The environment and toilet paper. It’s no secret that toilet paper is polluting, due to its production and the millions of rolls distributed worldwide. Now, a bidet movement is emerging in the United States. In Asia and Europe, their use is more common, and even Japan is taking it to a more advanced level with its famous smart toilets.
“Not only do they significantly reduce toilet paper use, but they also require less water per use than the forest fiber paper manufacturing process,” says the Natural Resources Defense Council. As far as we know, bidet use in Asia is common mainly in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, and Indonesia.
A person in the US, Canada, and Western Europe uses between 15 and 25 kg of paper annually
According to Euronews, it is estimated that, on average, a person in the United States, Canada, and Western Europe uses between 15 and 25 kg of paper annually. Sergio Baffoni, senior campaign coordinator for the Environmental Paper Network, warns that global production is not yet alarming, but is growing, representing approximately 10% of total paper products.
In relation to this issue, in 2023 the University of Florida conducted a study analyzing 21 brands of toilet paper from North America, Western Europe, Africa, Central America, and South America after suspicions that it might contain perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as “forever chemicals.” Therefore, it considered this product “as a potentially significant source of PFAS entering wastewater systems.”
In Japan, toilets feature advanced technology that means zero toilet paper
Let’s remember that although toilet paper is a product we use every day, its production is detrimental to the planet’s health. Toilet paper is obtained by transforming trees into wood and then further processing the product to obtain toilet paper. This carries an environmental cost, and some are looking for alternatives. That’s why, with the popularity of tourism in countries like Japan, many people are seeing the positive side of the type of toilets they use in the Asian country. In many places in Japan, toilets feature advanced technology that means zero toilet paper usage, and bathrooms have lighting and odor-eliminating systems. This type of technology is increasingly being used in new construction in Europe and the United States.
The use of bidets also requires less water
For its part, the Natural Resources Defense Council noted in its annual report, “The Issue with Tissue Scorecard,” that “bidets and bidet toilet attachments not only significantly reduce toilet paper use, but also require less water, as we’ve previously discussed. Our planet doesn’t have time for the world’s largest corporations to take half measures or shift blame,” the NRDC website proclaims, concluding: “As major consumers of Canadian wood pulp, U.S. tissue companies must adopt new practices that will help preserve this vital forest and foster a safe and sustainable future.”
According to the latest data, the US bidet market is expected to reach USD 5.87 billion by 2033. The US bidet industry size accounted for USD 2.94 billion in 2023 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 6.12% from 2023 to 2033. In Europe, the popularity of bidets has declined, and in many homes with older structures, new owners have opted to remove bidets as they take up space and are currently underutilized. The contradiction between this and the environmental impact is on the table. Perhaps in the coming years, measures such as smart toilets, toilet paper made from other materials, or methods that do not harm the ecosystem will be adopted.
