of cutting down trees, and is commercially available. Recycled newspaper can contain BPA, an endocrine disruptor. Toilet paper produced from bamboo is commercially available, and is in some ways more environmentally friendly than virgin pulpwood, because bamboo grows faster, taking less land and less water. For North American consumers, the Natural Resources Defense Council recommends recycled tree pulp over bamboo toilet paper, because tree forests promote more biodiversity and bamboo products must be shipped from Asia. Toilet paper produced from bagasse, a byproduct of sugarcane, is commercially available, and avoids cutting down any plants because sugarcane is already grown for sugar production. The most environmentally friendly alternatives are to rely solely on soap and water for anal hygiene. The company called Cloud Paper has developed an alternative to tree-based toilet paper that is made out of bamboo. See also Anal hygiene Fresh'n Xylospongium, an ancient equivalent Citations General sources Needham, Joseph (1986). Science and Civilization in China: Volume 5, Chemistry and Chemical Technology, Part 1, Paper and Printing. Taipei: Caves Books, Ltd. Further reading External links The Whole World Toilet Paper Museum Wiping Correctly Hygiene Toilets Domestic implements Chinese inventions Sanitation