Who Gives A Crap? We Do—Here's Our Review Of This Premium Bamboo Toilet Paper

Toilet Paper On Demand

I don’t even have to explain the cultural shift in attitude towards toilet paper over the past two years—we’ll all forever wince when we see a half-empty shelf of TP in the store. Should we get more just in case?

In the fall of 2020 I decided to give myself the gift of assurance by signing up for a toilet paper subscription and was pleasantly surprised by the—ahem—regularity 😉. It always seemed to come when I needed it the most. No more sitting on the toilet texting my husband to pick up toilet paper RIGHT NOW. 

So now that I have experience with a competitor’s toilet paper subscription, I was excited to try out Who Gives A Crap to compare! Their cheeky branding has always caught my eye, so I wanted to see if the brand was actually worth…well, giving a crap about.

But(t) First, Here’s What
Who Gives A Crap Is About

Who Gives A Crap touts itself as “toilet paper that helps build toilets”—and the brand has the paper trail to prove it. According to the World Health Organization, two billion people do not have basic sanitation facilities, like toilets.

Who Gives A Crap touts itself as ‘toilet paper that helps build toilets’—and the brand has the paper trail to prove it.

So as a certified B Corp™, Who Gives A Crap operates on an impact-based business model where people and planet are prioritized alongside profit. The company donates 50 percent of sales revenue to sanitation programs around the world to help improve the health and hygiene of the communities they serve. As there is no single solution for every community, it’s especially important to Who Gives A Crap that the organizations are local, innovative, and sustainable so they can give locale-specific support. Who Gives A Crap documents exactly how and where the profits head through impact updates on the “Talking Crap” blog.

In addition to the brand’s sanitation initiatives, Who Gives A Crap also offers carbon-neutral shipping, plastic-free products, and both recycled and bamboo toilet paper options that use significantly fewer resources than conventional TP. Every roll is manufactured in China with only BSCI (Business Social Compliance Initiative) certified partners independently audited and scored on a range of ethical business practices.

The recycled toilet paper costs $38 for 24 rolls or $62 for 48 rolls. The premium bamboo toilet paper, which I tried, costs $44 for 24 rolls or $68 for 48 rolls. While it seems pricier than bottom-shelf brands, Who Gives A Crap rolls are double-length (most brands measure cost per roll instead of sheet, so their rolls end up being much shorter). Ultimately, the cost per sheet works out to be on par with supermarket brands—if not more affordable.

Plus, first-time customers can use code THEGOODTRADE10 to get $10 off orders over $47 through May 5th, 2022.

That’s all great, you say, but how does the toilet paper subscription actually work?!

cardboard box full of individually paper wrapped toilet paper from who gives a crap

The greatest treasure of our time!

A Review Of Who Gives A Crap

I ordered the premium bamboo sheets because they sounded fancy. When my first Who Gives A Crap box arrived, I wondered if my husband and I could ever get through it, even on a strict diet of Chipotle (for the record, I ordered 48 rolls to arrive every 16 weeks).

But it was sweetly self-aware. The box touted a precious poem that made me wonder—is my…is my toilet paper flirting with me? 

“Roses are red
This box is gigantic
But it has a nice poem
Isn’t that romantic?
” 

When I opened it, I was happy to see that my expectations for no plastic were met. So many booty-ful rolls laid out before me like gold doubloons in a treasure chest. I particularly loved the design on the paper, which made the TP pretty enough to set out in my bathroom. (There’s even one roll that is gold so you can designate that roll as a reminder to order more!)

On testing the actual product itself, I can confidently say that it is, indeed, toilet paper. 

Since there are no dyes or softeners, it’s not like a spa day for your bum, but it is healthier for you and for the environment than the TPs that aim to pamper. (I grew up using the cheap stuff, so this was a considerable upgrade from flimsy Kroger brand sheets.) The sheets leave no residue or flaky bits either—a particular grossness that so many of us know but don’t like to talk about. Not so much of an issue with this tough bamboo toilet paper!

And, maybe I’m just extra aware of these sensory things, but I liked that one side of the TP was smoother, while the other featured little bumps that added some texture for confident cleaning power. 

I also tested out the brand’s “oh crap, I’m out of toilet paper” re-ordering function, and was pleased to receive my shipment in less than five days. There were options to ship ASAP, as well as delay shipments in two-week increments (which I would probably take full advantage of at this point, my apartment is more toilet paper than floorspace). Or you can even select a specific delivery date! That reassured me that I wouldn’t be caught, shall we say, up Schitt’s Creek without a (paper) paddle.

How did it compare to the competing eco-friendly toilet paper subscription I’ve used in the past, though?

Pairing a Who Gives A Crap subscription with a bidet would be a great budget-friendly way to maximize your sustainable spending

While Who Gives A Crap does offer smaller quantities, I am a forever bargain shopper and wanted to test out the most affordable option available. I found that their smaller quantity shipment (24 rolls) was more expensive than their competitor. However, there *are* more sheets per roll, and I found Who Gives A Crap’s bamboo toilet paper to be sturdier than the other brand’s bamboo TP. Pairing a Who Gives A Crap subscription with a bidet would be a great budget-friendly way to maximize your sustainable spending!

The quantity is truly my only complaint—and it has more to do with the storage space I have available in my small Los Angeles apartment. Since 48 rolls is a lot of toilet paper, I’ve taken to sliding the spares under my desk and, as I type this, am using one box as a standing desk. 

The paper wrapping was a tad heavier than the other plastic-free brand I’ve tried, and I ultimately felt a little wasteful tossing it. (Craft time, anyone?) But the packaging is stunning, and I only wish I could specify whether I wanted monochrome or colorful wrapping for my toilet paper of choice. Either way, it looks and feels way better than the thick plastic sheets the usual store brand rolls come packaged in. It’s a huge relief to not wrangle with that plastic film anymore.

The Bottom Line

Ultimately, I’ve enjoyed my experience with Who Gives A Crap. The toilet paper is sturdy, sustainable, and beautiful. You’ll need a little extra storage space for the bulk orders, but it’s manageable and would be very excellent for someone with larger space and/or a family.

Who Gives A Crap is a convenient brand that does good—and has a good sense of humor while doing it.

I’ve even strangely enjoyed the newsletters I’ve received from the brand since subscribing (so much toilet humor, hah). It makes me excited about expanding my subscription into ordering paper towels from Who Gives A Crap as well (because not every mess can be cleaned with a reusable, yuck).

Who Gives A Crap is a convenient brand that does good and has a good sense of humor while doing it. Wishing happy wiping to all, and to all a clean bum!


Use code
THEGOODTRADE10 to get $10 off orders over $47 through May 5th, 2022. First-time customers only.


This sponsored review is brought to you by our friends at Who Gives A Crap.

 
 

 

Emily Torres is the Editorial Director at The Good Trade. Born and raised in Indiana, she studied Creative Writing and Business at Indiana University. You can usually find her in her colorful Los Angeles apartment journaling, caring for her rabbits, or gaming.


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