There isn't just one major Kleenex controversy; the brand has faced three distinct issues over the years, ranging from environmental lawsuits to cultural shifts and urban legends:
Kleenex pulled its consumer facial tissues from Canada due to high manufacturing and transportation costs, supply chain complexities, and stiff competition. Because it wasn't the top-selling brand, these pressures made the Canadian market unprofitable, prompting the company to shift focus to other consumer brands.
Made in USA business support
Kleenex made in China and Puffs are made in Ohio.
China is the world's largest producer of toilet paper by total output. This is due to a large population base, rising hygiene standards, and manufacturing facilities all over the world. China is able to produce around 680,000 tons of tissue annually.
Common Preservative Free
Free of formaldehyde and the most common allergy causing preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride, formaldehyde, benzophenone, methyldibromo glutaronitrile, MCI/MI and others.
British people simply call Kleenex "tissues".
Yes, the vast majority of toilet paper used in the US is made domestically. Over 90%—and by some estimates up to 99%—of American bathroom tissue is manufactured in US-based plants operated by major companies like Procter & Gamble, Kimberly-Clark, and Georgia-Pacific.
The Kleenex® Tissue inside is made from nearly 100% virgin fiber. While we are developing alternative fibers for future use, virgin fiber is currently used because it provides the superior softness you expect from Kleenex® Tissue.
The best facial tissue brands are Puffs and Kleenex, each excelling depending on your needs. Puffs is widely celebrated for its superior plush softness and cushiony feel, while Kleenex remains the top choice for everyday reliability, durability, and a wide variety of stylish, decorative box designs.
That sudden color change is actually an intentional feature! Many tissue brands, particularly Kleenex "Professional" boxes designed for businesses and hotels, shift from white to an off-white or yellowish color during the bottom portion of the box.
Where are Kleenex® facial tissues manufactured? South Carolina, Connecticut, Oklahoma—and Ontario, Canada.
No, it is highly recommended that you do not flush Kleenex or facial tissues down the toilet. While they look and feel similar to toilet paper, Kleenex is chemically designed to hold up to moisture without tearing.
Yes! Tissue boxes are recyclable. The material they are made from is called paperboard, which is a renewable and recyclable packaging material.
British people most commonly call it toilet paper or a toilet roll.
The sheets are 'sheets', pillowcases are 'pillowcases' and duvet covers are 'duvet covers'. Collectively they are 'bedclothes'.
British people call band-aids plasters. Sometimes, they might refer to them specifically as sticky plasters or by the brand name Elastoplast.
Traditional Amish communities often rely on resourceful, biodegradable, or reusable alternatives to conventional toilet paper. Depending on the strictness of the specific church district, these alternatives can include:
Muslims traditionally and religiously use water to clean themselves after using the toilet. This practice, known as istinja, ensures a higher standard of hygiene and ritual purity.
Plumbers often advise against using Charmin toilet paper because its signature extra-soft and thick multi-ply design is highly absorbent and durable. This makes the paper slower to dissolve and break down, which can easily lead to pipe blockages and system backups—especially in low-flow toilets or older cast-iron plumbing.
Formaldehyde can be found naturally in food up to the levels of 300 to 400 mg/kg, including fruits and vegetables (e.g. pear, apple, green onion), meats, fish (e.g., Bombay-duck, cod fish), crustacean and dried mushroom, etc ( Appendix).
To avoid PFAS ("forever chemicals") in toilet paper, switch to tree-free brands that explicitly verify they are PFAS-free, as many conventional brands have tested positive for trace levels. Top U.S. options include PlantPaper, Reel Paper, Cloud Paper, and Bumroll.
Many hair care products, such as shampoos and leave-in conditioners, contain formaldehyde or other variations, such as formalin and methylene glycol. When these products are heated, the formaldehyde is released into the air as a gas. This can occur by blow-drying, straightening, or curling the hair.