Wipe for Wildlife
Choosing recycled toilet paper keeps trees in the ground, not flushed down the toilet.
Trees provide habitat for Australian wildlife like the Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo. How can you help Australian wildlife and their habitat? It's simple – by using recycled toilet paper. Join over 285,000 people who have committed to choosing recycled toilet paper today!
Will you wipe for wildlife? Make your pledge to choose recycled toilet paper today!
What is so great about recycled toilet paper?
All toilet paper cannot be reused or recycled after it is flushed. So, it doesn’t make sense to cut down trees to flush them straight down the toilet.
Trees grown in plantations should be put to longer-lasting uses like building houses, not single-use products like toilet paper.
Recycled toilet paper is much more sustainable as it is made from materials like used office paper. It also uses less energy and water to produce than non-recycled toilet paper. Choosing recycled toilet paper reduces our need for timber plantations and helps to keep trees in the ground to benefit wildlife, and us! Not only do trees provide habitat for wildlife; they also protect soil from erosion, clean our air and absorb carbon from the atmosphere.
Helping wildlife feels good on your bum and your hip pocket!
Recycled toilet paper has come a long way. It is easy to find soft and high-quality recycled toilet paper in most supermarkets and online. If you haven't tried recycled toilet paper recently, you might be surprised by how good it feels! For example, icare’s 3 ply 100% recycled toilet paper was awarded best Australian Toilet Paper by CHOICE in 2022.
Helping wildlife and the environment doesn't cost extra either. On average recycled toilet paper costs the same as most other types.
How does using recycled toilet paper help wildlife?
Softwood timber plantations in Australia that produce the wood to make products such as toilet paper are largely made up of introduced tree species such as pine trees. Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos are one of the few Australian species that have adapted to be able to make use of pine plantations. Destruction of their habitat has caused them to adapt by adding pine cones to their diet. Despite this adaptation, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoo numbers are in decline. While they may supplement their diet with pine cones in timber plantations, it is not a good replacement for their natural habitat. Like many other Australian forest species, they need trees with large hollows to be able to build safe nests for their young. Only native old-growth forests can provide suitable large hollows. In fact, Yellow-tailed Black-Cockatoos select native trees for their nests that are on average over 200 years old!
The choices we make every day have a big impact on our environment. Wiping our bums with recycled paper means fewer trees cut down! Every time you choose to buy recycled toilet paper you can help Australian wildlife.
Will you wipe for wildlife? Make your pledge to choose recycled toilet paper today!
Where can I buy recycled toilet paper and what should I look out for?
Most supermarkets stock at least one recycled toilet paper option, or it can be purchased online. Check your toilet paper’s packaging to see if it is made from recycled paper and uses no harsh chemicals.
Most toilet paper in the supermarket is not recycled, but icare toilet paper is! Look out for their 100% recycled and 3 ply toilet paper in the supermarket.
icare is a proud supporter of Zoos Victoria’s Wipe for Wildlife campaign.
For more information on the Wipe for Wildlife campaign contact the Conservation Campaigns team.