Reel Toilet Paper Review: Better Than Store-Bought?

Reel Paper offers biodegradable, sustainable 100% bamboo paper products, including strong 3-ply toilet paper and extra-absorbent 2-ply paper towels. All Reel products are eco-friendly, ship in biodegradable materials with plastic-free packaging, and are BPA, fragrance, chlorine, and dye-free.

Reel does a great deal of good work, so there’s a lot to talk about here!

Reel Paper operates out of Santa Monica with a simple mission: to change lives. Co-founders Derin Oyekan and Livio Bisterzo created Reel to provide sustainably-made products that can reduce environmental waste, encourage conscious consumerism, and improve quality of life for disadvantaged people. Since starting in 2019, Reel has sold more than a million rolls of toilet paper, growing almost 1,000%/year since its launch.

Toilet Paper

Reel Paper makes products that are:
- Tree-Free
- Biodegradable and sustainable
- Zero Plastic
- BPA Free
- Fragrance Free
- Chlorine Free
- Ink/dye Free

So I already felt good about ordering both the toilet paper (their original signature product) and the paper towels.

The 3-ply toilet paper comes in 24 individually wrapped rolls per box with 300 sheets per roll. The extra-absorbent 2-ply paper towels ship in a 12-roll box with 150 sheets per individually wrapped roll. I was intrigued to read on the website that recycled paper is used to wrap all rolls, and that orders would be shipped in biodegradable materials with plastic-free packaging.

The products arrived in a brown cardboard box. Just as advertised, the order contained zero plastic in either shipping or packing materials. We used a box of toilet paper and a few of the rolls of paper towels over the course of a couple of weeks.

The unique 3-ply Reel toilet paper is designed with comfort and strength in mind. This toilet paper is some of the highest quality and best performing toilet paper that I have ever used. I really can’t say enough good things about it.

I especially like the ridges and texture of it. The bamboo content is indeed as strong as advertised. I never had any issues with the toilet paper ripping or tearing. It is durable when it matters, giving confidence that it won’t fail at critical moments. 

This is an item that I will be switching to using permanently even once testing is complete.

Paper Towels

The Reel paper towels are 2-ply so they can provide extra absorbency. They worked exactly how you would expect them to in a kitchen setting.

These towels were more than durable enough for every situation in which I tested them. You can also tear off half-sheets for smaller messes or to reduce waste.

One small caveat is that you cannot currently order in smaller quantities. Those in smaller residences or with limited storage space may not always have room for 24 TP rolls and/or 12 paper towel rolls.

That being said, you always have the option to skip or change an order date so that you don’t end up overwhelmed like Mickey’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice with never-ending paper products!

Yes. Both the toilet paper and the paper towels meet the advertised claims. The toilet paper is indeed strong and reasonably soft, and won’t tear or rip easily. The absorbent paper towels will meet the messiest of messes head-on.

Reel Paper seems to embody a potent combination of commitments—to environmental sustainability, to helping those less fortunate by solving sanitation crises world-wide, and to creating socially conscious consumers in the US. Founders Oyekan and Bisterzo are determined to do this all while also providing a quality product you will love to use.

The 100% bamboo products are all BPA, fragrance, chlorine, and dye-free, making them safe for both you and the planet.

You have the option of setting up a subscription delivery or placing a one-time order. The toilet paper costs $33 for the subscription/$35 plus shipping for one-time purchases. The paper towels cost $40 for subscriptions/$45 plus shipping for one-time purchases. I did not use the subscription service yet, but I would assume it works as described.

You can set up your subscription with delivery at 4, 6, 8, 12, or 16 week time frames. While you do need to subscribe to regular deliveries to qualify for the product discount and free shipping, you don’t have to commit to any number of shipments.

You can skip or push back a delivery or fully cancel your subscription anytime with a few simple clicks on their website. If you are concerned about under or overestimating your usage needs, you can easily customize your preferences or place your own one-time orders as needed. Just make sure to order in time so that you don’t run out of TP at a bad time!

Payment methods currently accepted for subscription orders include Visa, MasterCard, American Express, Discover, JCB, and Diner’s Club. One-time orders can be paid with all those methods as well as PayPal, Apple Pay, and Google Pay.

Reel now also offers the option to make account changes or modify orders from your phone. Their system will also text you renewal reminders so that you can make any changes you might need.

Toilet Paper:

• 100% Bamboo
• 24 rolls per box
• 300 sheets per roll
• 3-ply
• Sheet dimensions: 3.94″ x 3.94″
• 776.16 sq. ft per box (32.34 sq. ft per roll)

Paper Towels

• 100% Bamboo
• 12 rolls per box
• 150 sheets per roll (half-sheet option)
• 2-ply
• Sheet dimensions: 10.8″ x 6.3”
• Box weight: 11.02 lbs
• Cu. ft: 1.73

For strong, comfortable toilet paper and extra-absorbent paper towels, I found the Reel products more than worth the price.

There are some less-expensive traditional brands out there. However, be sure to also compare how many sheets are in a roll for an accurate price comparison. Also, consider how much extra flimsy product you may need to use; strong TP and absorbent 2-ply paper towels may mean you end up using/paying for far less.

You might think that Reel’s prices are still a little costly even with the extra absorbency. But to go green while supporting a company that is so dedicated to implementing sustainable manufacturing, reducing waste, and helping those in need for only pennies more makes this priceless to me.

Subscription to either or both products gets you a discount on product as well as free shipping.

Sign up by email to receive $5 off your first Reel order, including either subscription or one-time orders.

You can also use the “Give $10, Get $10!” offer. Share the link with friends to give them $10 off their first order. When they make a purchase, you will receive $10 off your order.

This is a brand that really puts its money and its actions where its values are. Reel Paper’s values make supporting them a joy. They help bring hygienic access to those in need and focus on eliminating waste—both human and environmental. Even the packaging is plastic-free.

Customers do not need to sacrifice quality or comfort. The toilet paper is strong, durable, and soft. The super-absorbent paper towels clean up well. Both are 100% bamboo, sustainable, and biodegradable. The easy, customizable subscription service offers money and time-saving options.

The Reel values are summed up on their website: “Our Story Is Your Story. We’re all connected —by the earth, by the way we treat each other, and by the world we leave behind for the next generation. Our story begins with you.”

By purchasing Reel, you support their mission to “provide access to clean toilets to those in need around the world while also giving American households a way to reduce their carbon footprint.”