by Laura Steiger, Outreach Team
May 2019

In February, the Natural Resources Defense Council released “The Issue with Tissue: How Americans are Flushing Forests Down the Toilet.”
The thoroughly researched and annotated report discusses the impacts of tissue products on the boreal forest, indigenous people, wildlife, and climate. Additional sections share information about “Forests as a Climate Solution, Paper’s Devastating Toll on Forests in the Southeastern U.S., and Forest Degradation Versus Deforestation.”
Read the Report and Get the Buyer's Guide
Included in the report is “A Buyer’s Guide to the Sustainability of At-Home Tissue Products” that issues grades from A to F for brands of toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissues.
Republished with permission from the Natural Resources Defense Council. Read the full report and learn about the tissue grading methodology.
Co-op Brands Earn an "A"
The Co-op is proud to report that the major brands of toilet paper we sell received an A on the buyer’s guide.
The only brand we carry that didn’t receive an "A" was NatureZway Bamboo, but that was only because it wasn’t included in the study. Our grocery buyer has long been on the lookout for the best bamboo tissue products, because of their superior attributes for sustainability and performance. We feel confident that if NatureZway Bamboo had been included in the study it would have earned an A rating.
Co-op member-owners can order toilet paper, and many other items, by the case for significant savings. Placing special orders is one of the ways that Co-op member-owners save money at the Co-op. Service desk staff are happy to look up quantities, prices, and place your order. The quantities in case orders are quite reasonable, particularly for products with a long shelf life.
Compare our Prices
Compare our case prices for A-rated brands, as shown below, to the Costco Warehouse prices for two F-rated brands:
- Kirkland Signature $16.99/30 rolls (57¢ per roll)
- Charmin Ultra Soft $22.49/30 rolls (75¢ per roll).
Earn an "A"!
You can earn an "A" simply by purchasing sustainable products for your home. Let’s not flush our beloved, life-sustaining forests down the drain!
A-rated Toilet Paper Brands Available at the Co-op

Savvy Shopping Tip: Save Money on Our A-rated Brands
Place special orders when products are on sale and the case price will drop accordingly. Service desk staff are happy to look up special order prices and place your order.
Prices below reflect the regular special order price (48 rolls per case) available to all Co-op member-owners. Place your special order at the service desk. Shelf prices are higher.

Field Day
$23.77/case
(50¢ per roll)*

Natural Value
$28.15/case
(59¢ per roll)

NatureZway Bamboo
$28.90/case
(60¢ per roll)**

Field Day
$23.77/case
(50¢ per roll)*

Natural Value
$28.15/case
(59¢ per roll)

NatureZway Bamboo
$28.90/case
(60¢ per roll)**
Compare to F-rated Costco Warehouse Brands

Kirkland Signature
$16.99/30 rolls
(57¢ per roll)
Charmin Ultra Soft
$22.49/30 rolls
(75¢ per roll)
*Field Day is our store brand. It is a name brand product with an “A” rating on the scorecard.
**The author was so impressed with the quality and value of NatureZway Bamboo that she felt no need to try any others. As explained above, this brand was not included in the buyer’s guide, but due to its sustainability attributes, we are confident it would receive an "A."