Why Is Bamboo Paper 60% Bamboo & 40% Wood Pulp?
Why Is Our Bamboo Paper 60% Bamboo and 40% Wood Pulp?
When you see a product described as bamboo toilet paper or bamboo paper towels, it's reasonable to wonder:
Is it made from 100% bamboo?
In the case of Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper range, the answer is no.
Our bamboo paper products are made from:
60% bamboo pulp and 40% wood pulp.
We believe it's important to state that clearly rather than allowing customers to assume that "bamboo paper" automatically means 100% bamboo.
But a blended fibre composition isn't necessarily a negative.
Paper manufacturers commonly work with different fibre types because the fibres used in tissue can have different characteristics. Combining fibres can allow tissue manufacturers to balance qualities such as softness, strength, absorbency and bulk in the finished product.
In this guide, we'll explain what the 60/40 fibre composition means, why blended fibres are commonly used in tissue manufacturing and why we think transparency about the composition is more useful than simply putting "bamboo" on the packaging.
What Is Hygiene Direct Bamboo Paper Made From?
Hygiene Direct's Bamboo Paper Products NZ range is manufactured from:
60% bamboo pulp + 40% wood pulp.
That means bamboo pulp makes up the majority of the paper-making fibre.
The remaining 40% comes from wood pulp.
This composition applies across our current bamboo paper range, including our bamboo toilet tissue and bamboo slimfold paper hand towels.
Why Isn't Bamboo Paper Always 100% Bamboo?
The term "bamboo paper" tells you that bamboo-derived fibre is used in the product.
It doesn't necessarily mean bamboo is the only fibre used.
Tissue manufacturers can work with:
- Bamboo pulp
- Hardwood pulp
- Softwood pulp
- Recycled fibre
- Blends of different pulps
Different fibres have different physical characteristics.
In tissue manufacturing, those characteristics can affect factors such as:
- Softness
- Strength
- Absorbency
- Bulk
- Flexibility
- How the paper feels during use
For this reason, fibre blending is a normal part of paper and tissue manufacturing.
A tissue made from more than one fibre type shouldn't automatically be considered inferior to a single-fibre product.
The more useful question is:
What is the actual fibre composition, and does the finished product perform appropriately for its intended use?
What Is the Benefit of Blending Bamboo and Wood Pulp?
Different paper-making fibres can contribute different characteristics to a tissue product.
Research comparing wood and non-wood pulps for tissue manufacturing has found that fibre morphology can strongly influence properties such as softness, strength, bulk and water absorbency.
The same research notes that pulp blending can be used to maximise different tissue characteristics rather than relying on a single fibre to provide everything required from the finished product.
This means a blended tissue can be designed around the overall performance of the paper, not simply around achieving the highest possible percentage of one fibre.
For Hygiene Direct's products, we know the final composition is 60% bamboo pulp and 40% wood pulp.
We don't claim to know the manufacturer's exact technical reason for selecting that percentage because they haven't provided us with that information.
What we can say is that blending bamboo and wood pulp is consistent with established tissue-making practice, where manufacturers use fibre combinations to achieve the properties required in the finished tissue.
What Does Bamboo Pulp Contribute to Tissue Paper?
Bamboo can be processed into a useful paper-making pulp.
Research into bamboo pulp for tissue applications has found that bamboo fibre can provide a useful combination of strength and water absorbency, while also achieving tissue softness suitable for a range of applications.
Bamboo fibres can therefore be used either independently or alongside traditional wood pulps in tissue manufacturing.
In Hygiene Direct's range, bamboo isn't a token ingredient.
At 60% of the total fibre composition, it is the majority fibre used in the paper.
What Does Wood Pulp Contribute?
Wood pulp has been used in tissue manufacturing for a very long time because wood fibres can provide valuable characteristics in finished paper.
Importantly, not all wood pulp behaves identically.
Hardwood and softwood fibres have different characteristics, and tissue manufacturers can use these differences when designing paper products.
Research into tissue manufacturing shows that certain shorter fibres can contribute to softness, while longer fibres can contribute to strength, bulk and absorbency.
