Who Gives A Crap turned an unglamorous product into one of the most recognizable sustainable brands in the world. But between bamboo sourcing and bulk shipping, is the eco halo deserved? On balance, yes, and the donation model makes it stand out even further.
- Certified B Corp and FSC certified, with an ‘A’ NRDC sustainability rating
- Made from 100% bamboo or 100% recycled paper, no virgin tree pulp
- Completely plastic-free: each roll wrapped in recycled paper, shipped in a recycled box
- Donates 50% of profits to water and sanitation charities (over $14 million to date)
- Buying in bulk reduces per-roll packaging and delivery trips
- Ships from overseas, so transport carbon adds up, though bulk shipping softens it
- Bulk subscription model isn’t convenient for everyone
- Bamboo is largely sourced from China, adding to shipping distance
Related: learn how to reduce plastic waste at home and start with our zero waste beginner’s guide.
What Is Who Gives A Crap?
Founded in Australia in 2012, Who Gives A Crap (WGAC) makes toilet paper, tissues, and paper towels with a social mission: reduce deforestation and fund toilets and clean water for communities that lack them. It launched after co-founder Simon Griffiths literally sat on a toilet livestreaming until the first production run was funded.
Materials: Bamboo vs Recycled
WGAC sells two tree-free options. The recycled line is made from 100% post-consumer recycled paper; the bamboo line uses fast-growing bamboo, which regenerates far quicker than trees. Both avoid virgin forest pulp entirely, which is the core environmental win, conventional toilet paper is a major driver of boreal forest loss. The recycled line generally has the lower footprint of the two; bamboo is softer.
Packaging and the 50% Donation
Packaging is fully plastic-free: every roll is wrapped in recycled paper (which doubles as cheerful decor) and shipped in a recycled cardboard box. The headline differentiator, though, is the giving model. WGAC donates 50% of its profits to sanitation charities like WaterAid, and has given over $14 million so far. Few consumer brands put that much of their margin toward impact.
Recycled or bamboo: which roll to pick
Who Gives A Crap sells two lines and they are not interchangeable. The recycled rolls are made from post-consumer paper, which gives them the lightest footprint of anything in the catalog: no trees harvested, no new fiber grown, just office paper getting a second life. The bamboo line is noticeably softer and is the one to hand to skeptical houseguests, but growing and shipping bamboo still costs more resources than reusing paper that already exists.
Our take: keep recycled as the default and treat bamboo as the upgrade for people who will not switch otherwise. Either way the rolls arrive wrapped in paper, not plastic film, and the box doubles as storage.
How the donation model holds up
The company started in 2012 when one of its founders sat on a toilet in a warehouse and livestreamed until the crowdfunding campaign filled, which tells you something about the personality of the brand. The pledge behind the stunt was serious though: half of profits fund water and sanitation projects through partner organizations, and the running total donated is now well into the millions.
Plenty of brands bolt a donation onto their marketing. This one is structured around it, B Corp certified, and publishes impact updates, which is why it holds one of the higher scores in our cleaning and bathroom coverage. For more swaps in the same room, see our zero waste bathroom guide.
The Verdict: Is Who Gives A Crap Sustainable?
Who Gives A Crap is a sustainable and high-impact toilet paper brand, tree-free materials, plastic-free packaging, and 50% of profits funding sanitation, with overseas shipping as its main trade-off.
Related: our zero waste bathroom guide ranks the brands we trust most.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Who Gives A Crap a B Corp?
Yes. Who Gives A Crap is a Certified B Corporation and is also FSC certified, with an ‘A’ rating from the NRDC for sustainability, all signals of verified environmental and social commitment.
Is bamboo or recycled toilet paper better for the environment?
Both avoid virgin tree pulp, which is the main win. Recycled paper generally has the lower overall footprint because it reuses existing material, while bamboo regrows quickly and is softer. Either is a strong choice over conventional toilet paper.
Where does Who Gives A Crap ship from?
Who Gives A Crap manufactures largely in Asia and ships internationally, so transport is its main environmental trade-off. Buying in bulk (their default model) reduces packaging and the number of delivery trips, which offsets some of that impact.
Is Who Gives A Crap worth it?
If you want tree-free, plastic-free toilet paper and like that 50% of profits fund clean water and sanitation, yes. It costs more than budget store brands but competes well with other premium eco options while doing far more good.
Is bamboo toilet paper septic safe?
Yes. Bamboo fiber breaks down in water much like conventional toilet paper, and Who Gives A Crap designs both its bamboo and recycled rolls to disintegrate safely in septic systems.
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Sources & Further Reading
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