PFAS and BPA in Toilet Paper: What We Tested and Why

A few years ago, most people had never heard of PFAS. Now they keep popping up in the news, and toilet paper is one of the more surprising places they've been found. So we did what we'd want any brand to do: we sent our own rolls to a lab and asked. Our toilet paper and kitchen roll were tested for 32 PFAS "forever chemicals" and for BPA, and every result came back below the lab's quantification limit.

Here's what PFAS and BPA are, how they end up in loo roll, and exactly what our tests did and didn't cover.

So what are PFAS?

PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a big family of man-made chemicals that repel water, grease, and stains. That's why they've been used in non-stick pans, waterproof jackets, and food packaging.

They're called "forever chemicals" because they break down incredibly slowly. Once they're out in the world, they can build up in water, soil, and living things. Some of the best-known ones, PFOA and PFOS, are already restricted under UK law (legislation.gov.uk).

How do they end up in toilet paper?

That was our first question too. In 2023, researchers at the University of Florida tested toilet paper sold across North America, Latin America, Africa, and Western Europe, and found PFAS in the paper itself. They think the chemicals may come from additives used when pulp is turned into paper, and they estimated that flushed toilet paper could be a meaningful source of PFAS in wastewater (American Chemical Society, 2023).

A 2024 study of tissue and toilet paper sold in China found PFAS compounds in nearly every sample it tested, at very low levels (Journal of Hazardous Materials Letters, 2024).

The main worry raised so far is the environment rather than your skin. But for something every household uses every single day, we didn't think "probably fine" was good enough.

Where do UK rules stand?

At the moment, there's no specific UK limit on PFAS in toilet paper. That's starting to change. In February 2026 the government published its first PFAS Plan, setting out more monitoring and further restrictions over the next few years (Fieldfisher summary of the UK PFAS Plan).

The direction is clear: fewer PFAS in everyday products. We'd rather be ahead of that than catching up.

And what about BPA?

BPA (bisphenol A) is a different chemical with a different story. For years it was used as the coating on thermal till receipts, the shiny ones that fade. The UK's Health and Safety Executive lists its concerns as hormone-disrupting properties, reproductive toxicity and skin sensitisation (HSE, 2023).

The route into toilet paper is one we know well from our years in recycling. Receipts go in the paper bin with everything else, and the BPA travels with the fibre. In 2011, researchers Chunyang Liao and Kurunthachalam Kannan found BPA on 94% of the receipts they tested, and identified receipt recycling as a source of BPA in paper napkins, toilet paper and food packaging (American Chemical Society, via ScienceDaily, 2011).

This isn't a knock on recycling, and the rules have moved on. Since 2 January 2020, thermal paper containing 0.02% or more BPA can't be sold in Great Britain (legislation.gov.uk). That should mean less BPA in the paper stream over time. The HSE has flagged one catch, though: some makers may have swapped BPA for other bisphenols with similar hazard profiles (HSE, 2023).

Our toilet paper is made from bamboo fibre rather than recovered paper, so receipts aren't part of our supply chain. But "it shouldn't be there" isn't the same as "we checked", so we tested for it anyway.

What we found when we tested ours

We sent samples to Eurofins Product Testing Services, part of one of the world's largest testing networks. They looked for 32 PFAS compounds, including PFOA, PFOS, PFNA, PFHxS, and GenX, plus BPA, in the same tests (European Food Safety Authority: background on BPA).

Here's what came back:

"Below the quantification limit" means the lab looked for each chemical and found nothing at or above the smallest amount its method can reliably measure, which here is a few parts per billion. That's how a clean result is reported. No responsible lab will ever write "zero", because nothing can be measured to zero.

What our tests don't cover

We want to be straight about this part. There are thousands of PFAS, and no commercial test covers them all. Our panel of 32 includes the ones regulators focus on most, but not every compound that researchers have found in tissue. For example, some of the chlorinated PFAS in that 2024 study aren't on our panel.

The same goes for bisphenols. We tested for BPA, not for replacements such as BPS, so we're not claiming anything about those yet.

So we're not going to tell you our paper is free from every PFAS or bisphenol that exists. What we can say is that it's clear on the 32 we tested for, and that we'll keep testing every new batch and look at widening the panel as testing improves. All the reports are on our accreditations page, so you can read them yourself.

Why we bother

Before The Green Cheeks, we worked in the recycling industry. We saw how much can travel through a supply chain without anyone noticing. We trust our manufacturing partners, but we don't think paperwork alone is enough. Things can change between the factory and your bathroom, and independent testing is how we check that what's on the box is true for what arrives at your door.

That testing sits alongside our certificates: FSC (licence FSC-C007915), registration with The Vegan Society, and the Allergy UK Allergy Friendly Product Award. Both our toilet paper and kitchen roll have been assessed as "unlikely to cause a reaction".

If there's something you think we should be testing for, tell us. We'd like to hear it.

A few quick answers

Does toilet paper contain PFAS?

Some does. Studies in 2023 and 2024 found PFAS in toilet paper from several regions, at low levels. It varies by product, so look for brands that publish independent test results.

Is The Green Cheeks toilet paper PFAS-free?

It was tested by Eurofins for 32 PFAS compounds, and all were below the lab's quantification limit. On that panel, yes. No test covers every PFAS that exists.

How does BPA get into toilet paper?

Mainly through thermal till receipts that end up in paper recycling. Research in 2011 found receipt recycling was a source of BPA in toilet paper and other paper products. GB restricted BPA in thermal paper from January 2020.

Is The Green Cheeks toilet paper BPA-free?

Eurofins found BPA below 0.05 mg/kg, the lab's quantification limit, in both our toilet paper and kitchen roll. We haven't tested for replacement bisphenols such as BPS.

Are PFAS banned in the UK?

Some, such as PFOA and PFOS, are restricted (legislation.gov.uk). There's no blanket ban and no specific limit for toilet paper, but the 2026 PFAS Plan sets out further restrictions.