Is toilet paper (TP) a part of your sustainability strategy? Do any of the following labels/organizations factor into your buying decision: Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) 100% or FSC Recycled; Green Seal, (GS-1/Sanitary Paper Standard); ECOLOGO/UL 175; or Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI)? It is highly unlikely, but perhaps you even pay a premium for TP made from bamboo or a bamboo/sugarcane bagasse blend?
Today, approximately 100 percent of traditional TP is made from virgin wood pulp—trees. Globally, an estimated 712 million trees are cut each year for virgin pulp toilet paper, highlighting the significant environmental impact of this product.
I wrote about TP and its bamboo, sugarcane bagasse, and bamboo/sugarcane bagasse alternatives about two and one-half years ago. (See also this helpful article.)
A Native, Low-Water-Use Plant
A TP development caught my attention this past week. Two years after making a “natural forest-free” paper sourcing commitment, Kimberly-Clark is building a manufacturing plant in Yuma, Ariz., to scale its use of hesperaloe, one of 70 regenerative natural fibers it has tabbed as an alternative to wood pulp. Hesperaloe is a native, low-water-use plant that thrives in the arid climate of the Southwest United States. The plant produces unusually long, slender fibers with low coarseness and low lignin content, providing the strength needed for premium tissue products while requiring less water and chemicals to process than traditional crops like cotton. Kimberly-Clark’s aim is to scale the supply of hesperaloe available for its toilet paper, tissues, diapers and feminine hygiene products, which it sells under the Scott, Kleenex, Huggies and Kotex brands.
The alternative natural fiber program reflects Kimberly-Clark’s consumer-led innovation platform model, which focuses on making strategic investments in disruptive technologies. This approach aims to deliver the best product at the lowest cost, while upholding responsible stewardship of the resources essential to the company’s offerings.
“Our company’s purpose is to deliver Better Care for a Better World. We are committed to using sustainable practices designed to support a healthy planet, build strong communities, and enable our business to thrive for decades to come,” Kimberly-Clark says.
Kimberly-Clark has already achieved a 50 percent reduction in fiber use from natural forests in 2025 compared with a 2011 baseline, according to its 2025 sustainability report.
Green Lodging News Adds EcoDomo to Green Product & Service Directory
Green Lodging News has added EcoDomo to the “Fabrics/Leathers/Textiles” category of its Green Product & Service Directory. Since 2006, EcoDomo has reimagined leather for interiors through sustainable materials and thoughtful craftsmanship. Its exclusive Recycled Leather Veneer (RLV™) transforms leather remnants into a versatile, universal surface material, giving existing resources a second life and a new purpose. EcoDomo collaborates with architects and designers throughout the hospitality industry to transform creative visions into distinctive, custom interior statements. From leather-wrapped doors and drawers to countertops, walls, wall covering, and panels, the company’s sustainable materials are available in a variety of colors and embossings—creating impactful, eco-conscious hospitality interiors around the world. Call (301) 424-7717, or e-mail info@ecodomo.com for more information.
Looking for Guest Columnists
Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers, and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com.
Get in our Green Supplier Spotlights!
Green Lodging News, lodging’s leading environmental news source, publishes the Wednesday Green Supplier Spotlight and Thursday Green Suppliers Spotlight. Green Supplier Spotlight features just one vendor and Green Suppliers Spotlight features multiple vendors. Click here for a Green Supplier Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Click here for a Green Suppliers Spotlight sample and rate sheet. Both e-blasts that reach 17,836 subscribers have been built to generate quick leads. A report is sent a week after each e-blast that includes the number of e-mails sent, number of opens, and number of click-throughs. Contact Glenn Hasek at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com for more information.
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In addition to the Spotlight ads described above, Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for other advertising spots for 2026 and for all spots in 2027. Many excellent spots are available on our website and in the weekly e-mail newsletter. The Green Lodging News website last month welcomed 60,000 different visitors. Interested in receiving a 2026 media kit or 2027 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at greenlodgingnews@gmail.com. Thank you to all those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.
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