Non-Toxic Living

My Honest Who Gives A Crap Review

During the great toilet paper shortage of 2020, we found a new toilet paper brand to try. When we went searching for Who Gives A Crap reviews though, we didn’t find a whole lot, so we wanted to test it out for ourselves and let you know what we thought.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I could be compensated if you decide to make a purchase, and I received a sample of Who Gives A Crap products after becoming an affiliate. I continue to use and pay for a monthly subscription though (as of the date of this post), and all opinions are my own. You can read my full disclosure here.


person holding who gives a crap toilet paper in a striped package

What is Who Gives A Crap?

Who Gives A Crap is a toilet paper company that started off in Australia back in 2012.

Now Who Gives A Crap ships their TP to Australia, Canada, and the United States (though the shipping rate for Hawaii and Alaska is unfortunately a bit steep).

The brand may have a funny name, but Who Gives A Crap really… well… gives a crap. Their toilet paper is not only sustainably made, but 50% of their profits go toward building toilets and improving sanitation in developing countries.

I love supporting a good cause like this, so we decided to give it a try (oh, and we were out of toilet paper at the time).

(Oh, and since we’re on the subject of bathrooms… you may want to read about these non-toxic bathroom cleaners too!)

Where Is Who Gives A Crap Made?

Even though the company started out in Australia, the toilet paper is actually made in China.

This is because the Chinese manufacturer that they found was the only one that would allow them to use individually wrapped paper packaging (instead of plastic).

who gives a crap toilet paper shipping package on porch

My First Impression of Who Gives A Crap

I started buying Who Gives A Crap about a year ago, and I’m still impressed by the brand.

The cardboard box that it comes in is sturdy (my kids love playing with it every month!), and when you open the box, the toilet paper fits perfectly inside.

Each toilet paper roll is individually wrapped in attractive paper (so it doesn’t look bad if it sits out on the bathroom counter), and there is no plastic to be found.

As far as the toilet paper itself, I have to admit that I wasn’t thoroughly impressed at first. I thought it seemed thin and not as soft as I’d hoped. I used to buy Cottonelle, and my first impression was that Who Gives A Crap wasn’t as well-made… it kind of seemed like the cheap toilet paper that you find in public bathrooms.

Once we ran out of our Who Gives A Crap toilet paper, however, I purchased another package of Cottonelle.

I’m not sure if I had just gotten used to Who Gives A Crap, but that package of Cottonelle was TERRIBLE. I thought it was super rough and scratchy and didn’t hold up as well as what I’d come accustomed to with Who Gives A Crap.

I ended up purchasing another box of Who Gives A Crap, and I haven’t looked back.

who gives a crap individually wrapped toilet paper in a box

Why Is Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper Individually Wrapped?

The fact that the toilet paper is wrapped in attractive paper instead of plastic makes it seem more like a product you’d buy at a high-end store, rather than something you’d find on your local drugstore shelf next to all of the other toilet paper brands.

As far as sustainability goes though, you may be wondering why they don’t just put all of the toilet paper in the box without any packaging at all.

The reason they individually wrap the toilet paper is to keep it hygienic and keep moisture out. According to guidelines, they could wrap up to 6 toilet paper rolls together, but they would have to use a thicker paper, and after doing the math, they found that it was actually less wasteful to wrap each roll individually. Now, that’s doing their homework!

Since all of the packaging is paper, however, it’s also biodegradable, compostable, and recyclable… unlike the plastic that most toilet paper brands use to package their products.

Why Is Who Gives A Crap A Better Toilet Paper Brand?

Who Gives A Crap is one of the few toilet paper brands that gives back to people in need. It’s also more sustainable and non-toxic than other brands.

It’s More Sustainable. There are two different types of toilet paper to choose from when you sign up for a Who Gives A Crap subscription. One is made with post-consumer recycled paper (which reduces waste), and the other is made with bamboo (which is fast-growing and eliminates the need to cut down trees). If you’re looking for the most sustainable option, however, the recycled tp is the way to go.

It’s Non-Toxic. All of the toilet paper is made without fragrances, inks, or dyes. Additionally, the bamboo toilet paper is completely free of BPAs. The recycled option, on the other hand may contain a limited amount of BPAs. It doesn’t contain as many BPAs as other recycled toilet paper though because the brand uses higher quality materials and conducts third-party tests on a regular basis.

It’s Charitable. They decided to donate 50% of their profits toward building toilets and improving sanitation around the world. This was because they learned that poor sanitation kills approximately 289,000 children under 5 each year.

Considering that 40% of the people on the planet don’t have access to a toilet or running water, I think this is a noble cause that I’m happy to support.

