When you think of adopting a more sustainable lifestyle, your mind likely goes to composting, reusable bags, and package-free cosmetics—but what about your toilet paper?

Research estimates the average American flushes just over 57 pounds of toilet paper every single year (and a majority of that paper is made from virgin pulp sourced from Canada).

What's more, toilet paper is one of the biggest contributors to PFAs in our waterways. And if these toxic "forever chemicals" weren't worrisome enough, many brands uses brightening agents and detergents to get that signature cloudlike look and feel. Not exactly something I want to be wiping around my nether regions.

So when Who Gives A Crap offered to send over a selection of its sustainable paper products (think: plush bamboo toilet paper and absorbant paper towels), I decided it was time to get to the bottom of the debate.

My first introduction to Who Gives A Crap came at a friend's house a few years ago. A sustainability advocate with an environmental science degree, she'd been sold on the brand's efforts to reduce toilet paper waste by opting for recycled or renewable resources.

I remember clocking the vibrant packaging—which stood out even then—and noting the sheets felt pretty solid for a recycled toilet paper. But what really stood out to me was the brand's mission.

Who Gives A Crap started in 2012 when the cofounders learned that nearly 40% of the global population didn't have access to a toilet. The trio decided to launch their own toilet paper company that offered more sustainable products and donated 50% of profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in developing countries.

While I'd like to pretend that I signed up for a subscription right then and there, toilet paper was my roommate's responsibility at the time.

My requirements for toilet paper have changed dramatically over the years. As a child, I loved the plush, pillow-like toilet paper that puts your pipes through hell and back. When I moved to New York, I got my first taste of old sewer systems and realized that I either needed to give up my plush TP or put a plumber on speed-dial.

This changed the way I looked at toilet paper; I needed something soft-yet-absorbant, so I wouldn't waste a quarter of the roll trying to wipe up.

As I started to lean into eco-friendly products in my home, I also began to move towards recycled toilet paper options.

My order included both the Premium 100% Bamboo Toilet Paper (48-count) and Forest Friendly Paper Towels (6-count). Both orders arrived in a single box; the top held my selects of adorably wrapped toilet paper while a small addition to the box held my paper towel order.

As weird as it sounds, my first impression of the Premium Toilet Paper was that it felt ... attractive? All the rolls are individually wrapped with in paper in fun patterns (all black-and-white). You're not going to want to tuck any of these rolls away under your sink, which is great because I don't have much room left under mine anyways.

Toilet Paper

About: 3-ply, 370 sheets

I'll be the first to say it: I used to have a prejudice against eco-friendly toilet paper—is it ever soft enough?!—but Who Gives A Crap changed my mind.

The premium bamboo rolls are just as soft as their high-end competitors, and I would argue they're actually more effective at wiping up a mess. That's because the cushioned feel comes from the bamboo material rather than an aggressive amount of ply (or sheets) of paper.

Paper Towels

About: 2-ply, 170 sheets

Similar to the toilet paper, these paper towels are made from bamboo combined with bagasse, a sugarcane byproduct that's considered waste. Instead of burning or burying the bagasse, the brand gives it a second life in these paper towels.

I was a little thrown by the size of these paper towels. They're shorter than your typical paper towel, which allows for more efficient shipping.

Despite the downsized display, I found these paper towels delivered on all of my needs. They picked up spills, removed streaks from my mirrors, and let my countertops sparkling. Even though they were double-length, I did feel they went about as fast as a regular roll of paper towels—perhaps due to the smaller size.

I've only used Who Gives A Crap products for about a month, but I firmly believe they're worth it.

Not only do you get a sustainable material that actually feels good on your bum, but the brand's active efforts to give back globally make this certified B corp a company that I want to support. Once my rolls run out, I even plan to sign up for my own subscriptions.

If you're asking from a cost POV, you might be surprised to hear that my answer is actually the same.

While the 48-count shipment may seem like a lofty investment up front at $68, the rolls last longer than supermarket brands because they're double-length. This means the cost-per-sheet is sometimes even lower than what you'll find on other name brand options.

If the most important thing on your TP wish list is sustainability, then you'll likely want to go with the brand's 100% Recycled Toilet Paper instead. It's not as luxuriously soft, but the fully recycled material is better for the environment.