This is one of the reasons tissue products are often made using fibre blends rather than a single pulp source.
We haven't been given the precise hardwood/softwood specification of the 40% wood pulp in Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper, so we don't make a more specific claim about what that particular portion contributes.
Does 40% Wood Pulp Make It Less "Bamboo"?
It means the product isn't 100% bamboo, and we think that distinction should be clear.
But bamboo still makes up 60% of the fibre, so it remains the majority component.
We prefer to describe the product accurately:
Made from 60% bamboo pulp and 40% wood pulp.
That's more useful than using a vague phrase such as "made with bamboo", which could theoretically refer to a product containing almost any percentage of bamboo fibre.
The percentage tells customers exactly what they're purchasing.
Is 100% Bamboo Automatically Better?
No.
A higher bamboo percentage doesn't automatically tell you that a toilet paper will be:
- Softer
- Stronger
- More absorbent
- Better for septic tanks
- Better packaged
- Lower carbon
- More environmentally sustainable
- Better suited to commercial washrooms
Those characteristics depend on the finished product and its manufacturing specification, not simply the percentage of bamboo.
A 100% bamboo toilet paper could be an excellent product.
A blended bamboo and wood-pulp toilet paper could also be an excellent product.
What matters is how the finished tissue performs and whether its claims can be substantiated.
Why Tissue Paper Often Uses Fibre Blends
Toilet paper needs to achieve several things at once.
It needs enough strength to perform properly during use, but it also needs to feel comfortable and disintegrate appropriately after flushing.
Paper hand towels have a different requirement again: they need sufficient absorbency and wet strength for effective hand drying.
These characteristics can pull tissue design in different directions.
For example, research into tissue pulp shows there can be trade-offs between strength and softness, and different fibre morphologies can help manufacturers achieve different combinations of tissue performance.
Blending fibres gives manufacturers another way to manage those trade-offs.
This doesn't mean every blended tissue is automatically superior. It simply explains why using more than one type of fibre is technically normal in tissue manufacturing.
Does the Blend Affect Softness?
Potentially, because fibre selection is one of several things that can influence tissue softness.
Research comparing different tissue pulps has found that fibre length, wall thickness, coarseness and flexibility can all affect how soft the resulting tissue feels.
However, the fibre blend isn't the only factor.
Softness can also be influenced by:
- Ply
- Refining
- Tissue formation
- Embossing
- Manufacturing conditions
- Sheet structure
For that reason, we don't claim that Hygiene Direct's 60/40 blend was specifically selected to make the paper softer.
We can simply say that blending different fibres is one of the tools tissue manufacturers can use to balance finished-paper properties.
Does the Blend Affect Strength?
It can.
Different fibres contribute differently to the strength of paper.
Tissue needs enough strength to function effectively without becoming unnecessarily stiff or rough.
Research into bamboo and wood pulps shows bamboo can provide good tissue strength while maintaining useful absorbency and softness characteristics.
Wood fibres can also contribute valuable strength and structural properties depending on the pulp type.
Again, the overall performance comes from more than the fibre percentage alone.
Does the Blend Affect Absorbency?
Fibre type and paper structure can both influence absorbency.
Research comparing bamboo and wood-based pulps for tissue manufacturing has found that bamboo pulp can provide a strong combination of water absorbency and tensile strength.
This is especially relevant for tissue products such as paper towels, where absorbency is a primary performance requirement.
Hygiene Direct's current bamboo range includes both toilet tissue and bamboo slimfold paper hand towels, so the fibre blend needs to work across different tissue applications.
Is 60% Bamboo Still a Significant Amount?
Yes.
Bamboo makes up more than half of the fibre content in Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper.
For every 100 parts of pulp fibre:
- 60 parts are bamboo pulp
- 40 parts are wood pulp
So bamboo is clearly the primary fibre source in the finished product.
We think giving customers the exact percentage is preferable to relying on marketing language that doesn't reveal how much bamboo is actually present.
Why Transparency About Fibre Composition Matters
When businesses are purchasing products based partly on their materials or environmental characteristics, they need accurate information.
