Tissues

Ply count

Plies are the number of sheets or layers that make up the thickness of a tissue. Generally the higher the ply count, the thicker, and softer the tissue should be.

Value for money

Tissues aren’t a high-cost product. But when allergy season hits or you have a cold, you can go through lots, quickly.

Boxes of tissues in our test cost between $1 and $4. However, not all boxes are the same and come in different sizes and capacities. This means a per sheet cost is the best way to compare value. The top tissues in our test that earnt our recommendation cost between 1 and 3¢ per sheet. Most tissues cost 2¢ per sheet, so if you’re going to fork out for more expensive ones, make sure they’re worth buying by first checking how well they perform in our test.

Sustainability accreditation

Most of the products in our test had accreditation for sustainably sourced materials. This means fibres (for example, wood, bamboo, sugarcane) used were grown and harvested in a sustainable way. These certifications are usually on the front and back of tissue packaging.

Without a certification any sustainability claim is open to interpretation. We haven’t assessed the value of each certification programme, only if the packaging claims one.

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification

The FSC in an international non-profit third-party that promotes responsible management of the world’s forests.

FSC accreditation is not a guarantee that the whole product is from a sustainable source, especially with the FSC MIX label. But it does indicate that the virgin fibres used in the product come from forests managed to high environmental and ethical standards.

There are three FSC classifications. Most tissue products in Aotearoa use just one: FSC MIX.

FSC MIX: is for products that are a mixture of timber/fibre with a minimum of 70% from an FSC-certified source.

FSC-certified materials are from certified forests, recycled materials, and/or FSC-controlled wood, which does not include the following:

• illegally harvested wood
• wood harvested in violation of traditional and human rights
• wood harvested in forests in which high conservation values (HCVs) are threatened by management activities
• wood harvested in forests being converted to plantations or non-forest use
• wood from forests in which genetically modified trees are planted.

FSC RECYCLED: means all timber/fibre used in the tissues is recycled material. However, up to 15% can be from manufacturing scrap that’s put back into products, such as faulty product (mis-cut tissues).

FSC 100%: is when all of the material is from FS-certified forests that have been audited by an independent third party to confirm they meet FSC’s standards.

PEFC (Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification) certification

PEFC is another common label on tissues signalling the product is produced to high ecological, social and ethical standards. It is a third-party endorsement, so not all products will have it. There are two classifications: PEFC Certified, where at least 70% of wood comes from PEFC-certified forests and controlled sources, and PEFC Recycled, where at least 70% of material is from recycled sources and controlled sources.

Environmental choice

This is New Zealand’s government-owned ecolabelling programme that assess the lifecycle impact of a product, from manufacture to packaging and is a good assessment to look for.

Virgin vs recycled fibres

Recycled fibres are less damaging to the environment than using virgin materials. It also helps keep waste out of the landfill.

Unfortunately, paper products can only be recycled so many times before the fibres become too weak. This means virgin materials are commonly added to give the tissues strength.

Virgin fibres: Those have not been used in any other product, such as straight from wood pulp.

Recycled fibres: Come from pre- or post-consumer products, such as unused office products.