Household Paper

Household paper includes toilet paper, paper towels, napkins etc.

Recycled household paper
While a number of household paper companies are still using most or all virgin ancient forests in their products, there are a number of companies that have significantly reduced or eliminated virgin paper from their products.

When shopping for household paper products it is important to understand the labels. Recycled paper can be a combination of pre-consumer recycled and post-consumer recycled. The higher the percentage of post consumer recycled, the less the impact on ancient forests.

Greenpeace Canada has produced a very informative shopping guide on this subject (The Greenpeace Shopper's Guide to Ancient Forest Friendly Tissue Products ).  It includes a list of companies whose products are available in Canada and rates them according how ancient forest friendly they are.

Possible concerns: Most household paper products go through some form of bleaching. Ensure that chlorine was not used in the process (or even better, no form of bleaching at all!).

A large amount of water is used in the production of household paper products however some companies use less than the average.

The recycling symbol may refer to the outer packaging or the paper tubing, not the tissue product itself.

Ottawa-area retailers of ancient forest friendly household paper products include: Napkins:
 * Loblaws
 * Loeb
 * Natural Food Pantry

Paper Towels:
 * Arbour Environmental Shoppe
 * Loblaws
 * Loeb
 * Natural Food Pantry

Tissues:
 * Arbour Environmental Shoppe
 * Natural Food Pantry

Toilet Paper:
 * Arbour Environmental Shoppe (no plastic packaging)
 * Herb and Spice - 375 Bank Street, 1310 Wellington
 * Jean Coutu
 * Loblaws
 * Loeb
 * Natural Food Pantry
 * Pantry Plus Foods - 2433 St Joseph Boulevard (613) 830-5790
 * The Wheat Berry (Le Grain de blé) - 206 Main St   (613) 235-7580

Non-local Suppliers

Why should I Choose 'Green' Household Paper?