If a product simply says "bamboo toilet paper", customers may reasonably assume it is made entirely from bamboo.
That isn't necessarily the case.
By publishing the 60/40 composition, Hygiene Direct customers can make an informed choice based on the actual product.
This is consistent with the approach we're taking across the whole bamboo range:
- Clearly state the fibre composition
- Clearly state the packaging
- Clearly describe the bleaching process
- Clearly distinguish manufacturer certification from product certification
- Avoid carbon claims we can't substantiate
We would rather give customers specific information than rely on broad environmental terminology.
What Other Features Does the 60/40 Bamboo Paper Have?
The fibre blend is only one characteristic of Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper range.
The supplier has also confirmed that the paper is:
Supplied in Plastic-Free Packaging
All products in the Hygiene Direct bamboo range are supplied in plastic-free packaging.
This gives businesses a clear way to reduce plastic packaging associated with frequently purchased paper consumables.
Biodegradable
The paper is biodegradable under natural conditions and can decompose through the action of microorganisms.
ECF Bleached
The paper is manufactured using an ECF – Elemental Chlorine Free – bleaching process.
This means elemental chlorine isn't used in the bleaching process.
Manufactured by an FSC Chain-of-Custody Certified Manufacturer
The range is manufactured by an FSC Chain-of-Custody certified manufacturer.
We use this precise wording rather than claiming that every individual Hygiene Direct bamboo product itself carries an FSC product certification.
Septic Suitable – for the Toilet Tissue
The bamboo toilet tissue products are septic suitable and designed to disintegrate rapidly after flushing.
The manufacturer advises that they are compatible with standard septic tanks and municipal sewage systems.
This septic claim relates to the toilet tissue, not the bamboo paper hand towels.
Does the 40% Wood Pulp Cancel Out the Benefits of Bamboo?
No — but nor should we pretend the wood pulp isn't there.
Bamboo still represents the majority of the fibre composition.
The finished paper is a genuine bamboo-and-wood fibre blend.
A more useful way to evaluate it is to consider the complete specification:
60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp + plastic-free packaging + biodegradable paper + ECF bleaching + commercial product formats.
That provides much more information than judging the product solely on whether the bamboo percentage is 60%, 80% or 100%.
What About Sustainability?
We think this is another area where precise claims matter.
It would be easy to claim that the 60/40 blend is automatically more sustainable than conventional paper.
We don't make that blanket claim.
A paper product's overall environmental impact can involve:
- Raw material sourcing
- Pulp production
- Manufacturing
- Energy
- Water
- Packaging
- Transport
- Product performance
- End-of-life
The manufacturer doesn't currently hold an independently verified Product Carbon Footprint report for the Hygiene Direct bamboo range.
We therefore don't describe the products as carbon neutral or low carbon.
Instead, we concentrate on the characteristics we can verify.
Why Not Just Use 100% Bamboo?
There may be perfectly good 100% bamboo tissue products available.
However, 100% bamboo isn't automatically the benchmark by which every bamboo paper should be judged.
Paper manufacturing is about producing a finished tissue with the required combination of:
- Softness
- Strength
- Absorbency
- Bulk
- Disintegration
- Converting performance
- Commercial usability
Different fibre combinations can be used to achieve those requirements.
Without the manufacturer's technical formulation data, we won't claim that Hygiene Direct's exact 60/40 ratio was selected for one particular performance reason.
But the use of a bamboo/wood pulp blend is entirely consistent with how tissue manufacturers can combine fibre characteristics to produce finished paper.
Is Hygiene Direct's 60/40 Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic Safe?
Yes.
The manufacturer has confirmed that Hygiene Direct's bamboo toilet tissue is septic suitable.
It is designed to disintegrate rapidly after flushing and is compatible with:
- Standard septic tanks
- Municipal sewage systems
So the presence of 40% wood pulp doesn't prevent the toilet tissue from meeting the supplier's septic-suitability specification.
Read our guide Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Septic Safe? for more information.
Is the 60/40 Paper Biodegradable?
Yes.
According to the manufacturer, Hygiene Direct's bamboo paper is biodegradable under natural conditions, where it can decompose through the action of microorganisms.
