Recycled Toilet Paper - Don't Flush Money Down the Toilet

It might not be the most pleasant topic of discussion but we feel that its not talked about nearly as much: Recycled Toilet Paper.


Toilet paper: Not just for use in the toilet Image via Morguefile

Now, the first thing that probably comes to mind is "Eeeiuu!"... but put aside your grossed-out feeling and consider this. Instead of flushing down 'virgin' toilet paper down the loo (produced from virgin wood-fibers or native forest trees), why not switch to recycled toilet paper instead? At the risk of being crude, its not like your bum is going to know the difference.

More importantly, a great deal of processing and chemical bleach goes towards turning the naturally brown fibers into pristine white toilet paper.


Toilet rolls come with patterns and fragances, which we very rapidly flush down the toilet Image via Morguefile

Studies have shown that customers associate whiteness and softness with cleanliness and hygiene. Hence, toilet roll companies have concentrated their efforts on bleaching the naturally brown fibers into white, to fit customer perception that pure white toilet tissue MUST be clean.


Consumers think that white = clean... but are our eyes really fooling us? Image via Morguefile

In an effort to reduce chemical use, recycled toilet paper is usually found in natural brown if recycled carboard is used or even certain shades of grey (no pun intended) if recycled office paper is used.


Toilet paper in friendly browns Image via Morguefile

Typically, recycled toilet paper is produced from recycled paper or even in some cases, cardboard boxes, sawdust and wood chips. Some companies even eliminate the use of dyes and fragrances, reducing the carbon footprint of the product even further.


The natural shade of cardboard gives the final product its brown colour Image via Morguefile

Sadly, due to low demand, recycled toilet paper is still more costly than their usually produced counter-parts. So really, its a chicken and egg situation: recycled toilet roll will be more costly to produce as there is limited market demand, hence economies of scale are difficult to reach. Similarly, consumers would be hard-pressed to purchase recycled toilet paper when virgin toilet paper is cheaper. Furthermore, alot of the recycled products on the market have been found to be rougher to the touch, with comparisons made to "having sandpaper on your rear end" arising as a common complaint.


Don't flush money down the toilet Image via Morguefile

Recycled toilet paper can easily be found at your nearest supermarket. Why not give it a try during your next grocery shopping trip? A little switch can go a long way...