The go-to rectangular Kleenex box found in every doctor’s office, waiting room, classroom, and household has around 120–160 tissues. Whether 2-ply or 3-ply, that’s a lot of trees. With climate change getting worse by the day, it’s important we do our part as environmentally conscious citizens. That could start with our tissues. Here are some alternatives to the world’s most loved tissue!

Up first: sandpaper. If you’ve had to do any arts-and-crafts or construction projects recently, sandpaper’s bound to be lying around in a classroom or in your house. Not only will it be upcycled—sandpaper is a great exfoliant for your nose! When wiping up spills or messes, sandpaper can polish up tables, all while absorbing some liquid. For cleaning up cuts or any bloody injuries, it’s even better. 

Up next: sponges. Sponges are the best for maximum absorption, even better than a 3-ply tissue. Most sponges are dual-sided, too, so make sure to use the softer side for any nose blowing or injury cleaning! 

If you’re looking for something much longer and significantly less bulky, try your CVS receipt. Really, any receipt could work, but a CVS receipt gives you much more material to work with, more bang for your buck. It’s a sleek, low-friction product, with a seemingly never-ending supply. 

Finally, for the true environmentalist: the hand. Completely zero-waste and always accessible. Pretty solid for absorption, and very gentle for any abrasions you might have. However, when it comes to blowing your nose, you might not want to risk it. That might just be an issue for a tissue!