logo
episode-header-image
Nov 2023
27m 45s

Eco-friendly toilet paper

Bbc Radio 4
About this episode

How green can your loo roll be? Lots of companies have sprung up offering what they say are the most eco-friendly ways to wipe - and there's a lot to think about.

Listener Barbara buys recycled toilet paper - and wants to know if she's better off buying one of the bamboo options on the market. Jo already buys bamboo but is curious about the difference packaging and delivery options make.

To get them some answers, Greg Foot speaks to Shanta Bhavnani from Ethical Consumer magazine, who carried out its 2023 ethical toilet paper guide, and materials expert Dr Eral Bele of University College London, who's studied the properties of bamboo.

If you’ve seen an ad, trend or fad relating to another consumer product and wonder if there’s any evidence to back up a claim, then email us: sliced.bread@bbc.co.uk or you can send a voice note to our WhatsApp number: 07543 306807

PRESENTER: Greg Foot PRODUCER: Tom Moseley

Up next
Jul 10
Water Filters (Recorded Live at Cheltenham Science Festival)
Can jug or under sink filters, promising to soften tap water and improve taste, really take out what they claim?Greg Foot gathers the experts live at Cheltenham Science Festival, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get answers for listener Elaine.Each episode Greg inv ... Show More
24m 54s
Jul 10
Dog Food (recorded live at Hay Festival)
Is more expensive dog food worth it?Greg Foot gathers the experts, dives into the data and crunches the numbers to get answers for listeners Izzy and Pete. Each episode Greg investigates the latest ad-hyped products and trending fads promising to make us healthier, happier and gr ... Show More
32m 23s
Jul 3
Toast - Homebase
Homebase was once one of our leading home improvement chains so, why did it have to close all of its stores?The BBC Business journalist Sean Farrington investigates.Alongside him is the entrepreneur Sam White, who at the end of the show has to reach her own conclusions, based onl ... Show More
25m 8s
Recommended Episodes
May 2022
Tackling Plastics and Greenwashing
Dragon’s Den investor Deborah Meaden and 5Live’s Felicity Hannah have teamed up to help us make the best and greenest use of our money and to find out how businesses are lowering their impact on the planet.In the last episode of this series the pair answer listener questions abou ... Show More
59m 54s
Mar 2023
Planet-friendly periods
Could a lack of knowledge and understanding be holding us back from trying more sustainable period products? Have you ever considered using a menstrual cup but been unsure if it would work for you? Or wondered about the impact of single use tampons and pads? Then get ready for a ... Show More
35m 11s
Feb 2023
210. What is Greenwashing? (English Vocabulary Lesson)
In today’s episode I want to talk about greenwashing. Let’s discuss the definition, some examples of greenwashing, what the consequences of greenwashing are, and how to identify it! My Links Buy Me a Coffee - https://www.buymeacoffee.com/dashboard JOIN THE CONVERSATION CLUB  -- h ... Show More
21m 10s
Apr 2023
Green is the New Black
Clothing recycling along with second-hand and rental markets have significantly decreased waste in the fashion industry. Today in 2050, every garment tells a story. This transparency about an item’s provenance empowers consumers to make responsible choices. At Tokyo Fashion Week, ... Show More
27m 13s
Jul 2023
The bubble barrier cleaning up rivers
How can we stop plastic flowing into our oceans? Dutch inventors have one solution, pulling plastic from the water using a ‘net’ made from bubbles. Also on the programme - how sound could be used to help restore coral reefs in Australia. Scientists found playing the sounds of a h ... Show More
24m 46s
Jun 2022
EP112. The dirty business of beauty packaging
Beauty shoppers are clamouring for green packaging and sustainable beauty. The industry is coming out with innovative packaging made from recycled plastics that themselves can be recycled. So isn’t this a positive landscape and a happier space for the beauty industry to be in tha ... Show More
6m 37s
Mar 2021
Plastic Pollution - with Steve Backshall and Georgia May Jagger
“If you’ve eaten seafood, you’ve eaten plastic” It’s time to talk plastics. Every piece of plastic we consume stays in the environment for up to hundreds of years. The sheer scale of plastics in the environment are dramatically impacting ocean wildlife and human health. For this ... Show More
27m 8s
Oct 2022
Could moth larvae be the answer to our plastic problem?
Plastic pollution is damaging the health of the environment, wildlife and us. It has been found on remote islands, in Antarctic snow and in human blood, breast milk and lungs. Alongside rapidly reducing how much plastic we produce, we also need to find new ways to tackle the wast ... Show More
12m 18s