by Taetske | 4:25 pm
(Last Updated On: August 7, 2021)

 

Flushing trees down the toilet

 

Toilet Paper

Toilet Paper image Licht-aus

 

How trees are being wasted

If I ask you: Do you know how much toilet paper a human uses in his life, would you know the answer? Have you ever thought about it? My question might surprise you and you will think I am slightly off. I think it is a legitimate question.

Noticing how things are going in the world, seeing how our environment is being destroyed, we should realize they use trees for making paper, including toilet paper.

Before we dive into this issue, which is quite serious, I would like to tell you some interesting things about the subject of this post.

Not everybody can afford to buy toilet paper and in some parts of the world, there are no trees. It so happens that 4 billion people do not use toilet paper. That is more than half of the world’s population.

It seems that 7% of Americans steal rolls of paper, be it from hotels or from motels. I must say, that is something new to me.

 

The first toilet paper company

In 1891, they granted a patent to Seth Wheeler of Albany, New York, and creator of the tear-off sheets. He was the founder of Albany Perforated Wrapping Paper Company, the first company that sold toilet paper on a roll.

We know a baby needs approx 10.000 diapers. More often than not, these diapers are full of chemicals and bad for babies and the environment. Then the time comes when babies do not wear diapers anymore.

 

Wood Logging

Wood Logging image Jay Mantri

 

People use a lot of toilet paper

From the post diaper age on, people will need toilet paper (or an alternative) all their life. It seems we need 3 rolls a week, so you can make your calculation of how many trees are needed. It appears that 384 trees are needed for this duty during our lifetime.

This is terrible, especially as we need 7 to 8 trees yearly just to meet our oxygen requirements. That shows how important trees are in our life.

Then comes the fact that using toilet paper is not the best method to get clean. A bidet is a more hygienic solution but of course, a private bidet is not always available.

The company, Procter and Gamble manufactures Charmin toilet paper. This paper is a threat to our climate, indigenous communities, and woodland caribou. They take the fiber that is needed from immense areas of Canada’s boreal forest. Between 1996 and 2015, they logged over 28 million acres of boreal forest.

That is a lot of cleared forest simply to wipe our tender derriere? Not a good idea, and I think there are better uses for the forest.

The following YouTube video shows you the beauty of the Canadian Boreal forest. We should do our best to preserve this unique ecosystem.

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The many different inhabitants of the forest

Do you know who lives in these forests? Some fantastic animals, like wood bison, elk, moose, woodland caribou, and black bears and grizzly. Then there are also wolves who roam the forest. Smaller species like beavers, snowshoe hares, Canada lynx. Red squirrels, lemmings, and voles.

In total, there are 85 species of mammals that call these forests their home. We know these forests as the “Amazon of the North”.

When you know that Charmin toilet paper has no recycled content, but is made from virgin forest fiber, it is very disturbing. These forests form a crucial line of defense against climate change. We know these trees store many millions of tons of carbon. When used as toilet paper, the product quickly decomposes to CO2, CO, and methane, in the natural process of decay.

This 28 million acres of multiple years of carbon sequestration is being released back to the atmosphere. We should not allow that and really try some alternatives.

 

Impressive Bull Elk

Impressive Bull Elk image PublicDomainImages

 

The sins of big companies

Proctor and Gamble is doing more things that need close scrutiny. For instance, they use palm oil in several products, and you know the destruction of the rain forest in Indonesia is directly linked to the planting and harvesting of Palm trees.

This company, as well as Mondelez (the producer of Oreo’s), Nestle, and Unilever, all contribute to the rain forest destruction and harm our environment. They do not have a clean reputation.

I think it is clear by now that we should find an alternative. This will reduce the impact on the forest, reduce the carbon footprint, contribute to oxygen production, and (for those who flush to a city wastewater treatment system), reduce the costs of wastewater treatment.

Amazon has some eco-friendly toilet paper where the company plants 3 trees when using 1 tree. I think that is a great idea.

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Another possibility is to buy Hemp toilet paper. This you can find online with Alibaba, the only problem is you have to buy a large quantity to make it worthwhile. By the way, Hemp is fantastic so we can make many things with this material. From clothes to building bricks and about everything in between. As Hemp grows super fast, it is far better than killing a tree.

 

Banff National Park

Banff National Park image Jondolar Schnurr

 

Conclusion

Once again, for human consumption, nature is destroyed. Think about the consequences. I do hope you will decide to at least not buy this type of toilet paper anymore. Chose a company that shows respect for the environment and when taking trees, plants new ones.

I have made a special page for you. It holds a collection of things you could find interesting. Before you leave, pay Recommendations a visit.

 

Source: Friends of the Earth, December 2019

Photo Source: Pixabay

 

One should ask how come these big companies can do these things. It depends on the regulations that exist to protect the environment. When leaders annul the laws which were put into place by previous leaders you can imagine how much harm this can do.

Lately, this seems to become quite common, taking good laws away and replacing them with harmful ones. You might like to read the following post which talks about such a situation.

800 Year Old Trees In Danger, Unbelievable Government Decision

Comments

Jake

Hi, I think it’s good to talk about this kind of thing. Manufacturers that make everything do not care about the environment. it’s only about money. now there is more green products and natural products being put out every day, Unfortunately, they are more expensive. at least

That’s my perspective of it. but it is worth it for peace of mind and knowing that you are doing good in the world.

Jan 13.2020 | 04:34 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Jake,

    I am a straightforward person and my websites allow me to speak and write about the things which interest me. 

    There are also many things in our world that upset or worry me and having websites have made me realize this. 

