From Ecopedia

Overview

Originated in 1862, the toilet tissue paper that is intended for personal hygiene is made from soft paper, which can be easily decomposed in septic tanks.

Toilet paper is available in one-, two- or three-ply rolls with variations in color, scents and embossments. Paper manufacturers use either virgin-tree paper or eco-friendly recycled paper for toilet tissue manufacturing.

Environmental Information

Environment-Friendly Paper products

Toilet papers that are made from recycled paper are eco-friendly leaving minimal environmental footprint. However, recycled paper when deinked prior to pulping and processing, might involve chlorine for bleaching the paper. When Chlorine-based chemicals react with the paper fibers, cancer-causing dioxins are created causing environmental problems.

Keeping in view of the harmful effects of such chlorine-bleached tissue paper on the environment, many eco-conscious toilet paper manufacturers are producing “unbleached” varieties. Other varieties such as TCF (totally chlorine free), PCF (processed chlorine-free) or ECF (elemental chlorine free) toilet papers are available in the current-day-market.

ECF, the chlorine dioxide-bleached pulp dominates the global chemical pulp market. By 1999, the production of ECF recorded 48.5 million tons, which is over 62% of the overall global market share. By far, ECF proved to be the most eco-friendly paper.

Many eco-conscious toilet paper manufacturers are currently considering other feasible eco-friendly alternatives to the regular virgin-paper roll. Toilet paper made from the hemp plant is being increasingly advocated by the environmentalists today. Hemp pulp paper could be made without any chemicals from the hemp plant’s hurd (pulp). Moreover, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture found that an acre of hemp could manufacture four times extra paper compared to a single acre of trees.

Recycled Kraft paper is another viable alternative in front of the paper manufacturers. The Kraft paper processing involves mixing of sodium sulfate chemical to the soda to produce a strong pulp. The process gained popularity in the early 1900s. In present times, eco-conscious people are increasingly opting to try the Kraft grade toilet paper. On the other hand, high post-consumer content toilet papers also serve to reduce environment-footprint. Besides compared to the two or three-ply toilet paper rolls, the relatively cheaper one-ply toilet papers are supposed to be more eco-friendly.

On the eve of the Earth Day, many environmental groups urged Americans to switch from virgin–fiber based toilet paper to recycled toilet tissue paper for conserving the fast-depleting virgin forests. National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) estimate showed that 424,000 trees could be saved by replacing a single 500-sheet virgin toilet paper roll with 100% recycled toilet paper.

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) also estimates that America alone could conserve 470,000 trees and 1.2 million cubic feet of landfill space besides saving 169 million water gallons if all US residents replaced a single regular toilet roll with a recycled one.

In a latest Recycled Tissue and Toilet Paper Guide, Greenpeace, an environmental group, recommended the use of paper brands such as 365, Seventh Generation and Green Forest. The group opines that all the above recommended brands are aiding in conservation by not using harmful chlorine compounds.

In spite of the wide popularity, Kimberly-Clark ranked low on the recommended list. Greenpeace opines that Kimberly-Clark products are constantly depleting ancient forests by utilizing the trees for disposable product production.

In comparison, Seventh Generation utilizes cent percent recycled as well as 80% post-consumer content for product manufacturing. The company involves in chlorine-free processes for paper production, thereby, preventing the release of harmful dioxins. However, certain brands such as the Australian Woolworths, which claim to be eco-friendly, receive a dubious and mixed response from many environmentalists.

References

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toilet_paper http://www.greenlivingtips.com/articles/7/1/Toilet-paper-and-the-environment.html http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12318915/ http://blog.pinemark.com/2009/12/21/the-environmental-impact-of-toilet-paper/ http://thegreentoilet.blogspot.com/2007/11/paper-products-in-bathroom-toilet-paper.html http://encyclopedia.toiletpaperworld.com/toilet-paper-history/toilet-paper-and-the-environment http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/02/25/greenpeace-releases-latest-recycled-tissue-and-toilet-paper-guide/