The internet has been buzzing with toilet tissue talk lately, most of it centered on an article from The New York Times that puts the nation’s multi-ply habits in the spotlight. It turns out we’re really particular about our toilet paper; we want the softest, fluffiest, thickest sheets around and we’re willing to cough up extra cash for them, and, as it turns out, take down a forest or two in the process.

Despite recession times and an eagerness to cut back on most costs (including food and transportation), we’re still spending plenty on “luxury” toilet tissue brands, pushing aside alternatives made with recycled content because they’re considered too rough or thin. Although Americans are revising other habits for increased eco-friendliness (bringing reusable grocery bags to the store, recycling assorted packaging and swapping out traditional light bulbs for CFLs), few have switched to recycled toilet tissue, with sales of 100% recycled-fiber paper constituting less than 2% of for-home-use purchases. The hesitancy to switch could be because of the lack of information that’s been spread about the environmental toll of traditional tissues. In fact, the harvesting of millions of trees for toilet paper is caused by the desire for softer versions, which require the fiber from standing trees. Some of these trees are even being harvested from rare old-growth forests in Canada. The impact of this harvesting is two-fold; first, reducing the number of carbon-dioxide absorbing trees available and, second, destroying habitats for endangered species.

It’s not just the multi-million tree takedown that worries environmentalists, however; more water is consumed bringing a tree to bathroom tissue form than with recycled fibers. Chlorine bleach is also a common component, used to render tree pulp that arctic whiteness that we’ve come to associate with cleanliness.

In light of these issues, Greenpeace has released their first Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper Guide to inform Americans on the contents (new and recycled) and bleaching processes of various brands. Three ratings (Recommended, Can Do Better and To Be Avoided) rank options. You can check out the guide here.

So what do you think? Can you sacrifice a little softness for a few trees?

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