What Is Recycled Toilet Paper Made Of, and How Is It Processed?
At Ripper Paper, we prioritise sustainability without compromising quality. While our flagship product uses Elemental Chlorine-Free (ECF) virgin pulp to produce premium toilet paper, we also support educating our customers about the recycled paper industry and its challenges. After all, nothing says Aussie ingenuity like doing good for the planet while keeping your dunny stocked with the soft stuff!
The Raw Materials: Post-Consumer Waste
Recycled toilet paper is made from post-consumer waste paper, which includes:
-
Office paper - typically high-quality and relatively easy to recycle.
-
Newspapers and magazines - which often contain inks and coatings that must be removed.
-
Cardboard - occasionally included in small amounts.
These materials are collected from recycling bins and facilities, then transported to a paper mill for processing. It’s like giving old paper a second chance at life—because who wouldn’t want to end up as a hero in the bathroom?
The Production Process
-
Sorting and Cleaning: The collected paper is sorted to remove non-paper contaminants, such as staples, plastic, and adhesives. It is then shredded into smaller pieces.
-
Pulping: The shredded paper is mixed with water and chemicals to break it down into a slurry or pulp. This process separates fibres from any remaining contaminants.
-
De-inking: Inks, dyes, and coatings are removed from the pulp using a combination of washing, flotation, and chemical treatments. This step is essential for creating a clean, uniform material for toilet paper.
-
Bleaching: To achieve the white appearance consumers expect, the pulp is often bleached. This can involve chemicals like chlorine dioxide or oxygen-based alternatives. Some brands avoid this step, producing unbleached or minimally processed toilet paper.
-
Sheet Formation and Drying: The cleaned and treated pulp is pressed into thin sheets, dried, and rolled onto large spools. These spools are then cut and packaged into rolls of toilet paper.
Chemicals in Recycled Toilet Paper
Despite its eco-friendly image, recycled toilet paper often contains trace amounts of chemicals introduced during the recycling process. These can include:
-
De-inking Agents: Used to remove inks and dyes, these agents may leave residues.
-
Bleaching Agents: Chlorine compounds or alternatives that whiten the paper can remain in trace amounts.
-
Binders and Additives: Added to improve the paper’s strength and softness, these chemicals may also persist.
One particular concern is the presence of bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS), which can leach into the pulp from thermal receipts and other coated papers mixed into the recycling stream. While the concentrations are generally low, these chemicals have raised health and environmental concerns due to their potential endocrine-disrupting properties.
Why the Extra Steps?
The additional processing steps are necessary to make recycled materials suitable for personal hygiene products. Consumers expect toilet paper to be soft, strong, and free from visible impurities, which requires:
-
Removing contaminants like ink, glue, and coatings.
-
Ensuring the product is hygienic and safe for use.
-
Meeting aesthetic expectations, such as whiteness and texture.
Ripper Paper’s Commitment
At Ripper Paper, we recognise the importance of balancing environmental sustainability with customer expectations. While our ECF virgin pulp toilet rolls provide superior softness and strength, we continuously explore innovative practices to reduce our environmental footprint. We’re all about keeping it clean—from your conscience to your behind.
The Environmental Trade-Off
Recycled toilet paper has a smaller carbon footprint than virgin paper, but the chemical treatments and energy-intensive processing required to make it usable are significant. Brands like Ripper Paper aim to strike a balance by offering eco-conscious products while maintaining premium quality. It’s a bit like trying to wrestle a crocodile while keeping your hair perfect—challenging, but worth it.
Conclusion
Recycled toilet paper is a step toward reducing deforestation and waste, but it’s not without its challenges, chemical risks and environmental impacts. At Ripper Paper, whether you choose our ECF virgin pulp rolls or explore other options, we’re here to support informed, sustainable choices for a better planet. And let’s face it, mate, there’s no better place to do your bit for the earth than the loo!