We’re all on different journeys

Last week I wrote a blog post about toilet paper. Eco-friendly, ethical toilet paper. Toilet paper that’s even more eco-friendly and ethical than the previous eco-friendly and ethical toilet paper I used to buy. It feels kind of absurd, really – writing blog posts about toilet paper. I pondered what friends I’ve not been in contact with recently might think if they stumbled across the post. I wonder what Lindsay’s up to these days? I’ll check her blog. Oh. She’s writing about toilet paper. Is that really how she spends her time these days? Does she have nothing bigger to worry about?

Right after I’d published the post, I came across a newspaper article…about toilet paper and bloggers. It was about 3 bloggers who don’t use toilet paper at all; they use reusable cloth wipes. If you’re at all sustainably-minded, it makes a lot of sense, really. Many people advocate cloth nappies for babies… so why not continue to use cloth as an adult?! After all, being pro zero-waste and anti disposables doesn’t really fit with buying single-use toilet paper. And you know what? It’s not just the hippies and waste extremists that choose not to use it. Having just come back from spending four weeks in Thailand, where toilets are fitted with a high pressure hose for cleaning yourself rather than using toilet paper, I know there are whole populations that eschew toilet paper altogether.

However…

No matter how green and sustainable it might be, this isn’t something that I nor my boyfriend are ready for. Nope. It makes total sense, yes, but neither of us are game to be washing adult nappy-cloths any time soon. Or any other time. It’s just taking it all a little too far for us.

It got me thinking, though, about how everyone is on their own journey. My own path towards making my lifestyle more sustainable one step at a time has led to writing his blog, and sharing my own experiences in the hope they might inspire others to make their own changes. Lots of little changes add up to make much bigger changes. I’m interested in so many things, from minimalism and simple living to zero waste and plastic-free living; health, wellness and food. Sustainability is, for me, the overarching ethos that connects them all together.

I shared the post about toilet paper because, although it was a small change, it stood for much bigger things. It was another step towards loosening the grip that the supermarket has over me. It was choosing to spend my money on products that promote change that I believe in rather than lining multinational company coffers. And it achieving something (making a change) I’d wanted to do for a while. I’m sure some people read the post and thought, that’s all well and good, but it’s far too hard for me to ditch the supermarket right now. Others possibly thought I can’t believe she still thinks it’s sustainable to use toilet paper! Can’t she retrofit a hose into her bathroom? And hopefully there were others who thought Wow, that’s a great idea! I’m gonna look those guys up and order some myself. Screw you, Tesco/Walmart/Coles!

And you know what? It doesn’t actually matter. We all do what’s right for us for where our lives are now. If I inspired you to make a change then that’s great! But if the last post didn’t connect with you, be relieved to know that I don’t often write posts about toilet paper. Maybe the next post I write will connect with you. Or the next. We’re all on different journeys.

toiletpaper

8 replies
  1. quarteracrelifestyle
    quarteracrelifestyle says:

    :) This is something I have been thinking alot about myself recently and want to explore. My reason is a little different though, I am allergic to toilet paper, doesn’t matter what sort, some chemicals in the process of making it give me a rash. So I need to use natural baby wipes….which doesn’t sit well because I have always been a person who couldn’t understand why a cloth can’t be used for babies like we did in the old days and who also objects to paying the cost of these. I saw a little about the cloth toilet paper…this does not appeal AT ALL. lol. So I have been thinking of trying homemade wipes but haven’t had a chance to do so yet, but even then it is paper towels.

    Reply
    • treadingmyownpath
      treadingmyownpath says:

      Wow! People are often allergic to all kinds of crazy stuff, but I’ve never heard that one before! That must be pretty annoying!

      That would be a pretty good incentive for me to try out the cloth approach! But you’re not game?! I guess you’d have to know you were really fastidious at cleaning and have a really set routine – it’s not the kind of thing you’d want to forget about for a couple of days, is it? Hmm…

      Reply
      • quarteracrelifestyle
        quarteracrelifestyle says:

        Yeah….no. It just doesn’t appeal at all, I can’t get my head around it lol. I guess maybe one day it might come to that when I’ve exhausted every other possibility because at the end of the day it comes down to paper to cloth doesn’t it?!

        Reply
  2. Hoarder Comes Clean
    Hoarder Comes Clean says:

    In the small-small town where I grew up, there were still some homes without indoor plumbing, and even the ones that did have it still had outhouses. I’m told that the mail-order catalogs were often strategically placed there for TP use. So, there’s the ultimate for paper recycling!

    Reply
  3. allaboutsmall
    allaboutsmall says:

    What a great post! It is a subject to think about. I don’t feel comfortable stopping the toilet paper use altogether, however, I try to do my eco-part as far as sanitary napkins go. Whenever my cycle arrives I use hand made flannel sanitary napkins for use at night only. I don’t use them during the day for insecurity reasons. When used, I soak the pads in cold water then I wash them by hand and hang to dry in my shower stall.
    Along with disposable diapers, sanitary napkins and adult undergarments are another huge impact. And although the disposable age may never stop, we can make our own small, personal efforts to fit our lifestyle and eco-footprint. This was a wonderful blog post, thank you! :D

    Reply

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