Toilet paper is perhaps one of the least environmentally friendly products on the planet. As bizarre as that sounds, think about it – it’s a one-time use product that is made using valuable resources which can’t be reclaimed for use in future products. Even more disturbing is that virgin timber from rare old-growth forests in Canada are being used to make the ultra-premium varieties of toilet paper. The New York Times reports that major manufacturers are taking steps to introduce versions with higher levels of recycled content, but these don’t currently sell as well as the thick, cushy variety.
The Times explains:
In the United States, which is the largest market worldwide for toilet paper, tissue from 100 percent recycled fibers makes up less than 2 percent of sales for at-home use among conventional and premium brands. Most manufacturers use a combination of trees to make their products. According to RISI, an independent market analysis firm in Bedford, Mass., the pulp from one eucalyptus tree, a commonly used tree, produces as many as 1,000 rolls of toilet tissue. Americans use an average of 23.6 rolls per capita a year.
Other countries are far less picky about toilet tissue. In many European nations, a rough sheet of paper is deemed sufficient. Other countries are also more willing to use toilet tissue made in part or exclusively from recycled paper.
In Europe and Latin America, products with recycled content make up about on average 20 percent of the at-home market, according to experts at the Kimberly Clark Corporation.
Environmental groups say that the percentage is even higher and that they want to nurture similar acceptance here. Through public events and guides to the recycled content of tissue brands, they are hoping that Americans will become as conscious of the environmental effects of their toilet tissue use as they are about light bulbs or other products.
When these facts are laid out, it seems kind of crazy to make toilet paper out of anything but recycled paper. But why even use it, when there are far more hi-tech ways to do the same job?
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Great article! Thanks for the info
March 5th, 2009 at 4:48 pm
“In many European nations, a rough sheet of paper is deemed sufficient”
Look, I don’t want to wipe my arse on a rare tree but I don’t want ‘roids either.
March 5th, 2009 at 6:26 pm
Bring back Bidets!
March 5th, 2009 at 8:15 pm
Good Morning everyone,
I saw the article about becoming green and more environmentally friendly, so I thought I would write a quick message. I think it is great that people are becoming more aware of the fact that the planet is in trouble and we need to act now and change our ways if we are help out. Bidets are a great idea, nobody seems to have them anymore. I think we can all do that little bit extra to try and help save the planet. Whether that be the little things, such as making sure all water taps are properly turned off when you leave the kitchen or bathroom, switching all your electrical appliances off instead of standby. I do all these, but I have also changed the way I send greetings cards. The amount of paper birthday cards, and Christmas cards we send every I was shocked to think at how much money I was spending, and the amount of resources I was using. To change my ways, I have now become a bit of a fan of e-Cards. I think they are such a good way to help the environment, no paper required, so less trees to be cut down! This has to be a good thing! I have done my research and I have finally come across a really good Environmentally Friendly e-Card site. One of the things I like about this site is it is so easy to use, I am not that confident with using computers so this site was really good for me, everything was easy to use and the instructions were easy to follow. Another great thing about this site is that it is totally free, this makes me very happy, saves pennies!! I know e-Cards are not going to be for everyone, but I think they are worth a try! Hope you all find this useful, Kind regards, Nicole.
March 6th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Save Trees? Save money and the Earth and be clean at the same time! Get serious and add Bathroom Bidet Sprayers to all your bathrooms. I think Dr. Oz on Oprah said it best: “if you had pee or poop on your hand, you wouldn’t wipe it off with paper, would you? You’d wash it off” Available at http://www.bathroomsprayers.com with these you won’t even need toilet paper any more, just a towel to dry off! Don’t worry, you can still leave some out for guests and can even make it the soft stuff without felling guilty. It’s cheap and can be installed without a plumber; and runs off the same water line to your toilet. You’ll probably pay for it in a few months of toilet paper savings. And after using one of these you won’t know how you lasted all those years with wadded up handfuls of toilet paper. As for water use a drought is always a concern and must be dealt with prudently but please remember that in the big picture the industrial water users always far exceed the water use of household users and in the case of toilet paper manufacture it is huge. The pollution and significant power use from that manufacturing process also contributes to global warming so switching to a hand bidet sprayer and lowering your toilet paper use is very green in multiple ways.
March 6th, 2009 at 9:57 pm