The Impetus of Toilet Paper

Two years ago while I had the privilege of traveling in Northern Ireland, I discovered something that changed the trajectory of my life: Bamboo toilet paper.

“Brilliant!” I thought. “Instead of flushing trees down the toilet, we can make toilet paper from another plant that grows a lot faster.” I practically jumped on my computer. “I’m going to order some and send it to my husband! I’ll include a note, ‘Thinking of you!’” I knew he’d love it.

Unfortunately, I struggled to find a way to have it shipped to the U.S. Since it was a U.K. company, I started looking for more accessible brands, but to no avail. Now I was really curious. Why isn’t the U.S. riding on the bamboo bandwagon?

Short answer: a lack of bamboo. It turns out our country imports nearly $25 million of raw bamboo every year, but its primary use is the bamboo shoots we eat in Asian cuisine.

That’s when I found a company trying to change all that. Their initiative is to bring all the benefits of bamboo to the United States by growing it in the United States! They support farmers with education and an opportunity to contract with them to buy the bamboo as they build processing centers and network with manufacturers.

I immediately emailed the company to find out more.

As I continued to learn, I became even more fascinated with bamboo.

Grows up to 3 feet a day? Wow!

Requires no pesticides? Awesome!

Can be used in place of wood for lumber, building materials, and ALL paper products? No way!

It really seemed too good to be true. A plant that can help us save trees and decrease our reliance on imports.

Then I started looking at the numbers. This could generate a lot of revenue. I looked at my daughter sitting beside me on the couch as the ideas started tumbling through my mind. “We could help so many people.”

Already, specific names were coming to mind. Missionary- and social-worker friends who don’t have a good retirement option. The kids we know, and don’t know yet, through Compassion International. Everyone without fresh drinking water.

I went home committed to researching all that I could learn about bamboo, to talk with farmers, entrepreneurs, and everyone I knew who could offer wisdom.

In August 2024, I formed my LLC. In January 2025, I launched my business with a gathering of local support. And now I am preparing to buy my land to plant our first bamboo grove in spring 2026.