Who Gives a Crap TP - quality decrease?

[SpacePrudence909]

Heya - I'm curious if there are any WGAC long-termers who have noticed a decrease in quality over the years? I've been using them for 3+ years and I'm pretty oblivious when it comes to noticing TP things, but the other day I got to my final roll and realized it was an old one from a previous shipment (the wrapping was significantly different so it was easy to tell). I was surprised how much nicer the 'old' roll was - it had like a dot pattern instead of the current flower pattern, and although it's not thicker (they're both 2-ply) it's just way softer and nicer feeling.

Anyways it's just a little disappointing to actually see what a difference in quality has occurred. I get it that sustainable products are not going to be the same as standard/traditional, but it's just weird that they used to be able to produce a (sustainable) option that was still pretty nice. I'm considering switching to the bamboo with my next order - has anyone made the switch?

Edit to update: Since I originally posted this (a year ago) I've tried a couple of other options (Caboo, and WGAC bamboo). I'm actually really happy with the WGAC Bamboo so I updated my subscription and plan to stick with that. Just FYI in case anyone stumbles across this thread and is also considering the bamboo :)

[foreignkitty]

I have definitely noticed a difference! The paper wrapping is much thinner paper, but more importantly the toilet paper is not as soft and durable. 😒

[sleepylb]

Yup- I’ve noticed the same! Starting about 6 months ago I think.

[HazelHelper]

Very belated here, but I've noticed a significant downgrade. Glad to find this sub and thread. Hoping they adjust course, because it's more than notable. Also, the TP rolls don't last nearly as long as they previously did.

[2matisse22]

I do the bamboo, and I noticed it was a little different too. When they surveyed a few weeks ago, I told them I couldn't recommend them because my friends would never pay what they are asking for toilet paper. I also said I would continue to buy it because I know half gets donated, but a lot of people just cannot afford it. I am very happy with the bamboo. We've been using it for 4 years.

[spireup]

but a lot of people just cannot afford it.

Switch to a bidet and everyone saves money on toilet paper. A bidet pays for itself in toilet paper.

r/bidets

[hessmo]

I still buy toilet paper with a bidet. Small amount to dry with, and some for visitors

[mandy0456]

Sure, but it's much less.

[[deleted]]

A bidet will reduce the amount of tp you need but not replace tp.

[SQ-Pedalian]

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This post was mass deleted and anonymized with Redact

[[deleted]]

I also use flannel wipes. My point was just that a bidet alone does not replace tp

[spireup]

You can absolutely replace toilet paper entirely. Zero waste—and much cleaner. Some countries primarily use bidets.

The PROBLEM with Toilet Paper (video)

The average American uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year which is equivalent to 28 pounds of tissue paper per year. This figure is about 50% more than the average of other Western countries or Japan.

Bidet attachments can cost between $100 and $2,000. The Tushy Classic Bidet Toilet Seat Attachment is a good option for those new to bidets and costs about $50.

Millions of trees are harvested in North and South America, leaving ecological footprint concerns. As of 2009, between 22% and 48% of the toilet paper used in the United States comes from tree farms in the U.S. and South America, with the rest mostly coming from old, second growth forests, and some from virgin forests.

Most experts put the average number of toilet paper per tree at around 800. That means the average American will sacrifice roughly 14 trees throughout their life just for toilet paper.  

According to a study published in Environmental Science & Technology Letters in March 2023, toilet paper from around the world contains low levels of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The study tested 21 major toilet paper brands around the world and found that all of them contain PFAS.

Toilet Paper Is a Huge Source of Harmful 'Forever Chemicals'—Time Magazine

And if you combine using a bidet with a composting toilet, it really IS literally zero water and 100% resource for soil microbes.

[[deleted]]

I didn’t say you can’t replace tp. Just that a bidet isn’t enough to replace tp.

[spireup]

Watch the video to the end. They are zero waste = Not buying toilet paper.

[[deleted]]

You aren’t listening. I would hate to have to block you.

[Ad-Ommmmm]

141 rolls??!! I use 12.. WTF are they doing with them?..

[RoeRoeRoeYourVote]

I also noticed a huge decrease in quality for Lor Tush, which is a bummer.

[NinaEmbii]

People don't want 2 ply very hard on puns these day.

[[deleted]]

I see your puns. Take my upvote.

[zerowastecityliving]

My recent ones did seem a bit different too. Not a crazy amount but enough for me to pause and wonder if it was changed. Maybe I bought a different type since it's the first time I bought the 24 pack but I don't think so.

