Eco-friendly facial tissue: recycled, bamboo and plastic-free boxes

Recycled, bamboo or virgin pulp

• Recycled: made from recovered paper. The label may state the recycled content. Softness varies by brand.
• Bamboo: made from a fast-growing grass. How it is grown, processed and shipped varies, and views on its overall impact differ.
• Virgin pulp: made from trees. If forest sourcing matters to you, look for FSC labels, which describe how the fiber was sourced.
• Packaging: cardboard boxes with no plastic window and plastic-free outer wrap are specific claims you can check.

Reading the label

• Lotion or lotion-treated: means a lotion was added to the tissue. We do not make claims about what it does. If you are sensitive to added ingredients, check the list.
• Unscented: check for fragrance. Some tissues are scented.
• Plies: the number of layers. More plies are thicker, and you may use fewer tissues, but that varies by person.
• Sheet size: differs between brands, so the sheet count alone is misleading.
• Eco claims: general words say little. Look for specific, supported claims.

Our angle: boxes versus pocket packs

Pocket packs cost much more per tissue than boxes, so keep them for a bag or car and buy boxes for home. Compare boxes with each other by price per 100 tissues, and note that sheet sizes differ. If sheet area is printed, compare by price per 100 square feet. Also count how many tissues you use, since a thicker tissue that you use one at a time can cost less per use than a thin one you use two at a time.

1. Divide the price by the number of tissues, then multiply by 100.
2. If the area is shown, divide the price by the square feet instead.
3. Compare similar sizes and plies with each other.

Buying tips

• Try one box before you buy a multipack of a new type.
• Compare subscriptions with the same price per 100 tissues.
• Store boxes where they stay dry.