How Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made? | Bamboo Paper Guide
How Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made?
Bamboo toilet paper looks much like conventional toilet tissue by the time it reaches a washroom, but its name raises an obvious question:
How do you turn bamboo into toilet paper?
The basic principle is similar to other forms of paper manufacturing. Plant material is processed to separate and prepare its fibres, those fibres are turned into pulp, and the pulp is then formed into the lightweight tissue used to manufacture toilet rolls.
But there are some important details worth understanding.
Not all bamboo toilet paper is made entirely from bamboo, manufacturing processes can differ between suppliers, and terms such as "bamboo", "chlorine free" and "FSC certified" need to be interpreted carefully.
In this guide, we'll explain how bamboo toilet paper is made, what bamboo pulp actually is, why manufacturers may blend different fibres, and what we know about the manufacturing specifications of Hygiene Direct's bamboo toilet paper range.
What Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made From?
Bamboo toilet paper is manufactured using bamboo-derived pulp as some or all of its fibre source.
That distinction is important.
Seeing "bamboo toilet paper" on a product doesn't necessarily mean the finished tissue contains 100% bamboo fibre.
Manufacturers can use different fibre blends depending on the product they are making.
Hygiene Direct's Bamboo Paper Products NZ range is made from:
60% bamboo pulp and 40% wood pulp.
We clearly state the composition because we think businesses should be able to see exactly what they're purchasing rather than assuming that "bamboo" automatically means 100% bamboo.
How Does Bamboo Become Paper?
At a broad level, bamboo needs to be converted from a solid plant material into usable pulp before it can become paper.
Paper manufacturing relies on cellulose fibres found within plant material.
The purpose of pulping is to separate and prepare these fibres so they can subsequently be formed into paper.
A simplified bamboo paper manufacturing process can be understood as:
- Bamboo is harvested
- The bamboo is prepared for processing
- Fibres are processed into pulp
- The pulp is cleaned and prepared
- Different fibres may be blended
- The pulp is formed into tissue
- The tissue is dried and processed
- The finished tissue is converted into toilet rolls
- The rolls are packaged for distribution
The exact equipment, chemicals, processing conditions and individual production stages can vary between manufacturers.
The Hygiene Direct supplier has confirmed the fibre composition and bleaching process used for our range, but we don't currently have a complete technical production specification detailing every stage of its manufacturing line.
For that reason, the manufacturing process below explains how bamboo tissue is produced in general, while clearly separating that from the product-specific information we have verified for Hygiene Direct.
Step 1: Bamboo Is Harvested
The first requirement is bamboo suitable for pulp production.
Bamboo is a plant material containing cellulose fibres that can be processed for paper manufacturing.
After harvesting, the raw bamboo needs to be prepared before those fibres can be converted into pulp.
The exact harvesting practices and bamboo species used in Hygiene Direct's products haven't been specified by our supplier, so we don't make claims about particular bamboo species, plantations, harvest cycles or growing methods.
This is important because claims about bamboo growing exceptionally quickly or being harvested without particular environmental impacts are frequently used in marketing.
Unless those claims can be substantiated for the actual supply chain involved, they shouldn't automatically be applied to a particular toilet paper product.
Step 2: The Bamboo Is Prepared for Pulping
Harvested bamboo is too large and structurally complex to simply be fed directly into a paper-making machine.
It first needs to be prepared for pulping.
Commercial pulp production generally involves reducing plant material into smaller pieces so it can be processed more effectively.
The objective is to make the cellulose fibres accessible for the subsequent pulping process.
The exact preparation process used by Hygiene Direct's manufacturer hasn't been provided to us, so we don't make more specific claims about this stage.
Step 3: Bamboo Is Processed Into Pulp
The prepared bamboo material is processed to produce bamboo pulp.
Pulping separates and prepares the cellulose fibres required for paper manufacturing.
Once processed, bamboo pulp becomes a usable fibre source that can be incorporated into tissue products such as toilet paper and paper hand towels.
This is an important distinction when talking about bamboo paper.
The toilet tissue isn't made by simply pressing pieces of bamboo together. Bamboo is first processed into pulp, which then becomes one of the raw materials used to manufacture the finished tissue.
Step 4: The Pulp Is Cleaned and Prepared
Before pulp becomes finished tissue, it needs to be prepared for paper production.
