Toilet Paper
- Ana McCully
- May 8, 2020
- 2 min read
Updated: Aug 18, 2020
Only 25% of the world's population uses toilet paper, but there are more than 80 million rolls produced per day.
Photography Credit: My Sustainable Earth
One tree can make 1,500 toilet paper rolls and it takes about 384 trees to make the toilet paper one person uses in a lifetime.
Us Westerners definitely have the wrong idea when it comes to us wiping our butts. So many people can survive without using toilet paper, using a bidet instead for their number one's and two's. Which leads to the question:
Why aren't bidets more of a thing?
The bidet uses only half a liter of water, while it takes about 140 liters of water to make a single roll of toilet paper. And then you still have to flush the toilet, which also uses an average of 6 liters of water per flush.
A bidet is not only more environmentally friendly, but also better for your health. It’s more gentle for your nether regions, meaning you’ll have a lower chance of getting hemorrhoids, rashes and urinary tract infections.
That said... I'm not sure if I'm up for investing in a bidet toilet seat. So for now, I have switched from using toilet paper to bamboo toilet tissue.
Why bamboo?
Almost all conventional toilet paper is made from either virgin paper or recycled paper. Both require a lot of energy to get them into the shape of usable toilet paper. On top of that, most brands pack their rolls in plastic.
Bamboo is the only woody plant that can keep up with the rate of human consumption and deforestation. It needs no pesticides and herbicides to grow healthily and it biodegrades fast. Bamboo fibers are stronger, cooler and softer than paper fibers used for conventional toilet paper.
So the choice is easy - move over to bamboo toilet tissue!
Don't know which brand to buy? Read my reviews on Cheeky Panda toilet tissue and Greencane toilet paper.
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