What's Actually in Your Toilet Paper (And What to Use Instead)

Most of us don't think twice about toilet paper. It's just assumed to be safe. It's such an everyday product that we tend to grab whatever is on special and move on. But over the last few years, research has raised some real concerns about what's actually in mainstream tissue paper. And considering how often we use it, and where on the body, it's definitely worth a closer look.

What the Research Has Found

A 2023 study from the University of Florida tested 21 major toilet paper brands sold across North America, Central and South America, Africa, and Europe. The researchers detected PFAS in every single sample, including recycled paper and those marketed as sustainable alternatives. PFAS compounds in toilet paper have since been detected in wastewater and sewage sludge, where they accumulate and persist in the environment.

PFAS are a class of several thousand synthetic chemicals that don't break down naturally. They're used widely in manufacturing for their water and grease resistance. In toilet paper, they're thought to enter either through the manufacturing process itself, through recycled paper feedstock that contains PFAS from other sources, or through intentional use as a processing aid.

The concern isn't just environmental. Chronic PFAS exposure has been linked to immune disruption, hormonal interference, liver effects, and increased risk of certain cancers. In late 2023, the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer classified PFOA, one specific PFAS compound, as a Group 1 carcinogen. This means it is carcinogenic to humans. While ingestion through food and water is considered the main route of PFAS exposure, emerging research is starting to suggest that dermal absorption may also play a role, particularly with shorter-chain PFAS. When you consider how often toilet paper is used and where on the body, it's a worthwhile reason to look at lower-tox options.

Chlorine Bleaching and the Residue It Leaves Behind

Most conventional toilet paper, including well-known brands like Kleenex toilet paper and supermarket own-label bathroom tissue paper, gets its bright white appearance from chlorine bleaching. This process can produce chlorinated compounds called dioxins and furans as byproducts. These are persistent organic pollutants with known toxicity at very low concentrations.

Studies have detected dioxin residues in bleached paper products, including toilet paper, though the levels found are typically low. The issue is cumulative exposure over time. If you're using conventional bleached toilet paper several times a day, every day, the question isn't whether a single use is harmful but whether daily, long-term exposure to low-level residues is a worthwhile risk when safer options exist.

Some manufacturers use an alternative called Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching, which reduces but doesn't eliminate organochlorine byproducts. The genuinely cleaner standard is Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) or Processed Chlorine Free (PCF), which uses alternatives like hydrogen peroxide or ozone. Bamboo toilet paper brands tend to use these methods more consistently than conventional wood pulp products, though it's worth checking individual certifications rather than assuming.

Fragrance, Formaldehyde, and Other Additives

Scented toilet paper and antibacterial bathroom tissue paper introduce additional concerns. Synthetic fragrance compounds in tissue paper can trigger skin irritation, and some have been linked to allergic contact dermatitis in sensitive individuals. Formaldehyde resins are sometimes used to improve wet strength in toilet paper, and residual formaldehyde is a known irritant and a Group 1 carcinogen.

None of these ingredients are required to be disclosed on toilet paper packaging in New Zealand or Australia. There's no ingredient labelling obligation for toilet paper in either country, which means consumers have very little visibility into what's actually in the product.

Safer Options That Have Been Verified

The good news is there are brands that have taken steps to verify their products are free from PFAS, chlorine bleaching residues, and unnecessary additives. Here are some options worth considering, with verified credentials where they exist.

Australian Options

EcoCheeks is an Australian bamboo toilet paper brand that has committed to PFAS-free production and uses totally chlorine-free (TCF) bleaching. Their tissue paper is unscented, free from BPA and other plastic coatings, and the packaging is plastic-free.

Wype.eco is another Australian brand focused on bamboo bathroom tissue paper. They use TCF bleaching and use 100% organic bamboo fibers. They are also PFAS and formaldehyde-free.

New Zealand Option

EcoRoll uses FSC® 100% certified bamboo and are Lab certified PFAS-free. They also use no plastic packaging. They also use TCF bleaching.

When evaluating any bamboo toilet paper or alternative tissue paper brand, look for: TCF or PCF bleaching certification, independent PFAS testing results, fragrance-free formulation, and plastic-free packaging. If a brand doesn't publish this information or can't provide it on request, that's worth factoring into your decision.

Alternative Options to Toilet Paper

Another option is to move away from disposable toilet paper altogether. Bidets use water rather than paper, which sidesteps the issue entirely, and modern attachments fit onto your existing toilet for under $100. Reusable cotton wipes (sometimes called family cloth) are another option, especially when paired with a bidet for a final rinse. Neither is for everyone, but they're worth knowing about as you weigh up what works for your home.

What About Mainstream Supermarket Brands?

Here's the uncomfortable reality. Brands like Kleenex toilet paper, supermarket own-label bathroom tissue paper, and other widely sold conventional products don't publicly disclose their PFAS testing results. When I asked, many manufacturers have either declined to share data or stated they \"meet safety standards\".

PFAS in toilet paper is unregulated in New Zealand, Australia, and most of the world. Manufacturers aren't required to test for it, disclose it, or stay below any maximum limit. That means even informed consumers have no way of knowing what's in the product unless a brand has chosen to test it voluntarily. For a product used daily by almost everyone, that's a significant gap in consumer protection, especially given that some PFAS compounds are now officially classified as carcinogenic to humans. New Zealand has made some progress by starting to ban PFAS in cosmetics from 2026, but paper products are not yet on the regulatory radar.

