What is the ecological future of paper hygiene products?
Paper hygiene products have become a natural part of our lives. We can hardly imagine life without toilet paper or paper tissues.
With the growing emphasis on sustainability, not only the way they are produced is changing, but also the materials and technologies themselves. What innovations can we expect in the area of paper hygiene?
Innovative water- and energy-saving production processes
Traditional paper production is demanding in terms of both water and energy. New technologies focus on minimizing water consumption, which reduces the amount of wastewater and its environmental impact. Some factories already use closed-loop water systems, where water is recycled directly within the production process.
Another innovative solution is paper production without the use of chemical bleaching, which limits the release of harmful substances into the environment. The so-called Green chemistry and enzymes are used instead.
“Green chemistry” in the paper industry means replacing traditional, often aggressive chemical processes with more environmentally friendly substances and biological procedures – mainly using enzymes. It is not a marketing label, but a relatively specific technological shift.
Soluble and compostable hygiene products
The growing demand for sustainable products has led to the development of rapidly biodegradable toilet paper that dissolves easily in water and does not overload sewage systems. This sort of paper is ideal not only for households, but also for areas with sensitive infrastructure.
It is important to think about sustainability in everyday life as well, such as by composting used paper. Compostable napkins can be returned to nature after being used as biodegradable waste, which means we can all contribute to protecting the planet and reducing the amount of waste in landfills. Our white napkins are also compostable, making them a sustainable choice for everyday use.
Digitalization and smart manufacturing
Digitalization and smart manufacturing in the paper industry mean that the production process is increasingly driven by data, sensors, and automation rather than by manual intervention. Machines monitor energy and water consumption as well as paper quality in real time and this data is analyzed by software or artificial intelligence, which can optimize production parameters before any errors occur.
The result is more precise production with smaller amounts of waste, lower resource consumption, and more efficient machine maintenance, reducing the overall environmental footprint of the entire process.
How does SHP Harmanec address this issue?
Traditional toilet paper and paper towels are often made from trees that are harvested specifically for this purpose. This leads to deforestation and increases the environmental footprint of production. Our toilet paper is made from recycled material that we obtain directly from our collection and sorting operations. It is not an easy or economically the most optimal method, but it allows us to utilize otherwise unusable paper and give it a second chance.
Paper products, including the ECO CHOICE line, are made from FSC-certified eco-friendly paper. The plastic packaging for these products consists of 30% recycled material and all our paper products come from FSC-certified sustainable sources. This approach allows us to use paper more efficiently and contributes to the protection of nature.
As stated in the article “Enhancing Sustainability Metrics for Hygiene Tissue Products”, the path to the green future of paper hygiene has not yet been fully established. Consumers still prefer traditional alternatives - either because of the higher price 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 that will help make sustainable options the natural choice for everyone.
