While researching for my article on toilet paper (TP) made from bamboo and bamboo and sugar cane this past week, I thought of the articles I have posted in the past on whether paper towels or hand dryers are the better option in public restrooms. Why so? In both cases there are stakeholders wanting to stand their ground in support of what they sell.
In the bamboo TP scenario, you have the entrepreneurs who make bamboo toilet paper stating that the making of traditional TP results in the destruction of tens of thousands of trees each day. Makers of traditional TP cite statistics proving what they are doing is sustainable.
“Every day, 27,000 trees are cut down … just to create toilet paper,” one bamboo TP supplier says. “That’s 15 million trees a year and millions of habitats destroyed. In fact, toilet paper accounts for 15 percent of the Earth’s deforestation alone. The loss of trees can cause climate change, soil erosion, damage to natural habitats and a host of other issues.” One of those issues is the use of chemicals—chlorine to bleach the paper, for example.
I get that and am all for less forest destruction. And, according to the makers of bamboo TP, bamboo is a fast-growing plant that can be harvested again and again without causing deforestation. While trees can take decades to mature, bamboo can be harvested within a few years. Bamboo requires less water to grow than trees. This is important in areas where water is scarce. Bamboo absorbs carbon dioxide from the air, which helps to reduce air pollution. Bamboo has an extensive root system that helps prevent soil erosion, improve soil quality, and reduce the risk of landslides. This is especially important in areas where deforestation and conventional paper production have contributed to soil degradation. The production of bamboo paper can create jobs in rural areas, which can help to reduce poverty. The company that also uses sugar cane in its TP says that sugar cane can grow back in 12 short months.
The Phone Just Kept on Ringing
I tried to call the American Forest & Paper Association (AFPA) for their view on alternatives to traditional TP but could not get through. Of course, they support the work of their well-known members who make TP from trees.
Makers of standard TP are actually doing quite a bit to minimize their environmental impact. According to AFPA, the U.S. grows twice the volume of trees than is harvested and more than 1 billion trees are planted each year. “The paper and wood products industry was among the first to take voluntary action to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions,” AFPA says. “In 2020, AF&PA members surpassed their goal, reducing GHG emissions by 24.1 percent from the 2005 baseline. Increasing energy efficiency is a fundamental energy management objective of AF&PA members. In 2020, member-purchased energy use per ton of product was 13.3 percent lower than the 2005 baseline. In 2020, members procured 99.2 percent of the total wood fiber from forests, used for product, through a certified fiber sourcing program.”
Also, in 2020, AF&PA member pulp and paper mills decreased water use (per ton of product) by 8.3 percent, from the 2005 baseline.
For you of course it comes down to cost and guest satisfaction. One supplier I mentioned in my article, HeyBambu, says, “Even with all the benefits of sustainability, HeyBambu costs about the same per roll as the leading supermarket brand. Each HeyBambu roll is made up of 360 tightly rolled 3-ply sheets, so it’s a nice big roll to keep you rolling a lot longer.”
Cost and quality being the same, I would have to opt for the alternatives to TP made from trees. For many reasons, it just makes sense that the environmental impact of traditional TP would be far greater. I, like the Lorax, must stand for the trees.
Green Lodging News Welcomes Len-Tex Wallcoverings to Directory
Green Lodging News welcomes Len-Tex Wallcoverings to the Wallcoverings category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Len-Tex Wallcoverings has been designing and manufacturing commercial wallcoverings for over 40 years. Its globally recognized wallcoverings provide inspiring design, superior quality, and are manufactured with the utmost respect for the environment and human health. The company is passionately committed to material transparency, healthier indoor air quality, and creating positive environmental impacts. Len-Tex Wallcoverings’ innovative Clean Vinyl Technology formulation addresses the chemicals and associated health risks typically found in vinyl wall coverings and identifies the safe alternatives used in CVT. Len-Tex Clean Vinyl Technology demonstrates the company’s commitment to continuous improvement of its vinyl wallcoverings. All raw materials are sourced from the U.S.A. Contact Heidi Porter, New Business Manager, at (603) 445-2342, or e-mail heidip@lentexcorp.com.
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