While more and more of us recognize the importance of reducing our environmental impact, there’s one place in our daily life that often gets overlooked: the bathroom. For most of us in the United States, wiping with toilet paper is just how things have always been done. But our reliance on toilet paper has a lot more consequences for the planet than many of us realize.

Bidets have health benefits that go far beyond providing a superior clean (though they definitely do that!), but they can also benefit the environment. Let’s take a closer look at the truth about toilet paper and how bidets stack up in the quest for eco-friendliness.

How much toilet paper are we really using?

It’s just a little toilet paper, right? How much toilet paper does one person use per month, anyway? It might be more than you think. Researchers estimate that each person in the United States goes through 141 rolls of toilet paper per year – nearly 12 rolls each month. The United States is responsible for more than 20 percent of global toilet paper consumption even though we account for just four percent of the world’s population.

So why is this such a big deal?

Toilet paper hurts the environment in big ways

All that paper has to come from somewhere, and forests around the world take a hit to keep U.S. bathrooms stocked. An estimated 31 million trees are cut down per year to meet this enormous demand – and that’s just for one country. Global estimates skyrocket to as many as 1.9 million trees felled per day. That equates to devastating habitat loss and soaring carbon emissions – all for the sake of wiping your rear.

But deforestation isn’t the only environmental dilemma caused by toilet paper. Producing one roll of toilet paper requires 1.5 pounds of wood, up to 37 gallons of water and 1.3 kilowatt/hours (KWh) of electricity, along with harsh chemicals like calcium carbonate, sulfur and chlorine. And the downsides continue past the production phase: in addition to creating packaging waste every time you restock and putting more stress on your pipes (and your community’s water facilities), toilet paper contains perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS. These “forever chemicals” can cause significant health problems, including cancer. Plus, since they don’t break down easily, they can run off from landfills and leach into our waterways.

And these sobering statistics don’t even include the havoc caused by “flushable” wipes. Often seen as a more hygienic alternative to toilet paper, wipes contain harmful microplastics that can contaminate our rivers – and, eventually, our oceans – and even enter our food chain. They’re also a major contributor to “fatbergs” in water treatment facilities, which can emit harmful gasses and use even more water to clean up.

But there is hope: a whopping 70 percent of people around the globe don’t use any toilet paper. So how do we break our TP habit and help our habitat? Bidets might just be the solution.

Is using a bidet more environmentally friendly?

Spoiler alert: yes, bidets are better for the environment than toilet paper. Installing bidets in your bathrooms can reduce your toilet paper usage by as much as 75 percent. That means that with one small change, you can decrease that estimated 141 rolls of toilet paper per year to fewer than 36 rolls annually.

And if you’re willing to make a couple other adjustments to your bathroom routine, you might be able to banish toilet paper from your bathroom altogether. Many electric bidets come equipped with warm air dryers that gently dry your skin without any need for wiping. If the bidet you choose doesn’t have one or you just don’t feel complete without a bit of a manual dry, you can always pat dry with a washcloth or towel. Since the bidet gets you fully clean, it’s really no different than drying your body off after a shower.

Two caveats: the towel approach is still a bit taboo in the states, and it may be more difficult for women to avoid using toilet paper. If you’re not ready or able to completely cut ties with TP, the Natural Resource Defense Council’s Issue with Tissue Scorecard can help you find the most sustainable option.

How much water does a bidet use?

You might be thinking, “OK, I get it, toilet paper is bad, but don’t bidets waste a ton of water?” This is a common misconception. While bidets do use water to get you clean, they only require a fraction of the water needed to produce toilet paper – about one-eighth of a gallon per use. (To put that in perspective, most newer toilets require 1 to 2 gallons just to flush, while older toilets can use anywhere from 3.5 to 7 gallons per flush.)

Let’s do the math: if each person in the U.S. uses 141 rolls of toilet paper per year, and each roll requires 37 gallons of water to make, that’s 5,217 gallons of water each year for production alone. On the other hand, even if you were to use a bidet after each of the average six bathroom visits per day at one-eighth of a gallon per use, that’s just three-quarters of a gallon per day – or less than 274 gallons per year. These are, of course, just estimates, but even with a lot more frequent use, bidets clearly win the water war.

Do bidets waste electricity?

The amount of power required to operate a bidet varies widely depending on the type, model and which features and settings you use. Non-electric bidets, unsurprisingly, run on your home’s water pressure and use no electricity at all, making them the most eco-friendly choice. However, these models don’t have warm air dryers, so you will need to use a towel or toilet paper to dry off. Bidets with tank water heaters draw some electricity even when not in use since they keep a reservoir of water heated and ready to go at all times. Bidets with instant water heaters barely use any electricity unless you’re actively running a wash.

Regardless of type, most of the electric bidet seats on the market today only use between three and 15 cents of electricity per day, topping out at around 600 to 1400 watts during a wash with all the settings maxed out. Sticking to lower temperature settings will reduce the amount of electricity your bidet draws during a wash. To lower electricity consumption even more, many electric bidets also offer energy-saving (aka “eco”) modes. If you’re concerned about energy use, you can always unplug your bidet when you’re not using it (as long as you don’t have a tank model that needs to heat the water ahead of time).

Get started with a green bathroom routine

Bidets come in a variety of types, styles and price ranges, so there’s an option that will work for every bathroom setup. Just about anyone can install a bidet in four easy steps, even if you’re a DIY novice.

Before you jump in, decide which type of bidet will work best for you and which features are must-haves. If you’re not sure, our bidet quiz is a great place to start. Want to get a little more personal? Our bidet experts can provide a tailored recommendation. Reach out via live chat, call or text 248-974-4030 or send us an email at [email protected].

Once you’ve made your pick, you’re just a shipment away from a more sustainable bathroom routine. The planet, your wallet and your bum will love your new toilet-paper-free lifestyle.