Two days ago something happened that stopped me in my tracks. Something that hadn't crossed my mind when I began this little experiment. I ran out of toilet paper. TMI?
Instantly I thought, "Well I better stop at Targeohno." I couldn't go to Target. I couldn't go to HyVee. I didn't really know where I could go. I don't know how to make toilet paper, and I wasn't about to buy it second hand. Is there such a thing as recycled... toilet... paper? Is there an ethical way to use toilet paper? I started doing some research.
Maybe a quick, interesting history on TP from Wikipedia first. The Chinese are the first known to use toilet paper (circa 6th century). Wealthy people in the past have used wool, lace, or hemp; poor people used to use their hand (yes), rags, wood shavings, leaves, grass, hay, stones, sand (ouch), moss, water, snow, maize, ferns, husks, fruit skin, seashells, and corncobs. Many countries use bidets instead of toilet paper, although I haven't figured out how they dry off. Any help? I also wonder what their water bills look like. Facts on Wikipedia also said that as of 2009, between 25% and 50% of the toilet paper in the US comes from tree farms in the U.S. and South America.
I found a website called re-nest that had the same questions I did - what kinds of alternatives to toilet paper there are? They say that Americans use more than 50 pounds of toilet paper per year per person (almost twice as much as Europeans use, probably due to their use of bidets). Many of the comments left referred to two alternatives: using cloths for after urination (TP reserved for #2), or using recycled TP (Seventh Generation brand most commonly referred).
I tried to see what "The Good Life" (i.e. My Alternative Living Bible) had to say about toilet paper alternatives, but they were surprisingly mum on the topic. Luckily, as I was beginning to get frustrated, Steven walked in at just that moment announcing that he had just picked up a pack of toilet paper from Wheatsfield, the local co-op we are members of. Since it came from Wheatsfield, I knew that it must be ethical, whatever he brought home. It turned out to be Seventh Generation.
Seventh Generation creates 100% Recycled Bathroom Tissue, whited without chemicals that contain chlorine. A 12-pack was about $12.00. As someone who rarely has a grasp on the value of a dollar (until recently), I didn't know if that was a good price. It seems that a pack of basic Charmin bathroom tissue (12 ct.) is about $7.99. However, let's be honest - we never bought standard TP when we shopped retail, and on top of that, I actually don't recall ever seeing Basic as an option at Target. A 12 pack of Cottonelle (mm...soft) is $12.49 - actually more costly than the recycled version. Scott brand toilet paper packs were also $11.99. After all my research, it seems that buying a package of Seventh Generation is really no different than buying any of the usual suspects!
Rest easy, my friends - the solution (for the Athays) is Seventh Generation. Recycled, unbleached, and the same price as regular toilet paper. Plus, the website www.seventhgeneration.com has lots of great tips about reducing your waste and helping our environment. I'd suggest you become a member of the Seventh Generation Nation for valuable tips and coupons today! (No, I am not being paid to promote 7thGen. I just appreciate them.)
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