What is the ecological future of paper hygiene like?

Nowadays, paper hygiene plays a key role in our everyday life - from toilet paper, through paper towels up to napkins. With growing emphasis on sustainability, not only the method of their production is changing but also the materials and technologies themselves. What innovations are there ahead of us in paper hygiene?

Water and energy saving innovative production processes 

Traditional paper production is water and energy demanding. New technologies focus on minimization of water consumption, thereby wastewater and its impact on the environment are being reduced. Some manufacturing plants are already using closed water cycles where water is recycled directly in the production process.

Another innovative solution is paper production without the use of chemical bleaching, thereby the release of harmful substances into nature is being reduced.

Soluble and compostable hygiene products

The growing demand for sustainable products is resulting in the development of rapidly degradable toilet paper that dissolves easily in water and does not overload sewage systems. This paper is ideal not only for households but also for areas with sensitive infrastructure.

It is inevitable to be mindful of sustainability in everyday life as well, for instance, by composting used paper. Compostable napkins can be returned to nature as biodegradable waste after their use, thus we can be contributing together to protection of the planet and reduction of waste in landfills. Also our white napkins are compostable and thereby represent a sustainable form for everyday use. 

How does SHP Harmanec approach this?

Classical toilet paper and paper towels are often sourced from trees that have been cut down exactly for this purpose. This leads to deforestation and increases the environmental footprint of production. Our toilet paper originates from recycled paper coming directly from our own collection and separation. It is neither an easy nor an economical way but it is a method to use otherwise unusable paper and give it a second chance to function. 

Papier products, including the ECO CHOICE range, are made of ecological paper with the FSC certificate. The foil packaging of these products contains 30% recycled material and all our paper products originate from FSC certified sustainable sources. This approach enables us to utilize paper more efficiently and contribute to the protection of nature.

As stated in the article titled Enhancing Sustainability Metrics for Hygiene Tissue Products, the path to the green future of paper hygiene is not yet fully developed. Consumers still prefer traditional alternatives - either because of the higher prices of sustainable products or due to the lack of information about their evident ecological benefits. The key to change is therefore a combination of higher quality, transparency and trustworthy certifications which will facilitate sustainable solutions to become a natural choice for everybody.

If interested in the topic of sustainability, read the next article: How can hotels support sustainable winter tourism?