Recycled Toilet Paper Can Provide Help To The Economy, Society And Environment

By Author: Larry Chandler
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There is much talk in the news and online about more companies making the choice for green products. Organizations are looking for methods to cut back on electrical costs, recycle by products from their operations and overall help make a positive impact on the local environment. There is significant data suggesting that a few small steps by companies and individuals could produce dramatic results. One easy step is the use of recycled toilet paper.

Guidelines for Choosing the Right Product

There are a few rules to keep in mind when looking at recycled toilet paper.

1. No Chlorine – In order to get that clean, fresh white look most paper manufactures will use some type of bleach on their products. The vast majority of bleaches contain chlorine which can be harmful if released into the air on into any water resource. Products that have a label such as PCF (processed chlorine free) or TCF (totally chlorine free) or ECF (elemental chlorine free) indicate that these items were made without chlorine.

2. Post consumer content percentage – This ...
... refers to the portion of the product that was used in some prior capacity by consumers. Check to make sure that the fibers are 100% recycled and the post consumer waste content is at least 40% or more.

Potential Impacts

Some people feel that switching to recycled toilet paper is such a small part of the amount of paper we use that it could never have a meaningful impact. However, recent studies show that small changes can lead to big improvements.

Economy – The processes used to recycle paper and convert them into tissue have improved dramatically over the last several years. Thanks to more efficient processes, the price for recycled toilet paper has come down to the point that it is competitive and sometimes even cheaper than leading regular toilet brands. Cheaper is good, for most people.

Society – Countless research has been done studying the impact of toxins from chlorine on human health. Several problems including birth defects, cancer and reproductive disorders have all been clinically proven as side effects of dioxins and furans. These are toxins that come from chlorine and accumulate in water supplies as well as the air. When more companies make the choice to recycle paper, there will be less need for chlorine and better health for the people living near these manufacturing plants.

Environment – Of course, one of the most important benefits of using recycled toilet paper is seen in the environment. Many people and organizations quote the figures from the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). Their report from 2009 shows that if all American households simply took one regular roll of toilet paper and replaced it with a single roll of recycled toilet paper 423,900 trees could be spared. But that is just the tip of the iceberg. Here are some more facts about recycling a single ton of ordinary paper.

Saves 463 gallons of oil used by trucks and equipment for tree harvesting
Reduces air pollution by 587 pounds
Saves 3.06 cubic yards in a landfill
Cuts down energy use by 4077 Kilowatt hours

Larry Chandler is a freelance writer for Green Line Paper, a company that provides green office supplies to companies nationwide. To find out more about recycled toilet paper and recycled paper, visit the site Greenlinepaper.com. You can also see a whole host of green product that the company offers such as toner, notepads and eco friendly paper products.