Comparative life cycle assessment of bamboo-containing and wood-based hygiene tissue: Implications of fiber sourcing and conversion technologies

This study assesses the environmental impact of producing consumer bath tissue (CBT) in the United States using Brazilian bleached eucalyptus kraft (BEK) and Canadian northern bleached softwood kraft (NBSK) market pulps, in comparison to bamboo-based CBT from China. Additionally, the analysis includes considerations of soil organic carbon (SOC) sequestration from plant growth, and the biogenic global warming potential (GWPbio) based on biomass rotation periods.

Results indicate a cradle-to-grave carbon footprint (CF) of 1824 kg CO₂eq/air-dry ton (ADt) for US CBT (70 % BEK/30 % NBSK) using Light Dry Creped (LDC) technology. Substituting BBK for BEK/NBSK increases CF to 2041 kg CO₂eq/ADt, with Chinese manufactured CBT at 2400 kg CO₂eq/ADt. Using Creped Trough Air Drying (CTAD), CF rises to 2531 and 2739 kg CO₂eq/ADt for BEK-NBSK and BEK-BBK mixtures, respectively. Including SOC factors do not change the conclusions. While the GWPbio factors are highly dependent on the time horizon considered. These results emphasize production technologies' critical role in tissue sustainability and challenge bamboo's perceived environmental advantages.