Because of ShitBegone's low volume and infrequent production runs, we buy our master rolls (wholesale tissue) from different suppliers for each batch. As a result, we can't specify the percentages of pre- and post-consumer material used in our paper, because the amounts are different between batches.

When putting together each batch, we look for the highest post-consumer content tissue then available to us on the wholesale market. Wholesale recycled tissue can vary between 20% and 80% post-consumer content with the rest being pre-consumer recyled material. We never use tissue containing virgin tree fiber, nor do we use tissue containing less than 20% post-consumer recycled materials.

For a details of the difference between pre- and post-consumer recycled materials, the kinds of materials which fit in each category, and the amounts that different products contain, check out the great information at conservatree.com.

Note that most national-brand toilet paper contains not only 0% post-consumer recyled fiber, but 0% pre-consumer as well, meaning it is made of 100% virgin fiber (freshly killed trees).

Why would the national brands do that, given that using 100% fresh dead trees is actually more expensive than using at least some amount of recycled materials?

Simple— it's because their focus groups told them, that the average consumer is just too dumb to understand that "recycled" toilet paper doesn't mean that the toilet paper is made of "used toilet paper."

Of course, "used toilet paper" can never be recycled, since it is flushed down the toilet. At the end the sewage treatment process, any solid matter is usually either composted, incinerated or landfilled.

You'd think that if the Big TP was worried you might misunderstand the concept of "recycled" toilet paper, they could just tell you about it. After all, accepting a little recyled content in your toilet paper could save you a buck, or who knows, maybe even a forest. But noooo... they'd rather buy million dollar Superbowl ads with little fuzzy bears, than talk about the REALITY of their product.