    Yes, those green products cost more money than the regular ones but as they are better for our it is well worth the effort. I also hope to find a good alternative soon here in the south of Spain where I live. The supermarkets sometimes have recycled toilet paper which would also be an option.

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 13.2020 | 08:08 pm

Kylie

Yes! So true! I agree with what you wrote in this article.
Our earth is destroyed because of the flush that we all do. Although, I also felt sad because I could not do anything about it. Why? Because what can we use besides tissue? Maybe, all humans must think of alternatives to tissue. So, we can protect the earth.

We ourselves know that Global Warming is the impact of increasingly deforested forests. 1 tree that is cut down needs at least 5 years to grow again. Something that in my opinion is not worth for exchange. 100 sheets of tissue = 1 tree?
But what can we do?

Jan 13.2020 | 04:38 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Kylie,

    Both my websites concentrate on things happening in our world. One is on health and the other more on environmental issues. 

    Hemp toilet paper is the best alternative but if one cannot buy that then at least chose a company that plants new trees.

    When we unite on a Global level we can make changes. Please have a look at bUnited, Save the planet widget under my photo. 

    Thank you for leaving a comment on my website. I hope you have downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 14.2020 | 07:44 am

arzu hosan

Thank you so much for giving us such a beautiful article. The nature of the tree is a great blessing given to us because the tree is the main instrument of our survival. Trees protect our nature and we have many benefits for living.
But there are some products that are collected from the tree and made. And later they don’t plant trees anymore. To find an alternative for wood I think is necessary and hemp seems to be a good substitute.

Jan 13.2020 | 04:38 pm

    Taetske

    Good morning Arzu,

    As long new trees are planted we diminish the harm to nature. Often no new trees are planted and slowly but surely our air will become very difficult to breathe. I think each family should plant 1 tree for each member in their lifetime, that would definitely help.

    Thank you for your comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Regards, Taetske 

    Jan 14.2020 | 12:39 pm

MrBiizy

Hello Taetske. Thank you for sharing this amazing post with the intention to make the world a better place. The importance of trees to us humans shouldn’t be compromised. But most of these big companies do not really care and are not concerned with the negative impacts their actions cause to the world, humanity and our ecosystem.

I am with 100% to support the company that is really concerned about the well being of the whole universe while making toilet paper.

Regards!

Jan 13.2020 | 04:45 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning MrBiizy,

    Thank you for your comment on my website. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    If we would take more care where and what products we buy I am sure it would make a difference. That is why I have joined the worldwide movement of bUnited. You can find more information at Save the planet, under my photo on the sidebar, it might resonate with you too.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 14.2020 | 07:33 am

Parveen

Hey, I enjoy while reading your guide to stop, flushing trees down the toilet.  I found you are doing an awesome job to save our trees. We all know trees are very useful for us because we need oxygen to live. If we cut more and more trees, we are decreasing the oxygen level. In my view, it is very harmful to everyone. Keep the great work up to stop cutting more trees.

Jan 13.2020 | 04:50 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Parveen,

    Thank you for your visit and for leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    We all know trees make the oxygen we need and still we cut them down by the millions. Then there are those huge fires which also destroy big areas with forests. The rate we are going is not good and that is why it is of big importance to chose an ecofriendly company that supplies us with toilet paper.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 14.2020 | 12:30 pm

Olivier

Hi Taetske,

I am happy you are writing about this on your blog. It is very important indeed that people understand the meaning of a seemingly harmless gesture we do everyday…more than once. It often shows how little we know about the devastating impact humans have on the equilibrium of nature.

We depend on the planet and unfortunately, we are destroying it for the sake of corporations wallets that are selling products we don’t really need to survive…ironically. Instead of using toilet paper from trees we could consider hemp tissues, recycled made tissues also if we are not so thrilled about the idea of carrying a bucket full of water and reusable cotton wipes at work!

We have to make an effort!!! Trees provide oxygen. Are we that stupid? Would anyone start cutting their own lungs away?

Thank you!

Jan 13.2020 | 04:52 pm

    Taetske

    Good evening Olivier,

    Thank you for visiting my website and for leaving a comment. I hope you downloaded your free PDF? Tulip widget.

    Yes, we are that stupid. I have been writing a lot about human stupidity on my 2 websites. Having these 2 websites has widened my horizon. The more one investigates the more comes to light. With the huge fires in the Amazon and recently in Australia one becomes conscious that Mother Nature is upset, very upset, and it is no wonder. 

    Where there is money involved, money comes first in disregard of everything else. 

    That is why I have joined bUnited, a worldwide movement of consumers. Have a look at Save the planet under my photo in the sidebar.

    Regards, Taetske

    Jan 13.2020 | 07:44 pm

Ayoola Sherman

Good morning! Thank you so much for your post. I have learned so much. I also didn’t realized how many trees each person needs per year. The amount of tissues one household in America uses per year is SO disturbing. I have always been environmentally conscious but reading this post leads me to believe even that is not enough. I have downloaded your pdf as well. Thank you so much!

Apr 07.2021 | 04:56 pm

    Taetske

    Good Morning Ayoola,

    Thank you so much for your visit and for leaving a comment on my website. I am happy you downloaded your free PDF. That company is such a fantastic source of information.

    When one looks at the data, one realizes how serious this problem is. Without trees, we cannot exist. Neither can the rest of creation. We are so lucky to have the possibility to live our life on this beautiful planet. We have the obligation to take care of the environment so future generations can also enjoy their time here.

    Regards, Taetske

    Apr 08.2021 | 06:44 am

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