Alternatives To Toilet Paper
Everyone uses it; hardly anyone questions it: toilet paper. You can find out here if this is necessary and what alternatives are available. The role of the toilet paper after each visit to the bathroom is as natural to us as the air we breathe. And so, each of us uses an average of about 20,000 sheets of toilet paper a year without thinking about it. Never change a running system. We should. Did you know that most toilet paper is made from virgin fibres that require cutting down trees? And that for the manufacture of toilet paper alone, 270,000 trees are cut down every day (!)? One in six trees used for paper production comes from primeval forests, which are valuable biotopes of protected species and wild animals. And if that wasn’t reason enough to critically question toilet paper, chemical-rich production, long shipping routes, and discontinued plastic packaging is finally for the best. We’ll show you sustainable alternatives and how you can clean your butt paperless.
Sustainable toilet paper and alternatives:
- Why we should do without toilet paper
- Alternative materials
- Replacement wipes
- The butt shower
- The bidet
- Social toilet paper.
- Conclusion
Why we should do without toilet paper
How you can probably think about toilet paper is questionable, especially when it comes to its ecological or climatic balance. And not just because wood is needed to produce it, but because it comes from afar. More than 80 per cent of the necessary pulp is imported. About half of them come from South America; they have to travel long distances and are therefore responsible for extremely high CO2 emissions. And that’s not all: fast-growing trees (mainly eucalyptus) are often grown in former rainforest areas for the production of toilet paper. In other words, the hygiene of our toilets has a direct impact on deforestation, the extinction of 4,444 species, and ultimately fire and climate change. Another problem is the enormous consumption of water because the eucalyptus plantations consume an average of about 12,000 litres per hectare per day. The result: the groundwater level sinks, and the overall amount of water to gel increases. And all this ultimately just to make a product that, after just one use, is flushed down the drain.
It should be white and smooth
It takes an enormous amount of energy to produce the pulp needed for toilet paper. Also, most of us particularly prefer white and multi-purpose toilet paper. The fibres are then bleached, and a lot of energy is used for this. By the way: did you know that toilet paper is not necessarily the most hygienic way to clean yourself after work? Of course, most “dirt” can be removed this way, but the residue is unavoidable. According to some doctors, skin irritations, hemorrhoids, or fissures can be uncomfortable for genFol.
Alternative Materials
We don’t have to do without toilet paper by the dozen, but alternatives are worth looking for. Now there is sustainable toilet paper made from alternative raw materials: for example, bamboo. Not only does bamboo grow extremely fast, but it also doesn’t die after being cut. Also, unlike eucalyptus plantations, you don’t need pesticides or fertilizers to grow. Smooth Panda’s bamboo toilet paper, for example, is a sustainable alternative to the conventional variant. The bamboo here not only comes from 100% sustainable forestry, but plastic has also been completely dispensed within the packaging material. Alternative bamboo toilet paper still has a negative point: although it is produced in a fair and ecologically correct way, long transport routes are also connected here.
Replacement wipe
Before you think, “Yuck!” And fast forward: Stop! For many, it is guaranteed that it is uncomfortable to wipe their but with a cloth and then wash it, but: The result is not only cleaner and more hygienic, but this variant has a real ecological advantage due to its reuse. All you need is a cloth or other absorbent cloth. However, after use, it does not end up in the toilet bowl, but is collected in a bucket, for example, then briefly rinsed and then washed in the washing machine. However, to ensure that everything is hygienically clean, high washing temperatures are required, which of course, has a negative effect on the ecological balance.
The butt shower
Everyone who has been to Asia probably knows: the butt shower. There is usually no toilet paper within reach of the toilet, but rather a hose with a showerhead that you can use to shower your buttocks. It indeed takes getting used to this intimate cleaning practice, but once you get used to it and try it, you will quickly notice the advantages: The cleaning is much more thorough, it is easy to use, and there is no waste or waste. High energy expenditure. Since most toilets in Germany don’t have a shower on the floor, you don’t have to do without this sustainable substitute for toilet paper. Portable and comfortable showers like HappyPo’s can be the solution. Visually, they are reminiscent of oversized electric toothbrushes, but mobile breech showers are simple plastic bottles that are filled with water before going to the bathroom. By pressing on the water container, a jet of water is generated with which you can clean the intimate area at ease since the force of the shower can be adjusted individually.
The bidet
For a long time, there was also a kind of rear shower in Europe: the bidet is a kind of seat basin and was invented in France in the 18th century. Until a few decades ago, it was an integral part of many German bathrooms, but bidets are now rare. It’s a shame because these sinks allow easy, comfortable, and deep cleaning of the intimate area (or, of course, the feet). One downside: if you don’t have a bidet, there is usually no room for it. In addition, the purchase and installation of the sink is an economic expense that not everyone can afford.
Social toilet paper
But not everyone wants to switch to toilet paper alternatives from now on. After all, it is also a process, and the people we all know are creatures of habit. So if you want to keep relying on good old toilet paper, you can do some good for yourself and buy social toilet paper. For example, the golden bucket toilet paper from Viva con Agua. Not only is it made from 100% recycled paper, but it also supports healthcare projects around the world with the purchase of a pack.
Conclusion
Yes, the most sustainable thing, without a doubt, would be to do without toilet paper completely. However, that is not conceivable for everyone and is also perfectly fine. However, it would be desirable to rethink our consumption and at least start using toilet paper more sparingly. Also, we don’t necessarily have to buy snow-white, 4-ply luxury toilet paper. There are alternatives that allow us to take at least one step towards sustainability without having to change our habits fundamentally. But if Po and company aren’t completely put.
Read our blog on Carbon: The challenge for recycling companies
