Wiping American Butts Worse for the Environment than SUVs

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Wiping American Butts Worse for the Environment than SUVs

by Josh Loposer (Subscribe to Josh Loposer's posts)
Mar 2nd 2009 @ 5:00PM

Filed under: Home, Kids and Parenting, Natural Body Care

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woman squeezing a pack of Charmin toilet paper

Wow, we knew that America's obsession with soft and fluffy toilet paper was a problem, but how bad is it really? According to Allen Hershkowitz, senior scientist from the Natural Resources Defense Council, America's toilet paper problem is actually worse for the planet than it's love of fuel-hogging SUVs. That's on account of the chemicals used in the manufacture of pulp and, of course, the fact that we're leveling old-growth forests to wipe our butts with.

The outcry over America's bathroom habits is being promoting in part by recent data showing that 98% of the toilet paper consumed in the US in 2008 came from virgin fibers (compare that to 60% in Europe and Latin America). According to the NYT, a significant portion of the quilted, super fluffy, triple-ply TP that comes from the nation's leading brands comes from rare old-growth forests in Canada. Sadly, the super comfy paper that is enjoyed for only a couple of unsavory seconds takes decades, if not centuries, to grow. Of course, there are plenty of alternatives out there like recycled TP or -- for hardcore conservationists -- the cloth toilet wipe.

Comments [6]

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

3-03-2009 @ 9:17AM

ryan said...

Driving your car is bad. Eating meat is bad. Playing video games is bad. Now wiping your ass is bad. Perhaps I should just quit breathing and relieve myself of all of the sins against nature that I continue to commit. Then again, my rotting body would end up releasing pollutants as it decomposes. Damned if you do damned if you don't kind of thing!

3-04-2009 @ 3:00PM

Carney said...

There are pro human and anti-human environmentalists. The latter are a troublingly loud and influential voice, who quite literally regard human beings as a plague of vermin, to be, if not exterminated outright:

www.vhemt.org

Then at least want to eliminate the majority of Earth's population. In the meantime the movement, activity, and aspirations for a better life of all people must be beaten back and harshly restricted, all to preserve a fixed natural or social order. Sounds like any other tyranny to me.

By contrast pro human environmentalists seek practical solutions to verifiable problems for the benefit of mankind.

3-03-2009 @ 10:53AM

pavlina2.0 said...

I had posted a similar comment over on Super Eco news, so forgive me if you read that one. i was outraged when I found this out, at myself and the paper companies. This was something that flew completely below my radar. I went to the Kimberly Clark website and looked at their sustainability practices, which led me to a document entitled Sustainable Fiber Practices. They admit to using the Boreal Forest virgin wood, but also state:

"much of the limited amount of fiber we do receive from the Boreal forest comes to us in the form of wood pulp produced from sawdust and chips – or leftovers – of the lumber production process."

It also makes several other statement that would seem to suggest they do indeed use sustainable practices.

Does anyone know the real deal here?

3-04-2009 @ 12:22AM

d said...

I hav heard that many in the green movement are investigating ways to either recycle toliet paper or unfold it and use the other side as well to wipe. Since you hav to wash your hands anyway - no big deal.

3-04-2009 @ 2:57PM

Carney said...

I think this issue is a HUGE loser for environmentalists, even if the science is valid. Just move on and pick another battle; the (ahem) backlash on this from the public will be brutal.

And the science is highly questionable. Take a look at this story about another article of faith for many greens, that cloth diapers are better for the environment than disposables:

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4969413.ece

http://tinyurl.com/6jcex2

3-04-2009 @ 6:28PM

happycynic said...

Buy recycled toilet paper over non-recycled.
It's as simple as that. If enough people do this, we can save some of the virgin forest that's being cut down.
& recycled toilet paper's rep as being less soft than non-recycled is completely false. Just in case you've never tried recycled...
It's such an easy change that can make such a huge difference. I mean, it's wiping your ass, people...come on.

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