What are PFAS ("forever chemicals")?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a large family of synthetic chemicals used to make products water-, grease- and stain-resistant. They're nicknamed "forever chemicals" because they break down extremely slowly and can build up in the environment and in our bodies over time, which is why regulators and researchers are paying them increasing attention. The UK government has set out a national PFAS Plan and the HSE is consulting on new restrictions.

Why is there PFAS in toilet paper?

Usually not because anyone added it on purpose. It tends to arrive via manufacturing additives. A 2023 peer-reviewed study found PFAS in toilet-paper brands sampled around the world, and identified toilet paper as a meaningful source of PFAS entering wastewater. PFAS can be introduced during pulp processing, and recycled paper can carry PFAS picked up in its previous life (from food packaging, coated papers and the like). The upshot: presence varies from product to product, which is exactly why testing matters more than assumptions.

How can you tell if a toilet paper is PFAS-free in the UK?

You largely can't from the packaging, and that's the crux of the problem. There's no UK requirement to test toilet paper for PFAS or to declare it on the pack, so most brands simply don't say anything. That leaves one reliable signal: look for a brand that has had its product independently tested and is willing to publish or share the result, ideally stated as "no detectable PFAS" (which reflects testing down to a lab detection limit, rather than an unprovable claim of absolute zero). If a brand can't point to a test, you can't really know.

What toilet paper has no PFAS? How to choose

Since the label won't tell you, use these as your checklist:

  • Published PFAS testing. The single most useful signal: a brand that has tested and reports "no detectable PFAS."
  • Fewer treatments in the manufacturing process (and a brand that discloses their supply chain clearly): For example, coatings are a known route for PFAS specifically, so a plain-er tissue has fewer ways for them to get in.

Cheeky Panda's bamboo toilet rolls are independently tested with no detectable PFAS. 

Does bamboo toilet paper contain PFAS?

Not inherently: bamboo fibre doesn't contain PFAS, and choosing bamboo over recycled avoids the "inherited PFAS" risk that comes with recycled fibre potentially carrying forever chemicals from their previous life. But bamboo isn't automatically PFAS-free either: it depends on how the roll is made. So the same rule applies: look for a bamboo brand that has actually tested for PFAS, rather than assuming.

Is PFAS in toilet paper something to worry about?

It's an emerging area rather than a settled one. Researchers have flagged toilet paper as one route by which PFAS reach wastewater and the environment, and there's growing scrutiny of PFAS exposure generally, but the science on everyday exposure levels is still developing. If you're taking steps to reduce PFAS across the products you use, choosing a tested, no-detectable-PFAS loo roll is a simple, low-effort swap. It's about reducing unknowns, not panicking.