A Brief History of Toilet Paper
The concept of using toilet paper as a means of cleaning is relatively new. Prior to this, people used different types of materials to achieve the same purpose: leaves, corn cobs, and wool. Historical records indicate that the use of toilet paper began in China in the 6th century, and even then, it was used primarily by the wealthy. However, it was not until the late 19th century that advances in papermaking technology made toilet paper as common as it is today.
Joseph Gayetty is widely considered the official inventor of commercial toilet paper in the United States. In 1857, he invented a medicinal paper that was sold in flat sheets rather than rolls. The roll format was commercialized by the Scott Paper Company in 1890, and it became the norm, changing the way the product was used and handled.
Manufacturing Process
The making of toilet paper involves several steps, from sourcing the raw materials to the final packaging of the product. The main material used is wood pulp, which is taken from trees such as pine or hardwoods such as eucalyptus.
1. First comes pulping, which simply means treating wood chips chemically or mechanically to break down the fibers into pulp. The resulting pulp is then bleached to provide the desired color and softness.
2. Pressing and drying, the pulp is spread on large screens and pressed. This operation drains excess water and then dries on heated drums.
3. Processing, the dried paper is rolled into large rolls and then further cut into smaller, more usable rolls, which eventually become toilet paper for sale.
4. Embossing and perforating, patterns are embossed on the paper to add texture and strength to the paper. It is also perforated for easy tearing.
5. Packaging, the rolls are packaged into consumer-friendly packaging for redistribution.
Sustainability and environmental issues
One of the biggest concerns about toilet paper is its harm to the environment. Toilet paper is resource-intensive in terms of water, energy, and trees. It is estimated that 27,000 trees are cut down every day to meet the global demand for toilet paper. This has raised concerns about deforestation and the sustainability of toilet paper manufacturing.
For this reason, there are increasing calls for more sustainable options. Recycled toilet paper made from post-consumer waste paper is one of the most popular forms of toilet paper today. It greatly reduces the demand for virgin pulp, thereby greatly reducing the environmental impact of its production.
In short, the tissue industry needs to change along with the rest of the world to meet consumer demands in a way that has the least impact on the environment.
