Caught short: lack of recycled toilet paper in UK ‘fuelling deforestation’

Less office waste material during Covid has led big lavatory roll makers to cut amount of recycled paper in tissues, according to consumer body

Hoarding during the Covid-19 pandemic underlined just how important loo roll is to the British public. But working from home had another unexpected effect: less waste paper from offices, which means less recycled material to make toilet roll.

New research by Ethical Consumer magazine shows that the three main toilet brands have cut the amount of recycled paper in their tissues. It said the use of virgin wood pulp was fuelling deforestation, although paper-industry advocates dispute this.