Eco-friendly toilet papers are trendy, but their actual environmental impacts vary

Toilet paper, a product that is used for a few seconds before being disposed of forever, is typically made with trees, energy-intensive manufacturing processes and chemicals that can pollute the environment.Experts say more consumers are seeking toilet paper made from recycled content or sustainable materials, but it can be hard to know what to look for.Sustainable toilet paper often costs more, but can have significant environmental benefits.According to the Environmental Paper Network, a coalition of nonprofits, more than 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion liters) of water and 1.6 million trees could be saved if every American used one roll of toilet paper made from recycled content instead of a roll made from forest fibers.

Here are some recommendations for buying sustainable toilet paper or reducing overall toilet paper use.North American toilet paper has traditionally been made from fibers from trees in Canada and eucalyptus plantations in Brazil.Pulp made from the trees is bleached to create a bright white color, but the chlorine that's often used can hurt the environment.

Large amounts of electricity and heat are used to remove moisture and form square sheets.Increasingly, manufacturers are making toilet paper from recycled paper products, which avoids material from freshly cut trees, and are using chlorine-free bleaching techniques.Once used, toilet paper itself is flushed and not recycled.

Looking for recycled content is a good place for environmentally conscious consumers to start, said Gary Bull, professor emeritus of forest economics at the University of British Columbia.Preconsumer materials include scrap materials from manufacturing or unsold paper.

Postconsumer materials come from paper products that have already been used.Making toilet paper from postconsumer recycled fibers improves its sustainability because paper is “one of the easiest materials on the planet to recycle,” Bull said.The best way for a scientist to evaluate the carbon footprint ...