Have You Been Wiping With Dead Animals?

Most people don’t think twice about toilet paper. It’s just... there. You use it, flush it, and move on with your life. But have you ever wondered what’s actually in it? Because some toilet paper isn’t even vegetarian.

Yes, really 🧻 

Some brands use gelatin - boiled skin, cartilage, and bones - to bind the fibres together. Others might contain stearic acid, another animal fat. And if that doesn’t put you off, many brands still test on animals. All this, for something you literally flush down the toilet.

Does It Matter?

I know, I know - another thing to think about. But animal exploitation is so ingrained in society that people don’t even realise it’s in their toilet paper. When Charmin was asked if theirs contained animal ingredients, they gave a vague, non-answer: "may contain." Which basically means: "Yes, but we don’t care if you care."

Imagine the headlines if they actually admitted to it: "You’ve been wiping with the hooves and snouts of slaughtered animals."

Even if a brand doesn’t contain animal-derived ingredients, that ambiguity alone is a problem. Companies should be transparent. You shouldn’t have to email a toilet paper brand to find out if they’ve managed to keep dead animals out of it.

What Are the Options?

If you’d rather not wipe with animal fat, there are vegan toilet paper brands available. Here are some of our favourite UK brands, and full disclosure, we both get a discount using these links:

Bumboo

Cheeky Panda

Who Gives A Crap 

Do You Need to Care About This?

If you’re new to veganism, this might not be your most pressing concern, and we aren't here to drive you round the u-bend. But if you are already avoiding animal-tested products and choosing cruelty-free options, switching to vegan toilet paper is just another step in rejecting exploitation.

And if you can get a brand that’s just as affordable and better for the planet, why wouldn’t you?

The Bottom Line

Vegan toilet paper exists. It’s available in supermarkets and online. Some are fancy and expensive, others are just as cheap as the standard stuff - though you may need to write to the manufacturers to be certain. But one thing’s for sure: there’s no good reason to be wiping your arse with dead animals when you can avoid doing so.

Check your brand, or get a bidet.