It’s Scheduled. When you have 110 things on your to-do list, sometimes it’s easy to forget the necessities, like buying toilet paper. How many times have you been down to one roll in the house and someone has to rush out to get more? (I’m embarrassed to say that this has happened at my house on more than one occasion.) I love that Who Gives A Crap is a subscription service, so you never have to worry about running out.

It just comes once a month (or however often you need it), and you can basically forget about it.

who gives a crap toilet paper on back of toilet

Who Gives A Crap Reviews

I tried out both the recycled toilet paper and the bamboo toilet paper, and I’m here to tell you what I thought about each of them.

Who Gives A Crap Recycled Toilet Paper Review

Some people may think that the recycled toilet paper made with post-consumer waste won’t be as soft and luxurious as toilet paper made from virgin trees (trees that have served no other purpose but to be cut down and made into toilet paper). I know that when I first tried it, this was my impression. However, once I got used to it, they both felt equally soft to me. In fact, I actually prefer Who Gives A Crap to most of the larger brands that you can get at your local grocery store.

It’s strong enough to hold up to my children’s excess toilet paper usage too. That’s a huge plus in my book.

The recycled toilet paper isn’t as thick as other brands of toilet paper, so at first I thought it wasn’t going to be great quality. That being said, it’s still thicker than other recycled brands that I’ve tried, and it turned out to be much better quality than I expected.

Who Gives A Crap Bamboo Toilet Paper Review

The bamboo toilet paper is something that sets Who Gives A Crap apart from many other brands. For one thing, it’s super soft, and for another, it’s actually more sustainable than other brands because it doesn’t contain any BPA (which is a toxic chemical found in most plastics).

Bamboo products are sustainable because they are made of a renewable resource that doesn’t need to be harvested. Plus, bamboo is one of the fastest-growing plants in the world. It can grow 3-4 feet in a day!

That being said, if sustainability is top-of-mind for you, you’ll probably want to stick to the recycled toilet paper because it uses post-consumer waste and uses less energy to produce.

The bamboo toilet paper, on the other hand, is guaranteed not to contain any BPA or other harmful toxins because the company has complete control over the ingredients in it (which is 100% bamboo fibers).

It does come at a slightly higher price point though.

I prefer the recycled toilet paper because it’s less expensive, more sustainable, and they do random third-party testing to make sure there are no toxic chemicals.

The way you choose to go (recycled or bamboo) will depend on your priorities, but one thing is certain – I definitely recommend the Who Gives A Crap toilet paper without reservation.

Does Bamboo Toilet Paper Break Down?

People considering Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper may be wondering if the paper is truly biodegradable and compostable. I had my doubts as well.

However, the bamboo toilet paper is made with 100% bamboo fibers, so it is actually completely biodegradable.

who gives a crap toilet paper out of package on toilet paper holder

What Does Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper Feel Like?

Both the recycled toilet paper and bamboo toilet paper options feel like the sheets are tightly woven. It’s not as fluffy as other brands, but it’s still way better than using sheets of sandpaper on your delicate areas (which is what I think of some other popular brands of recycled toilet paper).

Who Gives A Crap Price Comparison

While the price of Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper is more expensive than some other brands that you can find at your local grocers, keep in mind that it’s for a good cause.

That being said, if you only care about how soft and strong the toilet paper is, there are certainly cheaper recycled toilet papers out there that you could buy instead.

In the table below, I’ve compared the price-per sheet of Who Gives A Crap’s bamboo toilet paper, their recycled toilet paper, Seventh Generation’s recycled toilet paper, and Charmin Ultra-Soft (which is the best-selling toilet paper in the U.S.)

Who Gives A Crap RecycledWho Gives A Crap BambooSeventh GenerationCharmin Ultra-Soft
Price per 100 Sheets.27 (for 48 rolls).32 (for 48 rolls).34 (for 48 rolls).51 (for 24 rolls)
Total Price$32 for 48 rolls*$36 for 48 rolls*$38.80 (for 48 rolls)$41 for 24-pack “family” rolls
Subscription Available?YesYesThrough AmazonThrough Amazon
Notes on SustainabilityRecycled paper is better for the environment, uses mostly post-consumer waste from offices and schools (not receipt paper, thermal labels, which can be toxic, company will be completely plastic-free by the end of 2021Doesn’t use virgin trees, but not as sustainable as recycled paper, company will be completely plastic-free by the end of 2021Made with 100% recycled paper with 50% being post-consumerUses virgin trees (not recycled paper), but plants 2 trees for every tree they use

*You can get your TP even cheaper right now because they’re offering $10 off your first order.

In short, Who Gives A Crap Toilet Paper gets my vote for eco-friendly non-toxic toilet paper, and I definitely think you should give them a try.

While you’re in the bathroom, you may want to try some of these safer, non-toxic toilet cleaners too.

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