It’s the debate that divides households: two-ply or three? Recycled or bamboo?

A review by consumer advocacy group Choice has attempted to settle those arguments by rating the nation’s best and worst toilet paper. Choice tested over 30 rolls, from supermarket staples to eco-alternatives, looking at their structural integrity, softness and disintegration time, then scoring them out of 100.

To determine the softness, five researchers even wiped the toilet tissues across their hands and faces. “You can really feel rough surfaces on your face,” Choice’s director of reviews and testing, Matt Steen, said.

Quilton tied with itself for top spot, with its Toilet Tissue Gold 4-ply and 25% more King size rolls both receiving 85% scores.

Bottom of the pile was Oobamboo’s Bamboo Unbleached Toilet Rolls 3 ply, which scored 0% on the disintegration test, with an overall mark of 43%. At $0.56 for 100 sheets, it was also one of the most expensive products tested.

The brand has hit back at Choice, saying the consumer advocate has been “environmentally irresponsible” in its rankings.

Choice said disintegration scores were assigned by putting pieces of tissue in a water vortex and timing how long they took to break apart. Oobamboo’s tissues took 20 minutes to break apart in this test.

“If you want a smooth-functioning sewage system, we recommend you steer clear of this toilet paper,” said Steen.

In a statement to Guardian Australia, a spokesperson for Oobamboo Bamboo said Choice “seem to be saying that the ‘best’ is the softest, thickest, whitest and strongest”.

“It seems to send the message that momentary comfort now is more important than the future world for our children.”

He noted “the majority are wrapped in plastic” while the Oobamboo product comes in paper packaging.

“At Oobamboo we are a family-owned small Australian business trying to do the best we can to help reduce the carbon, plastic and chemical load on our planet,” the spokesperson said.

“We just feel disappointed that once again short-term comfort seems to be touted as a higher priority than long-term sustainability.”

Oobamboo did not address specific claims about their product’s disintegration rating.

In response to Oobamboo’s comments, Steen said: “Given that other brands in the market that have similar claims are performing much better on our technical tests, we stand by our results.”

Flush with cash

Priced at 61 and 63 cents per 100 sheets respectively, the top two products were among the most expensive, but scored highly for softness (90%) and disintegration (86%).

skip past newsletter promotion

after newsletter promotion

“However, price is not always an indicator of performance,” Steen said. “There are other products we can recommend that are gentle on your wallet and perform well.”

Aldi Confidence 3-ply Extra Soft took the top spot for best budget toilet paper. The product received a score of 82%, getting high marks for softness (90%) and disintegration (84%). Priced at $0.22 per 100 sheets, it was also among the cheaper rolls.

Ethics roll call

Choice used Shop Ethical’s guide to give consumers a sense of how the brands behind the bog rolls do business. Shop Ethical’s co-founder, Clint Healy, said it was important to recognise their rating system reviewed companies, not specific products.

Using information from third-party sources, Shop Ethical looks at exploitative practices, such as whether companies are contributing to deforestation, or testing on animals.

“We add up the praises and criticism, and it gives us a number,” Healey said.

No brand reviewed by Choice received an A from Shop Ethical. Even profit for purpose company Who Gives A Crap received some praise but also some minor criticism for manufacturing in China, resulting in a B grade.

“To get an A, you need to have at least two significant praises and no criticism,” Healy said.

For those looking for planet-friendly products, Steen said consumers could check for certification from the Forest Stewardship Council and buy products that come in paper packaging, which nine did.

“Everything else has plastic packaging,” Steen said. Since the suspension of the REDcycle scheme, it has not been possible to recycle soft plastics in Australia.

“[Supermarkets are] still trying to figure out how to bring the … program back on board,” Steen said.

If you’re looking to avoid soft plastic wrapping, your best option is who Gives A Crap’s recycled rolls, which scored 77% and cost $0.40 for 100 sheets. For soft and recycled paper, Steen said Coles So Soft & Strong 100% Recycled Toilet Tissue 3 Ply – at 78% and $0.28 a sheet – is your best bet.