Photo above: Tony the Misfit (back slowly); Feature Photo: *clairity*
Have you ever thought about where that plush, soft tissue that you wipe your bum with actually comes from?
“The tenderness of the delicate American buttocks,” according to the UK’s Guardian, “is causing more environmental devastation than the country’s love for gas-guzzling cars, fast food, or McMansions.”
North America’s obsession with uber-soft toilet paper has driven the growth of toilet paper giants, Kleenex, Cottonelle, and Charmin, by more than 40% in recent years. With $100 million worth of marketing for products like three-ply toilet paper and tissues infused with hand lotion, it’s no wonder people are buying this stuff.
“This is a product that we use for less than three seconds, and the ecological consequences of manufacturing it…are worse than driving a Hummer,” says Allen Hershkowitz, a senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council.
Although toilet paper made from recycled fibers can be made at similar cost, the fibers taken from standing trees give toilet paper the luxurious plushness Americans demand.
“The tenderness of the delicate American buttocks… is causing more environmental devastation than the country’s love for gas-guzzling cars, fast food, or McMansions.”
According to a recent New York Times article, just 2% of Americans use 100% recycled toilet paper at home… even though approximately 70% of us recycle other products regularly. We bring our own bags to the grocery store, we try to walk a little more often, but when it comes time for bathroom duty, we excuse ourselves from eco-friendly obligations.
Where’s the break down, folks?
The majority of toilet paper rolls sold in the US come from virgin wood harvested from North America and Latin American countries. Over 10,000 hectacres of Canada’s ancient boreal forest have been clear cut to make disposable tissues, and thousands more from Brazil’s rainforest continue to be destroyed every year.
Is softness really so important that we’re willing to sacrifice our planet’s oldest forests to wipe?
In my opinion, no forest should be destroyed for the briefest and most undignified of ends. What do you think?
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12 Comments... join the discussion!
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I used a brand called Cascades. It’s 100% recycled and doesn’t cost much more than regular TP. I think I pay $7 for 12 double rolls. And honestly, nobody can tell the difference.
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Thanks for bringing light to this issue. Probably not something most people think about.
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7th Generation recycled is just fine. Not quite as poofy as the soft stuff, but it doesn’t hurt!
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I like to get recycled/friendlier toilet paper, but it’s usually a lot more expensive
I’ll have to see if I can find that Cascades stuff!
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In the UK the 100% recycled, perfectly soft ,stuff is easily available at the same price or cheaper than the normal brands. Is it not in the US?
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I absolutely love the opening quote. Many Indians and Pakistanis think it’s downright disgusting that Americans *only* clean their bums with paper and not with water (using an ‘lota’ like they do in the subcontinent). In a hot climate I’m all for the lota, but in New England I’ve got to go with TP. Thanks for the tip about Cascades.
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great article dona and i also love the opening quote! i try to buy recycled toilet paper at home in Australia (it’s more expensive though) but while traveling and living o/s i’ve definitely let it slide – thanks for the reminder!
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An interesting article, and something I’ve never really thought about.
I make a huge effort to recycle and buy fewer plastic container, etc… but I guess when it comes to TP, I just choose the cheapest thing I can find.
Funny how a topic like this can resonate with people…
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I use recycled all the time here. I live in a mountainous area in northern Spain. I am constantly seeing log lorries like the one in the oicture so find it frightening to see hom many trees are taken down for whatever reason. However here they do re plant but seeing the lorries on a regular basis give me cause to think more about what I use.
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the other option is using water, but that is pretty scarce too. the need of the hour is to raise awareness among people. i am sure people dint really know much about this environmental catastrophe caused by a mere act of using toilet paper.
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