“The hidden face of traditional paper”.
Traditional toilet paper is so ingrained in our habits that we sometimes forget its ecological impact. To better understand it, let's examine the production chain.
- Massive tree-cutting
- An estimated 27,000 trees are cut down daily to satisfy the global demand for toilet paper.
- Primary forests, actual reservoirs of biodiversity, are particularly threatened.
- Chemical treatments
- Chlorine and other bleaching agents are often used to obtain a white paper.
- These products pollute the water and air in regions close to paper mills.
- Transport and carbon footprint
- Wood is transported over long distances, increasing fossil fuel consumption.
- Each production stage (cutting, transporting, processing) generates CO₂ emissions.
- Short-term use
- Toilet paper lasts only a few seconds, whereas the cut tree took years to grow ( between 20 and 30 years).
- The scale of waste is often underestimated.
Conclusion
The production of conventional toilet paper is far from neutral. Behind every roll lies an energy-intensive and polluting industry. Fortunately, alternatives like The Poodie exist to limit this impact.
To find out more :
Read Greenpeace's report on the paper industry to find out more.