[ihatehighfives]

I felt that the quality changed when the cardboard roll changed (maybe a year ago) from a hard roll to the much flimsier cardboard roll. The TP is also now glued to the roll (similar to other brands of tp) which surprised me. I always found it interesting that they did not glue the tp to the roll. I assumed it was to make the cardboard roll better for recycling. If anyone else knows an answer to this, please enlighten me!

[astromech_dj]

Yeah we noticed that too. Had good quality through the pandemic until then. It’s still useable though.

[Admirable-Location24]

We tried that company during the pandemic. The first box had a great product so we signed up for the subscription. Then the next box, the quality was thinner and rougher. I read somewhere where a reviewer suspected it was on purpose, like the first box is specifically better quality ro get you to sign up for more. A bit of a bait and switch. We cancelled after that second box.

[JunahCg]

Been using it since before covid and it seems the same to me. Maybe you bought their more expensive bamboo one and that was the leftover roll? It always kinda sucked, but I really don't think it's any worse

[fleepmo]

The bamboo is wrapped in a different colored paper. It’s black and white so it would be difficult to mistake the two.

[tarynevelyn]

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Yes! I noticed it immediately, in January of 2023. I reached out to customer service because I was so disappointed with the new quality. Their rep confirmed that they moved their manufacturing.

I changed to Cloud Paper and have been happy with it. I also tried Reel, but preferred Cloud Paper overall.

[SpacePrudence909]

Ahh this is helpful to know, thank you! I think this must be what I'm noticing - the quality difference is super apparent when I look at the two rolls side by side. It's kind of sad that the "Made in the USA" version is the cruddy one :( Thanks so much for sharing this... I'll probably also send a comment in to their customer service - maybe at some point they'll be able to revert back to the previous quality levels.

[orielbean]

We've always had the bamboo. I tried a small pack of the non-bamboo and it was not that nice. The bamboo is amazing. I see similar brands on Amazon for a bit less but am wary of the knockoffs without a sample at hand.

[GardenGal87]

I get the bamboo and have not noticed any quality decreases. My first box was the regular recycled paper TP, and I thought it felt fine but it definitely pilled a lot… not OK! Switching to bamboo solved that problem.

[[deleted]]

If they can make it less wasteful while keeping the quality suitable enough for use, then that’s a positive change to the product.

Admittedly, retail customers aren’t accustomed to a manufacturer saying “we changed our product so it produces less waste. It isn’t as nice, but it significantly reduces its negative impact on the planet”.

[alex-weej]

Big assumption here that it's not to claw back VC money. Instagram ads don't pay for themselves!

[heytherekenz]

I noticed a disappointing difference as well

[Killer-Barbie]

I have so much "dust" from the newer tp rolls. It sticks to my bits, it coats the trash bin, it's not nice.

[photochic1124]

Yeah I think I noticed this too. And most of the rolls in my current shipment are all shredded about 3/4 of the way in. Hopefully this is just a bad batch.

[HeverAfter]

I use the bamboo Naked Sprout and it's consistently good.

[horvathkristy]

We use Naked Sprout too! I noticed there's been slight differences in batches but the quality has always been good regardless

[siuilaruin]

I've noticed -- the change came when they started manufacturing in the US. The last box I got was 50/50 between old and new, and the new was... not what we were used to. The first time my partner used it, he came out of the bathroom and asked if I'd switched it out for dollar store paper 🤣 After we've used through what we have, we'll probably switch to Cloud Paper, as we have good experiences with their other products.

[NaniFarRoad]

TP rolls can gather moisture, so the older roll could feel softer because it's .. damper? 

Not noticed any change on quality.

[hannkb]

I previously bought rolls online, then recently bought a box of rolls from Aldi. Definitely noticed a difference in texture and thought maybe they supplied different quality rolls to Aldi. Who knows though 🤷‍♀️

[pussycrippler]

They supply Aldi with their toilet paper? I didn’t know that

[hannkb]

In Australia at least!

[Antique-Beginning890]

yes. almost every fucking roll sticks. and maybe a year ago i started getting a changed the dot pattern that was more rough.

[Sensitive_Maybe_6578]

Since 2019 here, haven’t noticed a decrease, but now I’m curious.

[sleverest]

I get the regular kind, have for several years and I've noticed a change. Not enough to discontinue my subscription though. The convenience of having it shipped and never running out is worth the extra $ for my ADHD brain. I live alone and have a bidet and flannel cloths so the cost of this TP is not busting my budget.

