The three-ply question

Almost every premium loo roll on a UK supermarket shelf is three-ply. Almost every recycled one is two. That isn't a coincidence; it's the only honest way to make recycled paper feel close to premium without doping it with chemical softeners.

What a ply actually is

A "ply" is one sheet of paper. A two-ply roll bonds two of them together; a three-ply does three. The bond is mechanical: the sheets are crinkled and pressed so they hold each other in place without glue.

Three-ply is softer for two reasons. First, it has more air per square inch: three thin sheets trap more cushion than two thicker ones. Second, the inner ply absorbs without reaching the outer surface, so the side that touches your skin stays drier and smoother.

Why most recycled is two-ply

Recycled fibres are shorter. To bond three plies of recycled paper without the sheet falling apart you need a bigger dose of the bonding chemistry, which makes the paper stiffer in the hand. Most recycled brands choose two-ply and accept the texture trade-off.

Bamboo fibres are long, like fresh tree pulp. We can three-ply without the chemistry. That's what shows up in the softness panel: a recycled three-ply scores roughly where our bamboo three-ply starts. The premium tree-pulp leader is a hair above us. We are noticeably above the recycled brands.

The full panel is on the accreditations page.