Another step in the right direction

The parcel I’ve been waiting for all week finally arrived on Friday. Oh the excitement! I don’t order things online much anymore, but it wasn’t the idea of receiving a parcel that caused my excitement. It was the contents of the parcel…

Toilet paper.

Yes. You did read that right.

toilet2

Let me explain. It isn’t exactly true that I was excited to be receiving a box of toilet paper. It isn’t any old toilet paper. It’s toilet paper that builds toilets. It’s the product of an awesome company called Who Gives a Crap, who donate 50% of their profits to Water Aid in order for them to build toilets and fund sanitation projects in less economically developed countries. Not only that, but they make their paper using 100% post consumer waste recycled fibres, and they don’t use chlorine, inks, dyes or perfumes either. Or plastic packaging, for that matter.

It’s not that I was using bad toilet paper before. It was plastic-free and recycled. This one is one step better – donating significant profits to charity. But the main problem for me with the old stuff was the source – I used to buy it from the supermarket. I buy very little from supermarkets now, but toilet paper was one of the few remaining items, and something I was keen to change. I would love to quit supermarkets altogether, and by making this switch I’m one step closer.

I heard about this company months ago, but I never seemed to get round to changing. It was only when I read a blog about Divorcing the Supermarket and ended up in a discussion in the comments about supermarkets and toilet paper, where I even recommended Who Gives a Crap, that I realised that I should actually take my own advice!

They sell from their website, rather than in stores, and offer boxes of 24 and 48 rolls. I went with 48 because buying in bulk means less packaging and delivery emissions. One of the reasons I’d put off making a purchase in the past was because I was concerned I wouldn’t have room to store it all. Actually, I needn’t have worried – the box doesn’t take up as much space as I imagined. (Of course it would be awesome if I had someone to split the delivery with, but I’m not ready for those awkward fancy-splitting-a-box-of-loo-roll-with-me conversations yet!)

So there are the reasons I was excited to receive my box on Friday. Being able to support a great ethical company and fund development projects through a simple household purchase. Moving one step further along in my quest to quit the supermarket. And actually acting on wanting to make a change and doing what I’d been planning on doing since forever (well, months).

One small change to be that little bit more sustainable.

toilet1

9 replies
  1. Shani Graham
    Shani Graham says:

    wait until you see the red emergency rolls. and the rolls are great for seedlings as they are very robust. and the outside paper can be sticky taped tovwther for wrapping paper!

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Awesome, that’s great news! Glad to share the toilet paper love. : ) And I’m glad you’re enjoying my blog too.

      Reply
  2. Elizabeth Jones
    Elizabeth Jones says:

    I love the sound of this – particularly how they give so much to charity – but I’m in the UK :-( Does anyone know of a similar company in the UK?

    Reply

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