Eco-friendly toilet paper may have different environmental impacts.

Consumers are increasingly choosing toilet paper made from recycled or sustainably sourced fibers, and advocates estimate that using recycled-content rolls could save more than 1 billion gallons of water and 1.6 million trees in the U.S.

Toilet paper is used briefly and then discarded, yet its production typically involves tree fibers, energy-intensive manufacturing and chemicals that can pollute. Consumers are increasingly seeking products made from recycled content or other sustainable materials, though identifying credible claims can be difficult. Recycled-content toilet paper avoids using freshly cut trees and some manufacturers use chlorine-free bleaching methods. Experts say a life cycle assessment gives the most complete view of environmental impacts, but such analyses are not usually accessible to ordinary buyers. Key facts: - Toilet paper is commonly made from tree fibers and requires large amounts of energy, water and chemical processing during manufacturing. - The Environmental Paper Network estimates that if every American used one roll of recycled-content toilet paper instead of a roll made from forest fibers, more than 1 billion gallons of water and about 1.6 million trees could be saved. - Recycled toilet paper can use preconsumer scraps or postconsumer paper; postconsumer recycled fibers are noted as more sustainable in many assessments. - A full evaluation of carbon and ecological impacts is best done with a life cycle assessment, which traces impacts from seedling to disposal. - Some companies use third-party labels such as the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative to indicate independently vetted practices related to water use, wildlife and biodiversity protections. Summary: Shifts toward recycled or sustainably sourced toilet paper can reduce water use and tree harvests, according to experts and advocacy groups. Determining the full climate and ecosystem impacts generally requires a life cycle assessment, and some manufacturers present third-party labels such as FSC or SFI to indicate external vetting. Undetermined at this time.