Ancient Trees for Toilet Paper

Ancient Trees for Toilet Paper

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&nbsp;<a href="http://www.alternet.org/environment/129351?page=entire">A recent AlterNet article</a> revealed an alarming situation surrounding the popularity of 'ultra-soft' toilet paper. In order to obtain the soft, fluffy, quilted texture that has become preferable to many consumers, manufacturers use fiber from standing trees, rather than recycled material. The facts are quite disturbing: toilet paper is made from ancient forests, old growth forests, virgin forests, second growth forests, natural forests, high conservation value forests, temperate forests, tropical and sub-tropical forests and boreal forests.<br /><br />Personally, I am quite happy to use recycled toilet paper, which I find to be perfectly soft and not at all objectionable. In fact, the recycled paper is so similar to regular paper that I don't understand why any toilet paper is still made of new fiber at all. There are vast stacks of post-consumer paper sitting in warehouses waiting to be recycled, due to the fact that the market for all recyclables has dropped dramatically since the economic downturn. It seems to me that a worthy government program would be to put resources towards turning all of that into useable paper, including toilet paper.&nbsp;<br />What we, as consumers, need to do, is to generate demand for ethically produced goods, by buying only recycled toilet paper and encouraging others to do the same. Greenpeace has <a href="http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/campaigns/forests/tissueguide">a guide for ethical toilet paper options</a>. If you feel incensed or passionate about this issue, then consider channeling your anger into a phone call, e-mail or letter to the companies that are carrying out this massacre of ancient trees. When business realizes that consumers are showing an increased degree of responsibility about their purchases, they will respond with products that are aligned with our values of sustainability.<br />
<p>Would you support a ban on toilet paper from ancient trees?<br />QUICK POLL:<a href="http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/ancient-trees-for-toilet-paper/">http://www.care2.com/causes/environment/blog/ancient-trees-for-toilet-paper/</a></p>
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