We use bamboo for our facial tissues because it's more sustainable to grow and harvest compared to traditional tree pulp.

Most other facial tissues are made from tree pulp. Trees that have grown for 30-50 years are cut down and made into tissues that are used once, then thrown away. Bamboo, however, is considered a grass which can be harvested annually as it regrows or replanted every seven years.

Not only is it more sustainable to grow and harvest, bamboo also releases about 35% more oxygen into the air than similar sized trees and can yield about 20 times more timber for pulp in the same sized footprint.

Lastly, bamboo doesn't require fertilizer or pesticides to grow as it has natural disease- and pest-resistant properties.

In short, we think using bamboo pulp for facial tissues impacts the planet less than traditional tree pulp. Plus, we only use 100% Forest Stewardship Council certified bamboo so we have peace of mind that it's sustainably managed.

Why are the tissues a light beige colour?

The light beige colour is the natural tone of the bamboo that's used to make the tissues.

Our facial tissues are unbleached, which means no bleach, bleach alternatives, or whitening products are added to the tissues to make them appear whiter. Since we don't use bleach or whitening products, our bamboo facial tissues are more kind to your skin and your compost.

How soft are bamboo tissues compared to tree pulp tissues?

We use only premium-weight, 3-ply bamboo tissues without any added moisturizers or softeners.

Bamboo fibre is naturally less fluffy and more durable than tree fibre, meaning less excess fluff and dust. The result is a tissue that's naturally soft on your skin and can hold up to even the toughest of sneezes.

We prefer it to tree pulp tissues on our own noses since there's nothing added and it doesn't create dust coming out of the box or during a sneeze.

Why are the tissues manufactured in Chishui City, China?

Chishui is one of the world's largest regions for bamboo, located in the heart of the Yangtze River Basin. The bamboo in this region is important for two reasons:

• it's a focus for China's national poverty alleviation program to increase incomes for local farmers, and
• it's a focus for international organizations like UNESCO to preserve the ecological importance of the area for reducing global climate change.

The International Bamboo and Rattan Organization, funded by the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, have partnered with the Chishui Forestry Bureau since 2014 to tap into the renewable bamboo natural resources in the region. The result has been increasing incomes for local farmers, increased bamboo yield, and improved climate-smart management.

We selected this region for our bamboo facial tissues because of the robust infrastructure to produce high-quality tissues, and to contribute to the positive impact the industry has on poverty alleviation for local people and reduction in global climate change.

Lastly, since the bamboo from Chishui is farmed, it is not from the same bamboo forests that sustain endangered wildlife like pandas.