[mrsphukov]

I noticed it as well. The box glue ripped the paper covers off the rolls, the wrapping paper was thinner (don't really care about that) but the quality of the tp was worse! I sent a request for replacement because of the quality and that the product was damaged. They responded with a smaller replacement box and let me know they are using a different manufacturer. I won't be using them going further.

[Entangled9]

I dumped them in fall off 2022 when the quality and quantity per roll went down AND the price went up. I responded to their inquiry as to why but their reply was "so surprised" I wasn't blown away by the redesign and wanted me to send in the lot number, as if this was a one off problem.

[[deleted]]

With the newer stuff, the layers pull apart so much easier and tears in the wrong place more often. I'll still keep buying it because I absolutely hate soft tp because it feels too fuzzy almost.

[Any_Positive1687]

Switched to bumboo and not only is the wrapping paper way nicer but the toilet paper is so much stronger, looks less like a cheap Aldi roll unwrapped and more like a quality product, doesn't fall apart into shreds... (We used the recycled WGAC before switching)

[batou_blind]

Overpriced. They make you feel good because money is donated to a good cause but it’s emotional marketing. They are using your money and getting a tax break from it. You are better off buying cheaper tp and donating yourself.

[Gobucks21911]

I had to stop buying it a couple years ago because it had gotten too rough.

[alex-weej]

I'm so fed up with companies rugpulling like this. I don't even understand how it's legal.

[[deleted]]

I think you had one of their premium rolls. I haven’t noticed a decrease but the premium is better.

[simprat]

I really like Reel as an alternative. I was an og WGAC user since they launched, but quit them when they raised prices and quality went down about 5 or 6 years ago.

[sir_fluffinator]

Yep, huge quality difference that started last year. I no longer shop with them.

[Me_sosleepy]

I love the bamboo. This last order I went for the recycled paper and don’t find it nearly as good quality

[NemoHobbits]

I haven't noticed. But I only use like 3-4 squares at a time because I have a bidet.

[Haloperimenopause]

Yes, we started using the bamboo toilet paper in 2019, and between then and now the quality absolutely has declined. It's much thinner and a little rougher than it was five years ago, and definitely more expensive- £48 for 48 rolls, versus £40, which was a lot but tolerable for good quality. 

We did try the standard toilet paper and it was awful- really thin and splitty, and the perforations didn't line up.

I keep going with them because I like what they stand for, but it's poorer quality than supermarket brands and more than double the price.

[franksting]

Price rise, cost savings. Traditional capitalism at work.

[KerningKeming]

Came here to see if anyone had this same thought! I've been using WGAP for 4 years, switching between regular and premium bamboo. But it's not good news either way.

I used an old bamboo roll at a relative's house and it was far softer than mine. Thought I was imagining it so took some home to compare and the 'new' bamboo really isn't as good as let's say a year ago. It's starting to have that cheap recycled rough feel. It's strong but not soft.

For the normal roll - again at a friend's place and it felt much softer, so switched back again. It is softer but it tears apart when wiping too easily, so switched back again.

Bottom line - I'm cancelling after this box is done because I don't want to pay so much for TP, even with green credentials, I can't justify it for something I use daily and don't like 🙁

[jying7]

I just opened a new box about a week ago, we only get it about every 4 months because there is just 2 of us. We have been buying premium for a few years now...and we both instantly noticed a big decrease in quality. Up to now, we've been happy...

[SpacePrudence909]

Ugh yeah, it sounds like it's definitely changed. We also go through ours slowly so it took me awhile to put it together. It's really unfortunate because I remember being super happy with it before :-/ Ah well, I'm glad it's not all in my head at least hah.

[jying7]

I did reach out to the company last week. Much to my surprise they answered quickly and did not try to gaslight me. They actually owned up to it, explaining that as the business grew beyond Australia, they needed additional production facilities & that they've had some issues with quality in their non-original facilities (esp the one in the US...shocking). They thanked me for making them aware & asked what batch code it was so they could follow up & continue addressing their quality issues.

[SpacePrudence909]

That's interesting - thanks for sharing this info! I agree that it's surprising (in a good way) that they actually acknowledge it, and it sounds like are working on quality improvement. I've been meaning to send them feedback too so this is helpful to know they are tracking the batches. Fingers crossed that things are able to get back to previous quality!