Depending on the manufacturing system and product specification, pulp processing can involve several stages designed to achieve the characteristics required in the finished paper.
These processes can affect properties such as:
- Appearance
- Fibre consistency
- Strength
- Softness
- Absorbency
- Formation of the finished tissue
Again, the precise processing sequence used for Hygiene Direct's bamboo range hasn't been supplied to us, so we don't claim a particular technical process beyond the specifications the manufacturer has confirmed.
Step 5: Bamboo and Wood Pulp Are Blended
This is a particularly relevant stage for the Hygiene Direct range.
Our bamboo paper products aren't manufactured from bamboo pulp alone.
The finished fibre composition is:
60% bamboo pulp + 40% wood pulp.
This means bamboo pulp makes up the majority of the fibre, while wood pulp accounts for the remaining portion.
Fibre blending is one reason consumers and businesses should always check the composition of bamboo paper products.
Two products can both be marketed as "bamboo toilet paper" while having substantially different fibre blends.
If a supplier doesn't state the composition, don't automatically assume the product is 100% bamboo.
Step 6: The Pulp Is Bleached
To produce the appearance required for white toilet tissue, pulp can undergo a bleaching process.
The terminology used around bleaching is important.
Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper is manufactured using an:
ECF – Elemental Chlorine Free – bleaching process.
ECF means elemental chlorine isn't used in the bleaching process.
This doesn't mean we should describe the product simply as "chemical free" or even completely "chlorine free".
Those would be broader claims than the information supplied by the manufacturer supports.
The accurate description is:
Manufactured using an Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) bleaching process.
Being precise about terminology helps businesses compare products based on actual manufacturing information rather than broad marketing language.
Step 7: The Pulp Is Formed Into Tissue
Once the fibre has been prepared, the pulp can be formed into paper.
In tissue manufacturing, a diluted pulp mixture is formed into a thin layer from which water is removed.
The material is then dried to create the lightweight paper used in tissue products.
Toilet tissue needs characteristics that differ from many other paper products.
For example, it needs to provide sufficient strength for normal use while also being capable of disintegrating after flushing.
That is particularly relevant for toilet paper used with septic and municipal wastewater systems.
Step 8: The Tissue Is Made Into Multiple Plies
"Ply" refers to the number of layers that make up the finished toilet tissue.
Hygiene Direct's bamboo toilet paper range includes:
- 3 ply standard bamboo toilet paper
- 2 ply mini jumbo bamboo toilet tissue
- 2 ply jumbo bamboo toilet tissue
Multiple layers can be combined to create the finished tissue specification.
Ply is only one characteristic of toilet paper quality, however.
Softness, strength, fibre composition and manufacturing methods can all affect how a finished toilet tissue performs.
Step 9: The Tissue Is Converted Into Toilet Rolls
After the tissue itself has been manufactured, it needs to be converted into the roll format customers actually use.
This involves creating rolls with the dimensions and capacity required for different dispenser systems.
Commercial bamboo toilet paper isn't limited to one format.
Hygiene Direct offers three different formats designed for different washroom requirements.
Standard Bamboo Toilet Rolls
Hygiene Direct's 3 ply bamboo toilet paper contains:
- 260 sheets per roll
- 48 rolls per carton
- 3 ply tissue
This conventional roll format is well suited to offices, hospitality, accommodation and other facilities using standard toilet roll dispensers.
Mini Jumbo Bamboo Toilet Rolls
Hygiene Direct's 2 ply bamboo mini jumbo toilet tissue provides:
- 200 metres per roll
- 12 rolls per carton
- 2 ply tissue
The higher roll capacity can reduce replenishment frequency in medium to high-use commercial washrooms.
Jumbo Bamboo Toilet Rolls
Hygiene Direct's 2 ply bamboo jumbo toilet tissue provides:
- 300 metres per roll
- 8 rolls per carton
- 2 ply tissue
- Continuous, non-perforated tissue
This format is designed for higher-traffic commercial washrooms where greater roll capacity can help reduce the frequency of roll changes.
Step 10: The Bamboo Toilet Paper Is Packaged
Packaging is the final part of the product that reaches the customer, and it's an important consideration when comparing paper products.
All products in Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper range are supplied in plastic-free packaging.
