Since 2019, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has released its annual Issue with Tissue scorecard — an in-depth look at the state of the tissue industry paired with a consumer-facing scorecard of major toilet paper, paper towel, and facial tissue brands. The scorecard evaluates products against critical forest and climate sustainability criteria, helping consumers understand the environmental impact of everyday essentials.
Now in its seventh edition, this year’s Issue with Tissue spotlights the urgent need for more responsible fiber sourcing and transparent sustainability practices in the paper sector – the same priorities Green Seal targeted in the newest version of our certification standard for sanitary paper products.
The NRDC scorecard recognizes Green Seal’s standard for aligning with these priorities by requiring recycled content or sustainably sourced alternative fibers and promoting chlorine-free bleaching processes. “The standard helps strengthen sector-wide consistency around verifiable sustainability benchmarks and, like this scorecard, guides consumers toward more forest- and climate-friendly product choices,” NRDC writes.
This year’s Issue with Tissue Seventh Edition report scored152 household toilet paper, paper towel, and facial tissue products. Of those, 36 received an “A” or “A+” and 36 earned a “B” or “B+” grade, largely due to their use of recycled or sustainably sourced bamboo fibers. Five manufacturers of the highest-scoring products helped to develop the latest version of Green Seal’s standard as part of our Sanitary Paper Standard Working Group.
Our Standard for Sanitary Paper Products, updated in July, covers toilet paper, paper towels, napkins, and related products. It defines sustainability leadership across five core elements: safer chemicals, responsible fiber sourcing, low-impact manufacturing, sustainable packaging, and verified performance and claims. Each requirement is grounded in the latest science and informed by broad stakeholder feedback.
The alignment of our standard and the NRDC’s Issue with Tissue report helps strengthen an industry-wide benchmark that allows manufacturers, purchasers, and consumers to identify what truly makes tissue products more sustainable.
Consumers looking for products that meet the sustainability criteria in the Issue with Tissue report and meet our standards can find them by checking for the Green Seal Certification Mark on product packaging or by browsing our certified directory.