Fibre, compared

Bamboo or recycled toilet paper? What each one is actually made of

Both are sold as the responsible choice. They are not the same product, and the difference starts with the fibre, not the marketing.

A BAMBUM roll resting on an open palm against green foliage

At a glance

At a glanceBamboo (BAMBUM)Recycled
  • Fibre sourceBambooBamboo pulp, a grass.RecycledPost-consumer paper, de-inked and reformed.
  • RenewalBambooRegrows from its own root system after harvest; no replanting.RecycledDepends on the supply of used paper.
  • Fibre historyBambooFirst use of the fibre.RecycledAlready through at least one papermaking cycle.
  • Current Canadian rollBamboo4-ply, 250 sheets, 100% bamboo pulp by the manufacturer’s stamped statement.RecycledVaries by brand; check the pack.
  • Best whenBambooYou want a first-use plant fibre with a fast regrowth cycle.RecycledYour first priority is diverting existing paper from landfill.
Bamboo culms in low light
Bamboo, at the source.

Where the fibre comes from

RecycledMade from post-consumer paper that has been de-inked, cleaned and reformed into tissue. It gives used paper a second life, and that is its strongest argument.

BambooMade from bamboo pulp. Bamboo is a grass, not a tree. After harvest, new shoots can grow from its existing underground rhizomes3. Certain species hold the Guinness World Record for the fastest-growing plant, at up to about 90 centimetres in a single day; that is a maximum, not an average1. Harvest cycles depend on the species and how it is cultivated.

Close-up of a curved BAMBUM sheet with a floral embossed pattern
The sheet, in detail.

Strength and softness

RecycledRecycled fibre has already been through at least one papermaking cycle. The finished sheet’s feel depends on the product, not just the fibre label.

BambooIn papermaking literature bamboo fibre is described as having properties similar to hardwood, softwood or intermediate between the two, depending on species2.

What we can state about our own roll is what it is: the current Canadian BAMBUM roll is four plies, 250 sheets per roll, 100% bamboo pulp by the manufacturer’s stamped statement. We do not make performance claims about any recycled brand; buy a roll of each and compare them in your own bathroom.

An editorial portrait with a BAMBUM roll held beside the shoulder
BAMBUM, in hand.

Ply, sheet count and what a roll actually costs

A recycled roll and a bamboo roll can differ in ply, sheet count and sheet size, so price per roll is only part of the comparison. To calculate price per sheet, divide the pack price by the total sheet count (rolls × sheets per roll). Our cost page works BAMBUM’s current Canadian packs through that formula and lets you run any pack you own through the same arithmetic. Compare sheet size and the paper you prefer using alongside the number.

Which one to choose

Choose recycled ifYour priority is giving used paper another use. Check the pack’s recycled content, sheet count and dimensions, then compare how it feels to use.

Choose bamboo ifYou want first-use bamboo fibre in a four-ply sheet. In Canada, the current BAMBUM roll is on the 12 and 48-roll product page, the laboratory reports are listed by number on the Reports page for anyone who wants them, and the FAQ covers prices, delivery and subscriptions.

Sources
  1. Guinness World Records, “Fastest growing plant”: guinnessworldrecords.com
  2. Paper Industry Technical Association, “Bamboo pulp for tissue making” (22 April 2022): pita.org.uk
  3. INBAR, Technical Report 41, on bamboo rhizomes and shoot regeneration: inbar.int (PDF)
  4. Current Canadian BAMBUM product specifications: four plies and 250 sheets per roll. Bamboo pulp composition: manufacturer’s stamped statement, 14 July 2026, held by BAMBUM.