This applies across our current bamboo paper range rather than just the standard toilet rolls.
For businesses that purchase toilet paper repeatedly and in commercial quantities, packaging is worth considering alongside fibre composition.
Reducing plastic packaging associated with frequently purchased consumables provides a clear, identifiable purchasing benefit without relying on vague environmental claims.
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Biodegradable?
Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper is biodegradable under natural conditions.
According to the manufacturer, it decomposes through the action of microorganisms.
For toilet tissue, however, biodegradability shouldn't be confused with septic suitability.
These are related but separate characteristics.
The manufacturer has separately confirmed that Hygiene Direct's bamboo toilet tissue is septic suitable and designed to disintegrate rapidly after flushing.
That gives us specific information about both characteristics rather than assuming one automatically proves the other.
How Does Bamboo Toilet Paper Break Down After Flushing?
Toilet tissue is manufactured differently from paper products that need to remain strong when wet.
Once flushed, suitable toilet paper needs to lose its structure and disintegrate readily in water.
Hygiene Direct's bamboo toilet tissue has been confirmed by the manufacturer as compatible with:
- Standard septic tanks
- Municipal sewage systems
This applies to the standard, mini jumbo and jumbo bamboo toilet tissue products in our range.
For a more detailed explanation, read our guide Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic Safe?
One important distinction is that this applies to toilet tissue, not every bamboo paper product.
Bamboo paper hand towels, for example, should not be flushed.
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made Without Chlorine?
This question needs precise terminology.
Hygiene Direct's bamboo toilet paper is produced using an ECF – Elemental Chlorine Free – bleaching process.
That means elemental chlorine isn't used in the bleaching process.
We don't describe the product as completely "chlorine free" because that would go beyond the specific manufacturing information provided by our supplier.
When comparing toilet paper, terminology such as ECF provides more useful information than a vague claim such as "chemical free".
Is Bamboo Toilet Paper FSC Certified?
The Hygiene Direct bamboo paper range is manufactured by an FSC Chain-of-Custody certified manufacturer.
FSC Chain-of-Custody certification provides a system for tracing FSC-certified materials through the supply chain.
However, manufacturer Chain-of-Custody certification shouldn't automatically be interpreted as meaning every finished product made by that manufacturer carries its own FSC product certification.
For that reason, we use the precise wording:
"Manufactured by an FSC Chain-of-Custody certified manufacturer."
This accurately reflects the certification information available to us without making a broader product-specific claim.
Where Is Hygiene Direct Bamboo Toilet Paper Manufactured?
Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper products are manufactured in China.
Manufacturing location is only one part of a product's overall supply chain and environmental impact.
We don't use the bamboo content alone to make claims that the finished product is "low carbon" or "carbon neutral".
The manufacturer doesn't currently hold an independently verified Product Carbon Footprint report for these products, so Hygiene Direct doesn't make a carbon-neutral or low-carbon claim for the range.
Does Making Toilet Paper From Bamboo Make It More Sustainable?
Not automatically.
Knowing that bamboo is used as a fibre source tells you something important about the product, but it doesn't provide a complete environmental assessment.
A full comparison could involve factors such as:
- Raw material production
- Fibre processing
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Water
- Bleaching
- Packaging
- Transport
- Product performance
- Waste and end-of-life
Without comparable lifecycle data for specific products, it isn't appropriate to claim that every bamboo toilet paper has a lower environmental impact than every conventional or recycled toilet paper.
This is why Hygiene Direct focuses on the product characteristics we can verify rather than making sweeping environmental claims.
Bamboo Toilet Paper vs Recycled Toilet Paper: Is the Manufacturing Different?
Yes, particularly at the fibre-source stage.
Bamboo toilet paper starts with new bamboo-derived pulp, which may then be blended with other virgin fibres.
Recycled toilet paper starts with previously manufactured paper fibre, which needs to be recovered and processed so it can be used again.
Both ultimately need to be manufactured into tissue suitable for toilet use.
The two approaches therefore differ primarily in where their fibre comes from and how that fibre needs to be prepared.
If you're comparing these options for your workplace, read our guide Bamboo vs Recycled Toilet Paper: Which Is Better?
Why Does Fibre Composition Matter?
Fibre composition tells you what the paper is actually made from.
