Sanitary Paper

Like all paper-based products, sanitary paper products place significant pressure on the environment. These environmental loads include the harvesting of paper-fibre from virgin or unsustainably managed forest resources, process effluents which deplete oxygen in receiving waters leading to eutrophication and biodiversity decline, ozone-depleting substances in air emissions, the use of hazardous solvents in the cleaning of equipment and toxic paper-fibre bleaching agents, and the use of non-biodegradable cleaning agents (surfactants). Much like paper-based products, however, the versatility of paper means that sanitary paper products remain commonplace. These products include toilet paper, facial tissues, paper towels, table napkins and many other similar items.

Obviously, the impact of these products on the environment is not restricted to their production. The use and disposal of sanitary paper products also poses problems. The hazardous bleaching agents and cleaning agents in these products can affect end-users with sensitive skin. Their disposal also poses problems, as the toxins within the products can enter the environment as they biodegrade, bio-accumulating in plant and animal tissues over time.

Fortunately, advances in paper treatment and production have provided the market with environmentally preferable alternatives. These products solve issues associated with traditional sanitary paper products, and perform equally and if not better than these products in terms of product quality, and social and environmental performance.

Consumer Behaviour Tips

• Look for products that do contain recycled paper - the higher the recycled content the better;
• Where possible, choose products that contain post-consumer recycled paper fibre;
• Select products made from sustainable paper-fibre sources, and avoid those made from virgin paper-fibre products or those that do not state the source of the fibre;
• Avoid products made using hazardous bleaching agents that contain chlorine, optical brighteners, halogenated bleaching agents, and ethylenediamine tetra-aceticacid (EDTA);
• Opt for products that are treated or cleaned using biodegradable cleaning agents (surfactants);

For specific information view our Environmental Standard for Sanitary Paper Products: www.geca.org.au/standardsregister.htm