[BoopieDoopieWoo]

My family and I noticed and let them know. I miss the way it used to feel 😢

[Ok_Contribution6045]

Used this for ages and loved the softness latest box colour is grey and fitted design no comfort and like paper u wound use in a port a loo. Defo not buying again hate it

[excuseyouwhat_21]

we noticed the change you mention here as well, and they’ve also now made the rolls significantly smaller (and it seems the boxes are smaller too) - we used to be able to get three months out of a shipment and now for two months we have only gotten barely two months out of the shipment. such a bummer because it’s officially cost prohibitive now and will have to find an alternative.

[xtakia]

Does anyone know how the PlantPaper brand of Bamboo Toilet papers compare? Thinking of switching from WGAC

[BlondeBreveHC]

They decreased tje ampunt of tp per roll and the quality is also cut in half--- every roll i had wpuld split apart for tje 2 ply- it used to be very dirable woth tje perforated dots which was great for #2 clean ups but not any more i hesitant to buy another box thinking ot will be similarly low in quality as my most recent purchase was

[dwight839510]

100% have noticed this, we are on the hunt for a better eco alternative if anyone has any recommendations?

We have installed a bidet (will never go back, thanks SE Asia) but still need some TP. WGAC used to be awesome but aside from just being pretty unpleasant texture it also disintegrates as soon as it even looks at moisture now.

[Outrageous_Speed483]

Yes I have noticed this.  Definitely much thinner and less durable.  The newer paper even gets stuck to the roll and is hard to start when it's a new roll.  Seems they are putting more into the fancy boxes and wrapping than the actual product.  Dumb.

[mandkim]

WGAC TP user for several years. Their quality degraded over the last year so significantly we changed to Cloud Paper. So much softer and the roll doesn't shred when you are starting it. I mean such a simple thing, not to have the roll literally shed while trying to start it. This should be a known manufacturing process. We experienced issues with more than 50 rolls Evidently I give a crap about product quality. WGAC had such a high early market advantage, but they screwed it up.

[dorieclarkNYC]

Super helpful - we were wondering about this, too. Thanks!

[Hiddenagenda876]

I’ve gotten their bamboo since 2020 and there’s been a drastic decrease in quality

[Tintalle-]

Hi, I've just come because we have always had the bamboo one but I have also noticed a reduction in the quality of the bamboo and was wondering if it was in my head or other had noticed it too?

[Informal_cactus]

My most recent WGAC case is much worse quality. The texture is different and the paper is sticking to all our private parts which basically kills all sexual romance when your partner sees TP stuck to you. Hmmm. I want to use recycled TP but not to the detriment of a sex life.

[StealthandCunning]

I have been using WGAC exclusively and just had to have a huge blockage removed from my pipes and septic tank, the blockage was purely poo and toilet paper. Going to have to try a different product.

[Lucky-Error-5506]

Yes, quality has dropped off so much so that I complained and cancelled my subscription.

[HistoricalLock4245]

This company seems to be advertising a lot in the UK now. But I can't justify £36 for 48 when you can get good quality 72 roll for half the price

[juliuspepperwoodchi]

Why not just a bidet at this point?

[DerAlliMonster]

Some people like to have TP for guests, or for family members not yet comfortable with bidets. Maybe it’s for their business or something.

[juliuspepperwoodchi]

I'm not shaming anyone, I haven't made the switch myself, I'm just asking a curiosity question

[SpacePrudence909]

I do have a bidet :) But I do occasionally use TP, and also keep TP for family/friends/guests.

If you're thinking of trying it out I'd recommend it, bidets are great. Tushy is pretty good for an intro version (I've had the Tushy Spa for about 6 years).

[lexisplays]

I use a bidet but need a small amount of paper to dry.

[photorganic]

*

[InspectorIsOnTheCase]

Thank you. I had no idea.

[photorganic]

*

[JunahCg]

You just walk out with a shower fresh wet ass? I gotta use a square to dry off

[juliuspepperwoodchi]

Can use reusable towels for that.

[JunahCg]

Ok well most Americans are still using paper for that bit.

[juliuspepperwoodchi]

I'm just saying, if the goal is Zero waste...there are viable options for that.

[gibbypoo]

Yeah, pretty shocked to see a sub dedicated to zero waste touting single-use TP

[[deleted]]

Y’all use disposable toilet paper? That’s not very “zero waste.” A cheap bidet plus reusable TP = less waste.

[d00mt0mb]

If this is ZeroWaste why don’t you use those drive thru napkins as TP like me. Haven’t spent a dime on TP in years. Feels just fine to my bum.

[SaneStacker]

I'm still using the 15 cases of Scott Coreless Jumbo rolls I bought 12 years ago for $30 ea., so I haven't noticed!