The freshness factor: The advantages of fresh fibres in toilet paper

In the midst of our daily lives lies an inconspicuous but indispensable element – toilet paper. A companion we often take for granted, it quietly serves its purpose. Annually, the average person uses about 17 kilograms of toilet paper, which equates to about 1.4 kilograms per month. While sustainability often finds recycling as the solution, there is a broader principle that goes beyond the recycling bin – the circular economy. At the heart of this philosophy is the intelligent and efficient management of resources throughout their life cycle to do more with less.

In the production of tissue paper, the choice is between virgin and recycled fibres. This choice is in favour of virgin fibres for compelling reasons. The availability of high-quality recycled raw materials is decreasing due to evolving trends in office paper use and the decline of print media. This scarcity is prompting us to use recycled materials where they can provide the greatest benefit. In response, virgin fibres offer a solution that makes the most of the material by integrating it more directly into the end products – the familiar roll of toilet paper.

Harmony between cleanliness and environmental friendliness

Hygiene products are a testament to the fusion of safety and cleanliness. But when recycled materials come into play, things get complicated. A complex cleaning process requires significant amounts of water and energy, making recycled materials less effective than their virgin fibre counterparts. On the way from recycling to toilet paper, only 60% of recycled material proves suitable, with the rest having to be used differently due to potential contaminants such as plastic, ink and metals. In contrast, virgin fibres have an efficiency of more than 90%, with the majority of the material passing seamlessly into the final product.

An environmentally conscious footprint

A study conducted in 2021 examined the carbon footprint of virgin and recycled fibre products in several European toilet paper mills. The results show a remarkable difference: toilet paper made from fresh fibres has a carbon footprint about one fifth smaller than its recycled counterparts. This discrepancy can be attributed to the shorter transport distances of virgin fibres, the energy and water consumption during the recycling process and the waste management during reprocessing. In addition, producing high-quality base paper from virgin fibres requires fewer fibres to achieve the same performance.

By choosing the benefits of virgin fibres, we are not only focusing on quality and cleanliness, but also on the responsibility to reduce our environmental impact. The freshness, efficiency and sustainable attitude of virgin fibres transform an everyday product into a trailblazer for an environmentally conscious tomorrow.