I think we’ve all heard Sheryl Crow’s famous opinion regarding toilet paper: “only one square per restroom visit, except of course, on those pesky occasions where two to three could be required.” I don’t know about you ladies, but that is simply impossible as far as I’m concerned. My husband told me Ms. Crow was only joking and I’m relieved. However, what are we sustainable women to do when it comes to very necessary toilet paper?
My solution is to use Seventh Generation bathroom tissue made of 100% recycled paper with a minimum of 80% post-consumer materials. When I first took steps toward sustainability, I would read the phrase “post-consumer materials” everywhere and wonder, what does that mean? Post-consumer materials are items we recycle from our homes, offices, and elsewhere that would otherwise be shoved into landfills. Seventh Generation encourages the nifty habit of recycling by using post-consumer materials and in doing so, rescues valuable resources instead of creating more waste. Producing recycled paper also uses less water and energy than paper made from trees, FYI.
Right there are several fabulous reasons to choose Seventh Generation toilet paper over Charmin, but there is yet another important reason: Seventh Generation’s bathroom tissue is whitened without chlorine. Instead, they whiten the paper with sodium hydrosulfite, a non-toxic biodegradable bleach made from the simple elements of salt and oxygen. This smart process prevents more chlorine from being dumped into our environment, which is excellent. Chlorine emits dangerous toxins such as dioxin, furans, and other organochlorines which have been linked to cancer, birth defects, and developmental & reproductive disorders in numerous studies. Plus, Seventh Generation’s chlorine-free paper is also free of dyes, inks, and fragrances - übergood for those of us with sensitive skin.
We have two full baths and two half baths in our house, so we must keep a lot of T.P. on hand for ourselves and guests. This can add to our grocery bill, not to mention that Seventh Generation is more expensive than the generic grocery store brand. I was happy to discover that H-E-B - a local grocery store chain - carries a twelve-pack of Seventh Generation toilet paper for right around $9.00 (which is $3.00-4.00 cheaper than Whole Foods, if you’re also keeping an eye on budget). Even better, Seventh Generation offers printable coupons to curb a few dollars.
Just in case there was any sliver of truth in Sheryl Crow’s joke, perhaps she and Laurie David should stock this toilet paper on their biodiesel bus for more comfortable, conscience-easing, eco-hygiene.
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