Why use recycled toilet paper

Flushing away forests

Vast swathes of natural forest are cut down, only to be flushed away after a single use. Let’s do something about that.

Apparently, each European uses 13kg of toilet tissue annually, equivalent to around 22 billion rolls. Every year thousands of trees are lost unnecessarily to create products like toilet paper, tissues and paper towels: the household paper products we use every day, largely without thinking, to wipe bottoms, blow noses, remove makeup, and mop up spills. These throwaway products are used for a matter of seconds before being disposed of. If you use regular toilet paper, you are literally flushing trees down the toilet. If you would prefer not to do that at your business or place or work, call 0508 467 462. 

The equivalent of 27,000 trees are flushed down the toilet every day. According to Greenpeace, Americans could save more than 400,000 trees if each family bought a roll of recycled toilet paper - just once. Clearly, recycled toilet tissue has the potential to save a lot of trees. Imagine how much we could save if we threw recycled tissues, serviettes and paper towels into the mix.

But how is recycled toilet paper actually made and is it really greener? It’s time to get to the bottom of this issue of convenience.

How is recycled paper used in making toilet paper and paper towels? What is involved?

The first point to make is there is absolutely no need to kick up a stink at the phrase ‘recycled toilet paper’ because it’s not made from used bog roll at all, despite what you may have been told. It’s created from recycled office or newspaper and a mix of materials, such as off-cuts from printers, waste packaging discarded after shipping or wood pulp, the waste materials from timber processing.

So, ask yourself: would you rather flush a tree or an old office memo from someone’s boss down the toilet? If you know which you'd prefer to use at your business or place or work, call 0508 467 462.

Recycled toilet paper, tissues and paper towels help divert waste paper away from landfill and their manufacture is less damaging to the environment when compared to they are manufactured from trees. If your business is already buying it, then well done, because you are making a difference.

The recycled paper process – how it’s made

First, the recycled paper, such as textbooks and office paper, goes into a huge vat called a pulper that combines it with hot water and detergents to turn it into a liquid slurry. Then it is strained through screens to remove plastic, paper clips and other alien materials. To de-ink it, the liquid pulp is injected with air and the ink adheres to the air bubbles, rising to the top in a foam. This foam is then removed with a skimmer and the pulp is ink-free.

Next, the pulp is rolled and flattened to remove water. It is then chopped with revolving knives so it can be bleached and then spread out and dried. Oxygen can also be used rather than chlorine for bleaching. The dry pulp is then rolled onto a large spool and embossed by a metal roller to make the paper thicker and more absorbent.

Endless cardboard tubes are cut into lengths and then wide sheets of paper are wound around them. The rolls are automatically sealed with glue to stop them from unwinding, and then the long roll is sliced into individual rolls. From here it is packaged and sent off to distributors.

Recycled toilet paper, tissues, serviettes and paper towels are now found at many businesses, cafes, restaurants, schools and hotels throughout New Zealand. To discuss using recyled paper products at your business or place or work, call 0508 467 462. To work out which option would best suit your workplace, you may find our list of specialist suppliers of environmentally friendly products helpful.

Benefits of recycled toilet paper, tissues, serviettes and paper towels

It's easier on Earth to make tissues from paper instead of trees. Recycled toilet paper, serviettes, paper towels and tissues are absolutely better for the environment. Creating them from recycled paper uses almost half the water as tissue from fresh wood pulp and the chemicals used are far less toxic than those used to bleach new wood pulp. Producing recycled paper involves between 28 to 70 per cent less energy consumption than making new paper.

Bulk paper recycled products

Nature calling at your business? We’ve answered on your behalf. Recycled paper products at INSINC are on a roll, with an increasing number of new products appearing on our shelves. Businesses can now easily find a variety of brands of recycled toilet paper, tissues, paper towels and serviettes. We sell soft, strong toilet tissue free of bleach, inks, dyes and perfume in bulk. Recycled toilet paper, tissues and paper towels are kinder to the planet that grew them.

Keen for your business to save the planet? Speak with our hygiene specialists today.

Recycled tissue products help protect ancient forests, clean water, and wildlife habitat. The trees that are saved from becoming toilet paper go on to produce other (less disposable) products or are left in their place where they absorb CO2 gas and produce oxygen for us all.