It’s a sight scary enough to put panic into any shopper: bare shelves where the toilet paper should be. Gulp. 

On a personal level, a toilet paper shortage is frustrating. On a broader scale, when stores run out of toilet paper, it leaves everyone scrambling.

Why do toilet paper shortages happen, and can they be avoided?

We’re here to unroll the answers about what exactly causes these predicaments. 

Disruptions in the supply chain

Supply chain issues are a hot topic, especially since disruptions have interfered with the flow of goods and services. 

Remember when that container ship got stuck in the Suez Canal? It was a global interruption, causing a rerouting of cargo ships and delayed shipments. 

In a globally connected world, these hiccups are bound to happen — from the origin point to shipping to arrival, any delay along the way ripples through the supply chain, especially when demand surges.

Sudden spikes in consumer demand

When toilet paper shortages occur at home, it’s usually because someone forgot to restock. (By the way, a certain toilet paper company has a solution for that — wink, wink). 

But when stores face shortages, it’s a bigger problem. External factors like supply chain disruptions or sudden demand spikes can leave everyone scrambling for TP. Some factors that cause shortages include:

• Larger household sizes

• Seasonal factors

• Increased illness

These demands are based on actual needs and higher consumption rates, reflecting genuine changes in consumer behaviour. But not every shortage stems from genuine consumer demand — other forces can drive them too.

Panic buying and stockpiling behaviour

Panic buying and stockpiling out of fear and anxiety causes a shortage faster than you can say “Um, a little help here?” Social media and news reports tend to amplify the panic, making the situation seem worse than it really is.

When people buy more TP than they need, panic buying leads to empty shelves, leaving the rest of us up crap creek.

While it’s good to be prepared, overstocking creates temporary shortages and leaves production struggling to catch up.

Production limitations and delays

Toilet paper shortages can also develop on the manufacturing side, resulting in product delays.

Supply chain delays often come down to a mix of miscommunication, sudden changes in international trade and a lack of collaboration. These gaps can create hiccups that ripple through the system.

Costs are another big factor, affecting everything from distribution centres to shipping routes and transportation. Then there’s the labour issue. In a late 2023 supply chain study, 28% of respondents were dealing with a high labour shortage — that’s nearly a third!

Logistical challenges in distribution

Distribution channels often face delays due to logistical challenges, where issues like limited storage space for containers, rising fuel costs and general poor planning can disrupt deliveries.

Exporting raw materials can be tricky too — take the case of toilet paper, where disruptions in wood pulp supply cause major issues (maybe now would be a good time to consider switching to bamboo toilet paper?).

Conclusion: Many factors create toilet paper shortages 

External events like hurricanes, freezing winters and global disruptions (hello, pandemics) all make for sudden spikes in demand. Sometimes shortages happen when the impacts of these events are exaggerated, leading to panic buying and stockpiling.

Shortages also occur on the internal side, from supply chain disruptions, labour shortages, delays, and logistical hurdles — factors that are out of consumer hands.

Whatever the cause, toilet paper shortages are a pain in the bum. 

Our advice? Purchase a Who Gives A Crap monthly subscriptionand never face an empty roll again.