Hi Paul, Thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts with us. We really appreciate it and are more than happy to help with the points you’ve raised.
We’ve chosen to make our sheets slightly smaller to give people more control over how much paper they use each time. However, each of our toilet rolls is extra-long at 30 metres, compared to the supermarket average of around 24 metres. While our paper isn’t the thickest on the market, this was a deliberate choice - we wanted to ensure it could be safely used with all waste systems, as thicker papers can sometimes cause drainage problems. That said, our paper is designed to be strong and soft in use, while breaking down quickly and efficiently once flushed. And our product and packaging are 100% plastic free!
Turning bamboo into paper requires less energy and involves fewer processing steps than traditional wood pulp. The production process is largely thermo-mechanical – the bamboo fibres are cooked at high temperatures to break the fibres down into a pulp. It uses water very efficiently and generates minimal waste. In fact, any wastewater is recycled: it’s first used to produce steam that generates electricity, and then to help make bamboo chip board from leftover bamboo chips - resulting in zero water discharge from the factory.
Our bamboo is grown in the Sichuan region, where it’s been cultivated for over 7,000 years. It’s a wonderfully sustainable crop that can be harvested again and again without harming the soil, much like mowing a lawn. It’s also grown without the need for chemicals, thanks to the skill and care of local farmers, which keeps our process gentle on the environment.
While our products do travel by sea, this method is up to 10 times more carbon-efficient than road transport, meaning the transport emissions are much lower than many people might expect, especially compared to goods moved by road across Europe.
Lastly, bamboo itself is an incredible plant. Bamboo forests produce over 35% more oxygen than trees and absorb large amounts of CO2, actively helping to stabilise our planet’s atmosphere. It takes just 5–7 years for bamboo to reach maturity, after which it can be re-harvested for up to 70 years. In contrast, trees usually need 25 - 40 years to mature, and once they’re cut down, they rarely regrow on their own.
Our impact report can be found here: https://www.bumboo.eco/pages/impact-report
If there’s anything else you’d like to know, or if you have more thoughts to share, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always here to help
