The Toilet Paper Times

Usually I don’t read the monthly National Resources Defense Council newsletter “The Voice.”  You know..the too busy thing, don’t want to be depressed.  This time I read it and was shocked by their feature-length article “From Trees to toilet Paper:  Canada’s Great Boreal Forest is Being Wiped Out.”  Pardon me, I never thought I’d be blogging about toilet paper but this information I felt should be shared.

The gist of the article is that to fuel  all our wiping and sneezing needs, the major suppliers of toilet paper, paper towels, and facial tissue suppliers are purchasing ALL their content from virgin timber in the from the N. Boreal forests of Canada, the “lungs of N. America” Essentially they are wiping out a major ecosystem and contributing to climate change rather than investing in recycled content or alternatives such as bamboo and wheat straw.  About a million acres are logged a year for tissue and other disposable products.  Proctor & Gamble, Kimberly –Clark & Georgia Pacific thus far use ZERO recycled content.  Costco gets their tissue from the main suppliers.

This is one thing we can do to help climate change and the planet-  change your toilet tissue brand and make your voice be heard.  Yes, it is more expensive to buy 7^th Generation or equivalent tissue, but investing in Mother Earth is worth it.  I think if all the products we used had labels listed their carbon footprints, we would all be more conscious consumers.

To read the full feature-length report online including a more detailed buying guide than the one below go here.  Contact COSTCO at Costco.com.  To make your voice heard to Procter and Gamble (1 minute of your time) go here.

Here’s a copy of my letter to Costco you can use:

Recently I became aware that your Kirkland brand toilet tissue and paper towels received an F grade in sustainability.  Kirkland facial tissues received a D.  The production of your tissue products as with all major manufacturers is having devastating effects on the Northern Boreal Forest.  I am switching to brands that are made mostly of recycled content.  As a major supplier of tissue, you have an obligation to be more environmentally conscious, set an example, and give consumers the option to buy sustainable products. I am sharing this information with friends, acquaintances. Please read more about the devastation that toilet paper production is having at nrdc.org/tissues.