That's why we're running a crowdfunded testing project to independently test samples from five different mainstream supermarket toilet paper brands, sent to an accredited laboratory in Australia (no New Zealand-based labs currently have the capability to do this testing). The results will be published openly so anyone can see what's in the products they're buying.

If you'd like to support that testing, you can contribute and follow the results at lowtoxinrabbit.com/product-testing. Every contribution goes directly toward laboratory costs, and the data will be freely available when we have it.

Making the Switch

Switching your toilet paper is one of the easiest swaps you can make on a lower-tox journey. It's something you're already buying regularly, the price gap between conventional and bamboo options has really closed in recent years, and the cleaner alternatives are genuinely good quality (no compromise on softness).

If you're not ready to commit to a whole new brand just yet, a great starting point is to skip the scented and antibacterial varieties. Fragrance and antimicrobial additives are the easiest things to cross off the list. From there, you can look at moving to a bamboo toilet paper with TCF (totally chlorine-free) bleaching certification at your next shop.

The bigger picture is that toilet paper sits in a largely unregulated space. Manufacturers aren't required to disclose what's in the product, test for common contaminants, or meet any toxin residue standard. That puts the research burden on us as consumers, which isn't fair or realistic. Independent testing, like the project we're running, is one way of starting to build that knowledge publicly and make it easier for everyone to make informed choices.

Key Takeaways

• PFAS have been detected in toilet paper products across multiple countries, including those marketed as sustainable. Exposure via thin, absorptive skin is a plausible concern.

• Chlorine bleaching in conventional bathroom tissue paper can produce dioxin and furan residues. Look for TCF or PCF bleaching instead.

• Fragrance and formaldehyde resins in some tissue papers add further unnecessary exposure.

• Verified safer options include EcoCheeks and Wype.eco (Australia), and EcoRoll (New Zealand).

• Mainstream brands are not required to disclose PFAS testing data, and many don't conduct it at all.

• Support our crowdfunded testing of five supermarket toilet paper brands at lowtoxinrabbit.com/product-testing.

References

1. Whitehead, H.D. et al. (2023). \"Fluorinated Compounds in North American Toilet Papers and Their Contribution to Wastewater.\" Environmental Science and Technology Letters, 10(4), 336–341.https://pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/acs.estlett.3c00094

2. International Agency for Research on Cancer (2025). Perfluorooctanoic Acid (PFOA) and Perfluorooctanesulfonic Acid (PFOS). IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans, Volume 135. World Health Organization. ISBN: 978-92-832-0292-9. https://publications.iarc.who.int/636

3. Yeoh, C.S.L., Alrazihi, L.A., Wong, S.T., & Wong, S.F. (2025). \"Per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) and human health: a review of exposure routes and potential toxicities across the lifespan.\" Environmental Toxicology and Chemistry, 44(10), 2754–2786. https://academic.oup.com/etc/article-abstract/44/10/2754/8193714

4. Stockholm Convention Secretariat (2023). \"Dioxins and Furans as Persistent Organic Pollutants.\" United Nations Environment Programme.

5. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (2023). \"Perfluoroalkyl and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).\" https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/pfc

Frequently Asked Questions

Has PFAS actually been found in toilet paper?

Yes. A 2023 study tested 21 toilet paper products from multiple continents and detected PFAS compounds in all of them, including recycled and sustainably marketed brands. PFAS from toilet paper have also been found in wastewater and sewage sludge.

Is bamboo toilet paper safer than conventional toilet paper?

Bamboo toilet paper tends to use cleaner bleaching processes (TCF or PCF rather than chlorine bleaching) and is less likely to contain the processing additives found in conventional wood pulp tissue paper. However, not all bamboo brands are independently tested for PFAS, so it's worth checking whether the brand publishes test results before buying.

What does TCF bleaching mean and why does it matter?

TCF stands for Totally Chlorine Free. It means the paper was whitened using alternatives like hydrogen peroxide or ozone rather than chlorine. Chlorine bleaching can produce dioxins and furans as byproducts, which are persistent organic pollutants. TCF and PCF (Processed Chlorine Free) are the cleaner standards to look for on tissue paper packaging.

Why are mainstream brands like Kleenex not required to disclose PFAS in their toilet paper?

Toilet paper is not subject to ingredient disclosure requirements in New Zealand or Australia, and there are currently no regulated limits for PFAS in tissue paper in either country. Manufacturers are not required to test for PFAS or share results, which is why independent testing projects like the one Low Toxin Rabbit is running are important for building public data.

How can I support testing of supermarket toilet paper brands in New Zealand?

Low Toxin Rabbit is crowdfunding laboratory testing of five mainstream supermarket toilet paper brands, with results to be published openly. Testing will be conducted at an accredited laboratory in Australia. You can contribute and track results at lowtoxinrabbit.com/product-testing.

What toilet paper has the least toxins?

The best option in NZ is EcoRoll and is available online. For Australian-based shoppers, EcoCheeks and Wype.eco are both verified options.

What toilet paper brand has no PFAS?

EcoRoll, EcoCheeks and Wype.eco are all verified options that are PFAS free.