The best tree-free paper products

While toilet paper is a necessity for anyone who hasn't converted to the bidet life, it's something that can get used up quite quickly. Silk'n Soft Bamboo Toilet Paper can help reduce the amount of paper needed for toilet tissue — it's strong, durable, and will make you feel just as clean.

Many bamboo bath tissues are brown, but this one is bleached white using a chlorine-free process so it looks more like traditional toilet paper. The tissue is 3-ply, fragrance-free, biodegradable, safe for RV use and septic tanks, and free of bisphenol A (BPA).

My family and I gave it a try and found it to be a very good toilet paper. While not as soft as we'd like, it was still gentle on skin, as strong as most tree-paper brands, and lint-free. The rolls are called "double rolls" and promise to be equivalent to 300 squares or the industry-standard double roll in the Canadian market. That's not as large as some U.S. double rolls but still a good value for the cost per roll.

The manufacturer, True Earth Paper Corp., is a Canadian-based company and the product was featured on Dragons' Den, Canada's version of America's Shark Tank. The paper is produced in China where the bamboo is harvested.

Pros: Strong, soft, hypoallergenic, BPA and chlorine-free, septic-safe

Cons: Smaller rolls than tree-based paper, the cost is higher than tree-based toilet paper

I have never been a big consumer of paper towels. I prefer to use cotton or microfiber kitchen towels for wiping up spills or cleaning because I can toss them in the washer (which seems to run every day) and save money. But some tasks are better suited to paper towels. Now that I've found Bambooee Paper Towels, I can use them and still feel good about not causing forests to disappear.

The first time I felt a Bambooee towel, I was amazed at how thick it was. Made of bamboo fibers that are spun into rayon, the towels are sturdy enough to be tossed into the washing machine or the top rack of the dishwasher for up to 100 times after each use before being thrown away. Unfortunately, since the bamboo fibers are processed into a fiber, it's not compostable.

They are amazingly absorbent. For a spill that might take three or four regular paper towels, you only need one Bambooee. The towel holds up to commercial cleaners and scrubs away messes like dried-on food on refrigerator shelves or fingerprints on stainless steel appliances.

After using a towel for cleaning, I use scissors to clip away a small corner before I toss it in the washer. That way, I know it's been used for cleaning. Some stains may remain after washing but the towel is perfectly good for another cleaning job. For towels that have just been used to dry freshly washed vegetables, I leave the corners intact so I know I can use them for the same purpose after washing.

I always use paper towels for is absorbing bacon grease when I microwave a few slices for breakfast. While I'd have to use several regular paper towels to absorb the grease, just one Bambooee does the trick. Since it becomes fully saturated with oil, it does go into the trash.

My first roll of Bambooee paper towels lasted more than three months which justified the higher price. Some towels stood up to at least 30 washings before I tossed them, though the brand says they'll last up to 100 washes.

Pros: Absorbent, sturdy, washable, plants a tree for every roll sold

Cons: Requires habit changes to reuse towels, more expensive than traditional paper towels

I am a freckled, fair-skinned redhead who has always had sensitive skin. Just the mention of the sniffles makes my nose turn red immediately and most tissues only make it worse. I even tried tissues with lotion but didn't like the greasy feel.

Just as the name implies, Winner Cotton Facial Tissues are made from cotton fibers, not wood pulp. Think of the softest cotton T-shirt in your drawer — these are even softer.

Winner Tissues come in a soft plastic pouch instead of a cardboard box, so they won't fit your standard decorative tissue — save those for the guest bathroom. They're made from nonwoven organic cotton fibers, and are chemical-free, sturdy, and super soft.

The tissue is so thick that I can saturate it without tearing or ripping. That makes it perfect for a diaper wipe, face-cleaning, or make-up removal wipe. There are no added chemicals or fragrances that can irritate the skin too. Each sheet is around 8-inches square and comes in a pack of 100.

Because of the thickness of these tissues, they should not be flushed in a toilet nor are they safe for septic tanks. However, since they are so thick, they can be reused and washed up to three times. I keep a mesh laundry bag on hand to hold several sheets after I use them for makeup removal and then toss the bag in the washer.

I discovered the value of these tissues during a bout of sinusitis that seemed to last forever. I doubt I would have much of the skin left on my nose after those weeks if it weren't for Winner Tissues. Now that I've recovered, I keep them handy at home and in the car. Just a bit of water from my water bottle can turn them into the perfect wipe for spills and sticky hands, plus the inevitable sneezes.

Pros: Extremely soft, durable when dry or wet, fragrance-free, washable up to three times

Cons: Cannot be flushed in a toilet, more expensive than wood pulp tissues, the pack does not fit standard decorative tissue dispensers

Whether you're trying to reduce your family's dependence on wood pulp products or planning a rustic event, Juvale Bamboo Dinner Napkins are a perfect choice. Their warm unbleached brown color complements many tablescapes and you'll know that you've saved a tree.

These dinner napkins are 2-ply for extra strength and absorbency, and come folded into a 7.8 by 4.4-inch size. Made from bamboo pulp, the napkins are completely tree-free and free of chlorine often used for bleaching. To round out a cohesive look for parties, matching cocktail napkins with a scalloped edge are also available.

I chose these napkins for a family reunion featuring a pulled pork BBQ. Even with sticky hands from the pork, corn-on-the-cob, and homemade ice cream, the napkins held up beautifully. We used far fewer napkins than I have in the past with thinner wood pulp brands. While the look may not be a fit for every occasion, these Juvale napkins are a staple at my house for both their eco-friendly sensibilities and their durability.

Pros: Made from bamboo, durable, absorbent, 2-ply, warm brown tone, large size

Cons: No patterns or other colors available

After seeing sea life struggle with plastic straws polluting their food system, I vowed to stop using plastic straws. I stopped using them at restaurants but discovered I really needed them for some drinks, especially when I'm driving. So, I moved to paper straws. They always collapsed or disintegrated and I'd end up using several for one drink, which didn't seem very ecologically sound. It was onto reusable metal, glass, and even bamboo straws, which were always so big it felt like I was sucking on a plumbing pipe. Then I found Smipam Biodegradable Plant-Based Flexible Straws.

Smipam straws are made from modified cornstarch that has the mouth-feel and durability of plastic but is biodegradable. The straws are nearly 8-inches long and have a flexible bend unlike metal, glass, and even bamboo straws which are pre-bent and can't be moved. The cornstarch base doesn't contain BPA and can be composted, it degrades within 180 days. The straws do come individually wrapped in paper, which can be recycled.

I bought a box about six months ago and we still have more than half of the box left. I don't use them for everything but when we need a straw, I feel really good about using these. They are sturdy enough for the thickest milkshake and fit perfectly through lids to help prevent spills from my two-year-old grandson.

Pros: Made from biodegradable corn starch, sturdy, 8-inch size, flexible bend, individually wrapped

Cons: Individually wrapped in paper