Tissues

Overall score

Our lab test assesses how strong tissues are and most importantly, how soft. We include:

• How soft it is.
• How much water the tissue absorbs.
• How well it resists puncturing.
• How resistant it is to tearing when wet.

Other ratings

We also assess product packaging and claims made on the product. We award a rating of good, acceptable or poor. This doesn’t contribute to the overall score:

• Packaging: assesses what the packaging is made of, how recyclable it is in New Zealand and how clearly it’s labelled with recycling information.
• Environment: considers whether they claim to be bleached, biodegradable/compostable and do they warn against flushing down the toilet, which can cause wastewater blockages.
• Ethical: we look for ethical sourcing and sustainability claims, and if the packaging states it meets a standard, certification or has a trusted endorsement.

What about New Zealand made? - we do not consider whether they’re made in Aotearoa, as many paper products made here use a combination of local and imported materials, where the origin of the imported content is not always clear.