This is one of those questions that seems simple but has layers (like a good roll of TP!). So, how is toilet paper actually made? Let’s dive into the process, starting with something called pulp – a mix of water and fibers that come from wood. Doesn’t sound like much now, but trust us, it’s the start of something magical.
First, we’ve got to break it down. In this case, breaking down wood fibers into pulp, which is basically a watery sludge. Think of it like the soup of the paper world. Once those fibers are floating around, it’s time to squeeze out the water and dry the mixture super fast. This creates a soft, flat form (ply) that eventually becomes paper. For TP, the paper is rolled into giant "mother rolls" (yes, really big rolls) that are far too large for your bathroom. These mothers get sliced, diced, and perforated until they’re ready to become the rolls we all know and love. Easy, right?
But the real question is: where do those fibers come from?
You wipe your bum with it every day, but have you ever wondered how toilet paper is *actually* made? For many of us, the TP manufacturing process is one of life’s big mysteries. (Kidding, we know you’ve never thought about it – until now.)
TP production at a glance
Let’s dive into the production process, starting with a little something called “pulp”. The hero of humble loo roll, pulp is made by breaking down wood fibres to create a watery sludge. (Think of it like a soup, except that it’s not tasty and doesn’t contain pumpkin.) Once the pulp is well combined, the water is squeezed out and the mixture is dried to create a soft, flat sheet (ply). This sheet then becomes part of a giant "mother roll" (more on that later) that’s sliced, diced and perforated to create the human sized rolls we know and love. But hold up. We know what you’re thinking… Where do these mysterious wood fibres come from?
The problem with most toilet paper
What many people don’t realise is that the wood fibres used to create toilet paper pulp come from cutting down virgin trees. Yep, more than one million trees are cut down every day just so we can wipe our bums.
After our lovely leafy friends get the chop, their bark is removed and the logs are shipped around the globe. They’re then broken down into pulp and bleached to create that classic white TP colour. (Side note: Bleaching can have some pretty negative impacts on the environment.)
From start to end, the production of mainstream toilet paper is energy intensive, water guzzling and, well, wasteful. All that work – and all those trees – for something that gets flushed away after just one use? It’s a no from us!
How Who Gives A Crap does it differently
At Who Gives A Crap, we’re not so keen on killing trees, which is why we use 100% bamboo and 100% recycled paper to make our TP.
Our recycled rolls are manufactured using top notch post-consumer waste like school and office paper. And, unlike some big brands, we steer clear of thermal, fax and telex papers which often contain BPAs. Yikes!
To make our recycled TP, we source and sort post-consumer paper before mixing it with water to create – you guessed it – pulp! Next, we do the hard work of filtering, cleaning and drying the pulp to make sure our sheets are as soft and strong as the traditional stuff – minus the destruction.
Aside from the fact that it helps reduce deforestation, recycled TP also requires less energy and resources to produce. Think about it: it’s easier to turn old paper into new paper than it is to turn a tree into paper!
Bamboo is another sustainable alternative to traditional toilet paper. Renewable and resilient, it grows (way) faster than virgin trees and feels just as nice on your bum.
The mother roll: size matters
Once we’ve created those beautiful, pulp-filled sheets, it’s time to turn them into the mother of all rolls. And trust us when we say: they’re huuuuge. There’s no way you could fit one in your bathroom. So, we chop ‘em down to size, combine layers (ply) and add perforations for that perfect tear. The sheets are then pressed to enhance their texture and softness, making the finished product much more comfy on your cheeks. After processing, the rolls are packaged in cute recycled wrappers to keep them clean and pristine until they reach your front door. (Psst! Did we mention they’re also plastic free?) Throughout production, strict quality control procedures ensure each and every roll meets our (super) high standards for comfort and hygiene. At the end of the day, we think our TP is as comfy and reliable as anything else on the market, but here’s the kicker – we didn’t cut down a single tree to make it. Sounds too good to be true? Nope. It’s just good, eco-friendly fun.
Time to roll!
So, there you have it: a behind-the-scenes look at how mainstream manufacturers produce toilet paper – and how we do things differently. Ready for a different type of wipe? Discover just how awesome eco-friendly TP can be.