The story Did you know that we use 127 toilet paper rolls per person and year? Although only 30% of our population uses toilet paper on a regular basis. And that is a €30 billion yearly market. This caught our attention. But then we thought that surely all the manufacturers were doing their best to be conscious of the environmental impacts of this massive product category. We all see the lovely ads of a happy sheep jumping up and down on a soft toilet paper. But. Money goes first and it turned out that the toilet paper industry is one of the worst industries of everyday items around. Not only for the environment, but also for people's health. Lets’s start with the industry aspect. A study from Ethical Consumer magazine found that major brands were using less recycled paper than in 2011, while only five of the nine major supermarkets in the UK offered an own-brand recycled toilet paper. The large-scale use of virgin paper contributes to unnecessary and extensive deforestation. The proportion of recycled wood pulp used by the company has fallen over the years. In 2011, just under 30% of the total fibre used was recycled, but by 2017 this figure had fallen to 23.5% and for 2019 it will be below 20%. How we found the solution agood company sourcing team took a high-speed train from Hong Kong to mainland China to find a potential factory for bamboo toilet paper production. Although some people may have a negative perception of factories in China, many of them are modern and efficient. Moreover, since bamboo grows naturally in mainland China, it was an essential consideration for our search. After careful exploration, we found a suitable toilet paper factory in Chishui City, Guizhou. This location is situated in one of China's eight plant diversity hotspots, where bamboo has thrived naturally for thousands of years without deforesting the land. The area's main ecosystems include evergreen broad-leaved forest, coniferous and broad-leaved mixed forest, and montane elfin forest. We wanted to ensure that the bamboo we source is sustainable, so we sought certification from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC). This certification not only guarantees environmental sustainability but also ensures that the core conventions of the International Labour Organization, including workers' rights, are upheld. Thus, our FSC Bamboo mark serves as the strongest guarantee of sustainable sourcing for our bamboo toilet paper production. The process and way of working The production process for agood toilet paper is a simple and straightforward one. It starts by turning bamboo trees into pulp, which is then pressed into the paper on massive rolls. These rolls are later divided into small rolls, each containing multiple sheets of the bamboo toilet paper. What sets our bamboo toilet paper apart is the fact that we have made two significant innovations to the traditional production process. The first of these innovations involves the inner roll of the toilet paper. Traditionally, the inner roll is made from pulp paper. However, we have replaced this with bamboo paper, further increasing the sustainability of our product. The second major innovation we have made is the removal of all plastic packaging around each roll. Instead, we pack each roll individually with bamboo paper, making our product 100% plastic-free. Not only is this better for the environment, but we have also put extra care into our packaging designs to make our product more aesthetically pleasing. Another aspect that we are proud of is our closed-loop wastewater management system. This system ensures that the wastewater generated during the production process is treated and reused, minimizing our environmental impact. Additionally, we do not use bleach in our production process, which further reduces our environmental footprint. Overall, we are committed to producing a sustainable and high-quality bamboo toilet paper product that meets the needs of our customers while minimizing our impact on the environment. Our innovative production process and packaging designs are just some of the ways in which we are achieving this goal. About the owner The Toilet Paper Factory was established back in 2001 with a vision to provide high-quality, sustainable toilet paper to customers worldwide. The company has been running successfully for over two decades and has become a reputable name in the industry. As a family-owned business, the factory is run with a personal touch that has contributed to its success. Currently, the company has a total of 61 employees, all working under living wage conditions. The factory takes pride in providing a healthy and safe working environment for its employees, ensuring that they are compensated fairly for their efforts. The employees are treated like family, and their well-being is a top priority for the factory's management. We had the pleasure of meeting the factory owner in May 2019. During our meeting, we were impressed with the owner's commitment to sustainability and the environment. Their passion for making a difference in the world was evident in their approach to business operations. Conclusion In a world where toilet paper is a basic necessity, agood toilet paper stands out for its commitment to sustainability and innovation.Made from FSC-certified bamboo and 100% plastic-free packaging, we have wiped away the competition and left our mark on the industry. So next time you're in need of some loo roll, go for agood toilet paper - because why settle for ordinary toilet paper when you can make a difference with every wipe?