Greenpeace flushes toilet papers that don't meet its green criteria

[M_Smith]

Greenpeace flushes toilet papers that don't meet its green criteria
[SIZE=-1]The words "unspeakable destruction" and "toilet paper" don't typically go together, except perhaps on Mischief Night. But Greenpeace claims that the manufacture of toilet paper, tissues, and other disposable products has devastating effects on ancient forests, water sources, and wildlife worldwide. The Washington. D.C.-based environmental group is encouraging you to buy the greenest toilet paper available and in turn help protect the environment.
Greenpeace provides environmental ratings of popular toilet papers, basing the results on a product's recycled content, the amount of postconsumer material, and the bleaching process the manufacturer uses. To get a recommended rating from Greenpeace, a toilet paper must be 100 recycled content, at least 50 percent postconsumer material, and bleached without chlorine compounds. Products that meet two of the criteria get a "could be better" rating, and those that meet only one or none are "to be avoided."
"You can produce a quality product while meeting our criteria," says Daniel Kessler, a Greenpeace spokesman.

Pointing to his estimate that green toilet papers represent just over 1 percent of total U.S. sales, Dave Dickson, a spokesman for Kimberly-Clark, believes that American consumers prefer toilet paper that's strong and soft. "There's a difference in bulk and softness that you don't get with 100 percent recycled paper," he says. Kimberly-Clark is the biggest maker of toilet paper in the U.S., with brands like Scott and Cottonelle. Its Scott Naturals toilet paper contains 40 percent recycled content.
Look for our ratings of toilet paper in the May 2009 issue of Consumer Reports, online and on newsstands in late March. In the meantime, if price weren't a factor, would you buy the greenest toilet paper available? Tell us in a comment below.?Kimberly Janeway
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