That applies to the paper blend as supplied, not merely the bamboo portion.
Read Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Biodegradable? for a fuller explanation of biodegradability and how it differs from septic suitability.
How Is the 60/40 Bamboo Paper Manufactured?
Bamboo and wood are first processed into pulp suitable for paper manufacturing.
For the Hygiene Direct products, bamboo pulp and wood pulp are combined to create the 60/40 fibre composition before the material is manufactured into tissue products.
The supplier has confirmed that the paper uses an ECF – Elemental Chlorine Free – bleaching process.
We don't have the manufacturer's complete technical production specification, so we don't make claims about every individual stage of the production process.
For more information, read How Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made?
Which Hygiene Direct Products Use the 60/40 Fibre Blend?
The current Bamboo Paper Products NZ range uses the 60% bamboo / 40% wood pulp composition.
Standard Bamboo Toilet Paper
Our 3 ply bamboo toilet paper provides:
- 260 sheets per roll
- 48 rolls per carton
- 3 ply tissue
- 60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp
- Plastic-free packaging
Bamboo Mini Jumbo Toilet Tissue
Our 2 ply bamboo mini jumbo toilet tissue provides:
- 200 metres per roll
- 12 rolls per carton
- 2 ply tissue
- 60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp
- Plastic-free packaging
Bamboo Jumbo Toilet Tissue
Our 2 ply bamboo jumbo toilet tissue provides:
- 300 metres per roll
- 8 rolls per carton
- 2 ply continuous, non-perforated tissue
- 60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp
- Plastic-free packaging
Bamboo Slimfold Paper Towels
Our bamboo slimfold paper towels provide:
- 2 ply paper
- 200 sheets per pack
- 20 packs per carton
- 4,000 sheets per carton
- 60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp
- Plastic-free packaging
What Should You Ask When Comparing Bamboo Paper?
If you're comparing bamboo products from different suppliers, don't simply ask whether the paper contains bamboo.
Ask:
What percentage of the fibre is bamboo?
What makes up the remaining fibre?
Is the packaging plastic-free?
What bleaching process is used?
Has biodegradability been confirmed?
Is the toilet tissue suitable for septic systems?
What exactly does any FSC claim apply to?
Are carbon claims backed by independent evidence?
These questions give you a much clearer basis for comparison than a product name alone.
So, Why Is Hygiene Direct Bamboo Paper 60% Bamboo and 40% Wood Pulp?
The straightforward answer is:
That is the fibre composition specified by the manufacturer.
Bamboo is the majority fibre at 60%, while wood pulp makes up the remaining 40%.
The manufacturer hasn't provided us with a specific technical explanation for why it selected the exact 60/40 ratio, so we won't invent one.
What established tissue research does tell us is that different pulp fibres have different properties, and blending fibres is a recognised way of balancing characteristics such as softness, strength, absorbency and bulk in tissue products.
So the 40% wood-pulp content shouldn't automatically be viewed as a disadvantage.
The better approach is to look at the complete finished product.
For Hygiene Direct's range, that means:
- 60% bamboo pulp / 40% wood pulp
- Bamboo as the majority fibre
- Plastic-free packaging
- Biodegradable under natural conditions
- ECF (Elemental Chlorine Free) bleaching
- Manufacture by an FSC Chain-of-Custody certified manufacturer
- Septic-suitable toilet tissue
- Commercial standard, mini jumbo, jumbo and slimfold formats
Most importantly, we tell customers what the paper is actually made from.
Shop Bamboo Paper Products in NZ
Hygiene Direct supplies bamboo paper products to workplaces and commercial facilities throughout New Zealand.
Explore our Bamboo Paper Products NZ range to 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
- Bamboo slimfold paper hand towels
Need help choosing the right bamboo paper or washroom dispenser for your facility? Contact Hygiene Direct and we can help you compare the available 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?
- How Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Made?
- Is Bamboo Toilet Paper Biodegradable?
- Bamboo vs Regular Toilet Paper: What's the Difference?
- Plastic-Free Toilet Paper: What Should Businesses Look For?