7 months ago
Eco-Friendly Toilet Papers Have Varied Environmental Impacts
Toilet paper is usually made from trees and can harm the environment.
More people want toilet paper that is better for the planet, like those made from recycled paper or sustainable materials.
These eco-friendly options can save a lot of water and trees.
Experts say looking for recycled content and special labels can help you choose the most sustainable toilet paper.
However, these options often cost more.
But if more people buy them, the prices might go down.
Big companies are also working to be more sustainable by reducing greenhouse gases and using recycled materials.
Toilet paper is typically made from trees, using energy-intensive processes and chemicals that can pollute the environment.
Consumers are increasingly seeking toilet paper made from recycled content or sustainable materials.
Sustainable toilet paper can save significant amounts of water and trees, but often costs more.
Experts recommend looking for recycled content and third-party sustainability labels like Forest Stewardship Council or Sustainable Forestry Initiative.
The Natural Resources Defense Council publishes an annual report grading toilet papers based on sustainability criteria, with top brands being Aria, Green Forest, Natural Value, Trader Joe’s, and Whole Foods 365 100% Recycled.
- Who
- Consumers, manufacturers, environmental advocates, and industry associations
- What
- The environmental impacts of eco-friendly toilet papers and recommendations for sustainable choices
- Where
- North America, particularly focusing on Canada and Brazil
- When
- Ongoing trend with notable developments since 2019
- Why
- To reduce environmental impacts and promote sustainable practices in the toilet paper industry
Key facts
- Water Saved
- 1 billion gallons (3.8 billion liters)
- Trees Saved
- 1.6 million trees
- Recycled Content
- Preconsumer and postconsumer materials
- Bleaching Techniques
- Chlorine-free bleaching
- Sustainability Labels
- Forest Stewardship Council, Sustainable Forestry Initiative
- Highest-Ranked Brands
- Aria, Green Forest, Natural Value, Trader Joe’s, Whole Foods 365 100% Recycled
- Sustainable Brands Emergence
- Dozens since 2019
- Industry Focus
- Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions and responsible forestry practices
Quotes
Gary Bull
Professor emeritus of forest economics at the University of British Columbia
“The best way for a scientist to evaluate the carbon footprint of an item is doing a life cycle assessment, which calculates the environmental impacts from when a tree is a seedling to when its fibers are converted into toilet paper and flushed down the drain.”
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“Labels on bath tissue from the Forest Stewardship Council or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative indicate the company is making scientifically-proven efforts to be sustainable.”
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Mark Pitts
Executive director of tissue at the American Forest & Paper Association
“Sustainability is a core industry focus and members have reported reductions of greenhouse gas emissions along the supply chain.”
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“Members follow responsible forestry practices and have increased their use of recycled material.”
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Ashley Jordan
Corporate campaign advocate at the Natural Resources Defense Council
“I have noticed dozens of sustainable toilet paper brands have emerged over the last six years.”
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Kory Russel
Assistant professor of landscape architecture and environmental studies at the University of Oregon
“If more people are buying sustainable toilet paper and demanding it, there should be economies of scale and prices should fall to match that of conventional toilet paper.”
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