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Yarn'n Toilet Paper: The Recycled Roll That Gives Back to First Nations Youth
Last Updated: March 2026
What if a toilet roll could do more than just sit on the holder?
Most of us don't give much thought to toilet paper. It's the ultimate commodity - something we buy by habit, usually whatever's cheapest or on special at the supermarket.
But there's a toilet paper on our shelves at Santos that we think deserves a proper introduction. It's called Yarn'n, and once you know the story behind it, we think you'll find it hard to go back to the supermarket alternative.
What is Yarn'n?
Yarn'n is Australia's only First Nations-owned toilet paper brand. It was co-founded by Lane Stockton, a proud Wiradjuri man, with a simple but bold idea: take one of the most purchased household products in the country - Australians spend nearly $2 billion on toilet paper every year - and turn it into a vehicle for First Nations education, culture, and economic empowerment.
Every single roll is made in Sydney from 100% recycled paper - no trees felled, no virgin pulp, no offshore manufacturing. The recycled fibre comes from post-consumer sources like offices and schools, and the entire manufacturing process happens on Australian soil, keeping local jobs and reducing shipping emissions.
And the roll itself? It's wrapped in original artwork by First Nations artists, featuring Wiradjuri language, storytelling and cultural motifs. The current Santos roll features the work of Katrina Graves (@bunan_to_murun_art), a proud Wiradjuri woman.
Why we chose to stock it
At Santos Organics, we've been a not-for-profit social enterprise since 1978. Every buying decision we make goes through our Care Check process - we look at ethics, environmental impact, social value, and quality. Yarn'n ticked every one of those boxes.
It's Australian-made. It's 100% recycled. It's First Nations-owned and purpose-driven. And 50% of all profits go directly to Yalari, a not-for-profit organisation that provides high-quality education scholarships for First Nations children across Australia.
When you buy a roll at Santos, a meaningful portion of that $1.60 is going toward a scholarship for a young Indigenous student. That's a rare thing for any product to be able to say.
Is it actually good toilet paper?
Yes - and this matters. Yarn'n is 360-sheet, 3-ply tissue. Ultra-soft, strong, and genuinely high quality. The most common feedback we hear from customers is that they expected a compromise on quality given the recycled credentials, and were pleasantly surprised.
Each sheet is 10cm × 10cm - a generous size - and the 3-ply construction means you actually use less per visit, which makes the per-roll value very competitive.
How does it compare to bamboo?
Bamboo toilet paper has become popular in recent years, and for good reason - it's tree-free and biodegradable. But Yarn'n makes a compelling argument that recycled Australian-made paper is actually the better environmental choice for Australian households:
- Bamboo is almost always grown and manufactured overseas, typically in Asia, meaning significant shipping emissions before it reaches your bathroom
- Bamboo monoculture farming, while renewable, still requires land, water and fertiliser
- Recycled paper gives existing fibre a second life, with no new plantations required
- Yarn'n's manufacturing process uses up to 50% less water and up to 90% less energy than conventional toilet paper production
- Making in Australia means Yarn'n has avoided approximately 225 shipping containers compared to importing, saving an estimated 1.6 million kilometres of sea freight
The ripple effect of one roll
In just two years of operation, Yarn'n has already sponsored four First Nations students through their entire high school education via the Yalari Foundation. Their environmental numbers are equally striking: over 22,000 mature trees saved, 34 million litres of water conserved, and 5.3 million kWh of energy saved.
These are outcomes driven by people choosing Yarn'n at the checkout instead of a supermarket brand. It's a rare case where the ethical choice is also the Australian-made choice, the quality choice, and the environmental choice - all in one.
Where to buy Yarn'n in Australia
You can buy a single roll of Yarn'n at Santos Organics - online or in-store at our Byron Bay, Mullumbimby and Banksia locations. At $1.60 per roll it's an easy first try. If you love it, we'd love to hear about it.