Without it, a term such as "bamboo toilet paper" only tells you that bamboo is involved somewhere in the fibre mix.
It doesn't tell you how much.
For example, Hygiene Direct's range contains:
60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp.
Another bamboo toilet paper could have a completely different composition.
This is why we recommend looking for a percentage or clear fibre specification when comparing products.
Transparency about fibre composition makes it much easier to make meaningful comparisons.
What Should Businesses Look for When Comparing Bamboo Toilet Paper?
Understanding how bamboo paper is made helps identify some useful questions to ask suppliers.
What Is the Actual Fibre Composition?
Don't automatically assume "bamboo" means 100% bamboo.
Ask for the percentage of bamboo and any other fibres used.
What Bleaching Process Is Used?
Look for specific terminology such as ECF – Elemental Chlorine Free rather than vague claims.
How Is the Product Packaged?
Check whether plastic is used around rolls, packs or cartons.
Is the Toilet Tissue Septic Suitable?
If your property uses a septic tank, look for product-specific confirmation.
What Certification Does the Manufacturer or Product Hold?
Distinguish between a manufacturer's Chain-of-Custody certification and certification claims applying to a specific finished product.
What Commercial Formats Are Available?
Consider whether standard, mini jumbo or jumbo rolls best suit your washroom traffic and servicing requirements.
Are Environmental Claims Supported?
Claims such as "carbon neutral", "low carbon" or other broad environmental statements should have appropriate evidence behind them.
How Is Hygiene Direct Bamboo Toilet Paper Made? What We Can Verify
While we don't have the manufacturer's complete technical production specification, we do have clear information about several important characteristics of the finished Hygiene Direct bamboo range.
We can verify that it is:
- Made from 60% bamboo pulp and 40% wood pulp
- Manufactured using an ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) bleaching process
- Biodegradable under natural conditions
- Supplied in plastic-free packaging
- Manufactured by an FSC Chain-of-Custody certified manufacturer
For the toilet tissue products specifically, the manufacturer has also confirmed that they are:
- Septic suitable
- Designed to disintegrate rapidly after flushing
- Compatible with standard septic tanks and municipal sewage systems
We don't make carbon-neutral or low-carbon claims because there is currently no independently verified Product Carbon Footprint report for these products.
That distinction between what we know, what we don't know and what can reasonably be claimed is important when assessing any paper product.
From Bamboo Pulp to Commercial Washroom
So, how is bamboo toilet paper made?
At its simplest, bamboo is processed into pulp, prepared as a paper-making fibre, formed into lightweight tissue and converted into toilet rolls.
For Hygiene Direct's range, bamboo pulp is blended with wood pulp at a 60/40 ratio, and the paper is produced using an Elemental Chlorine Free bleaching process.
The finished toilet tissue is then available in different commercial formats depending on the washroom:
- Standard 3 ply rolls
- 200m 2 ply mini jumbo rolls
- 300m 2 ply jumbo rolls
The finished products are supplied in plastic-free packaging.
Understanding these details helps businesses look beyond the word "bamboo" and evaluate what they're actually purchasing.
Shop Bamboo Toilet Paper in NZ
Hygiene Direct supplies bamboo toilet paper and bamboo paper products to workplaces and commercial facilities throughout New Zealand.
Explore our Bamboo Paper Products NZ range and compare:
- 3 ply bamboo toilet paper – 260 sheets x 48 rolls
- 2 ply bamboo mini jumbo toilet tissue – 200m x 12 rolls
- 2 ply bamboo jumbo toilet tissue – 300m x 8 rolls
Need help choosing the right toilet paper format and compatible dispenser for your facility? Contact Hygiene Direct and we can help you compare the options.
Related Bamboo Paper Guides
Continue exploring our Bamboo Paper guides:
- Bamboo Toilet Paper: What Is It & Is It Better?
- Bamboo vs Recycled Toilet Paper: Which Is Better?
- Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic Safe?
- Bamboo Toilet Paper for Businesses: Is It Worth Switching?
- Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Biodegradable?
- Bamboo vs Regular Toilet Paper: What's the Difference?
- Plastic-Free Toilet Paper: What Should Businesses Look For?
- Why Is Our Bamboo Paper 60% Bamboo and 40% Wood Pulp?