the cheap stuff being false economy as you use so much more of it).
We switched to Who Gives a Crap a year ago, just the recycled rather than the bamboo. The paper is good quality, and there is no plastic wrapping involved - but I'm sure someone will be along to explain why the paper and card packaging is just as bad in a minute. For it is a good balance between cost and not actively destroying the planet.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:30 pm
by discovolante
I actually didn't realise who gives a crap did social stuff, I thought they were just trendy :oops: they are a bit pricey but I should probably donate more to charity anyway, and buying eco bog roll seems a decent way to kill two birds with one stone. From a quick look at their site it looks like the money actually goes to partner organisations that specialise in sanitation to do with as they see fit, is that right?

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:14 pm
by Ladysavage
i bought a box of 48 rolls from WGAC last february (good planning or what?) and we've still got 6 or so rolls left, not bad considering there's been at least one person in almost all of the time since then and all three of us home a good chunk of the time. I think i may have a money off referral code, i'll fish it out and post it if i can find it
edit here's the link, it saves you £5 cheap bum wipes

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:26 pm
by dyqik
discovolante wrote:
Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:30 pm
I actually didn't realise who gives a crap did social stuff, I thought they were just trendy :oops: they are a bit pricey but I should probably donate more to charity anyway, and buying eco bog roll seems a decent way to kill two birds with one stone. From a quick look at their site it looks like the money actually goes to partner organisations that specialise in sanitation to do with as they see fit, is that right?
Yes - see https://blog.whogivesacrap.org/home/goo ... y-partners

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Thu Jan 07, 2021 6:05 pm
by discovolante
Ladysavage wrote:
Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:14 pm
i bought a box of 48 rolls from WGAC last february (good planning or what?) and we've still got 6 or so rolls left, not bad considering there's been at least one person in almost all of the time since then and all three of us home a good chunk of the time. I think i may have a money off referral code, i'll fish it out and post it if i can find it
edit here's the link, it saves you £5 cheap bum wipes
Cool, thanks! :D

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 5:05 pm
by discovolante
dyqik wrote:
Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:26 pm
discovolante wrote:
Thu Jan 07, 2021 4:30 pm
I actually didn't realise who gives a crap did social stuff, I thought they were just trendy :oops: they are a bit pricey but I should probably donate more to charity anyway, and buying eco bog roll seems a decent way to kill two birds with one stone. From a quick look at their site it looks like the money actually goes to partner organisations that specialise in sanitation to do with as they see fit, is that right?
Yes - see https://blog.whogivesacrap.org/home/goo ... y-partners
And thank you too.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 7:27 pm
by Aitch
And do you wear bamboo undies too? ;)

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Sat Jan 09, 2021 7:34 pm
by Beaker
I have their bamboo socks, and very nice they are too.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Sun Jan 10, 2021 5:57 am
by basementer
"Bamboo" fabric is rayon. Exactly the same nasty sh.t gets used to build the polymer as when it's made from wood pulp, it's only the innocuous cellulose that happens to come from a different plant.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 6:20 pm
by discovolante
Ladysavage wrote:
Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:14 pm
i bought a box of 48 rolls from WGAC last february (good planning or what?) and we've still got 6 or so rolls left, not bad considering there's been at least one person in almost all of the time since then and all three of us home a good chunk of the time. I think i may have a money off referral code, i'll fish it out and post it if i can find it
edit here's the link, it saves you £5 cheap bum wipes
Ordered some, cheers :) I respect that their website basically just says 'we're on holiday so you're going to have to wait for a bit' - fair dos.

Re: Bamboo bog roll.

Posted: Wed Jan 13, 2021 1:33 am
by Bird on a Fire
discovolante wrote:
Tue Jan 12, 2021 6:20 pm
fair dos
This would also be quite a good name for a brand of ethical toilet paper.