By Riccardo Balducci
Are virgin paper or recycled sanitary paper products more environmentally conscious? Most people would automatically say recycled. Not so fast! There are many factors in a paper product’s life cycle that contribute to its environmental impact. More than just the materials it is made from, extraction, production, use and disposal all contribute. As 80% of companies plan to maintain or increase sustainability investments in 2025, it’s important to look at key factors of a product to truly understand its effect on the environment.
When selecting sanitary paper products such as toilet tissue, facility managers are faced with the challenge of selecting sustainable options without sacrificing quality. There are higher standards when it comes to toilet paper. Key qualities include being soft, strong, absorbent, flushable, sanitary, and free from foreign particles and odor. Before jumping to conclusions about whether recycled or virgin paper is more sustainable, it’s essential to compare the production processes, fiber quality, hygiene standards and natural resources utilized to make an informed choice.
Paper 101: Recycled Paper Vs. Virgin Toilet Paper
Recycled Paper is created by reusing old paper fibers that have already been processed through a recycling facility, instead of virgin pulp from trees. This intricate process involves collecting, sorting, shredding, pulping, cleaning and paper forming to create new paper products. Contaminants including ink, clays, dirt, plastic and metals are typically removed, but the number of contaminants that are acceptable in the pulp depends upon the type of product being produced.
While recycled paper is commonly thought of as the more sustainable choice for toilet paper, the process requires an abundance of natural resources and has some drawbacks that many may not be aware of.
- Fiber Quality – Recycled Paper Has a Finite Life Cycle: Paper fibers become shorter and weaker each time they are recycled and can only be reused five to seven times. When purchasing products, it’s unknown how many times fibers have been recycled, making it difficult to gauge their effectiveness. Overused fibers also create low-quality, inconsistent paper products. Toilet paper made from recycled fibers also provides less absorbency and softness than virgin fibers which can negatively affect the user experience.
- Hygiene Standards – More Bacteria and Microbes: The recycling paper process is not very hygienic. A study revealed that the concentration of bacteria in tested recycled paper was between 100- to 1,000-fold higher than the virgin wood pulp brand. Another study found that many recycled paper mills struggle with bacterial slime. Recycled paper uses starch binding ingredients that serve as a breeding ground for bacteria to thrive and multiply.
- Resource Use – Increased Water and Energy Waste: Recycling paper fibers utilizes an abundance of water and energy. Producing high quality fibers from recycled paper requires twice the amount needed compared to virgin pulp. In turn, this releases twice as much wastewater containing pollutants into the environment. The extra washing cycles recycled paper requires increased energy use. Transforming recycled paper products into toilet tissue is also more complex and energy intensive than recycling other paper.
Virgin Paper is made from newly sourced, unrefined wood pulp and does not contain recycled paper. It’s considered high-quality due to its strength, durability, and lack of impurities. Virgin paper is created by harvesting trees, debarking and chipping the wood. It is then converted into pulp through mechanical or chemical pulping and washed, bleached and formed into paper sheets and rolls. The obvious reason people are quick to think that virgin paper is not sustainable is because it requires cutting down trees to source. However, trees are a renewable source and can be replenished naturally and efficiently if done so responsibly.
- Fiber Quality – Soft, Strong Fibers: Developed from new wood pulp, virgin fiber toilet tissues are softer, more absorbent and durable than its recycled counterparts.
- Hygiene Standards – High Purity: Since virgin toilet paper is produced from fresh, uncycled wood pulp and does not require bacteria-harboring starches, it is considered more hygienic. Toilet paper and other personal hygiene products undergo a stringent sanitization process in virgin paper mills to ensure it’s free from bacteria and debris.
- Resource Use – Responsible Manufacturing Uses Less Water and Energy: Depending on the manufacturing process, virgin paper mills often utilize less water and generate less waste than recycled products. Responsible paper mills are becoming increasingly sustainable by using renewable energy sources such as biomass and hydropower, optimizing resources and practicing responsible forest management. Many generate energy by burning waste wood rather than relying on electricity or fossil fuels like recycled mills. Since 2005, the paper industry has reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 24% using these tactics.
Checklist To A Select Responsible Virgin Paper Suppliers
When comparing the two processes, virgin paper appears to be the obvious winner for toilet tissue sustainability and quality initiatives. However, before purchasing, it’s essential to consider that not all paper suppliers source materials responsibly. Researching a company’s sustainable initiatives before investing is crucial to ensure that they value natural resources and are open and honest about their forestry and production process. To certify that a provider is truly sustainable, guarantee that these criteria are met:
- Look for the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Label: This certifies that the paper and raw materials were sourced from sustainably managed forests. It’s also important to find suppliers that condemn illegal tree cutting practices and guarantee that raw materials don’t stem from socially conflicted areas.
- Utilizes Natural Resources Wisely: Look for paper companies that actively conserve water and energy. Suppliers should utilize strategies that make sure only the correct amount of water is used in the paper-making process, while also proactively working to reduce energy use and greenhouse gas emissions.
- High Quality: Sustainable paper should be high quality so that it is durable during use, expands and absorbs as needed. It should also be soft and proven to break down in water to avoid clogged pipes. Suppliers should have safe, sanitary processes in place to protect workers and product users.
While recycled paper initially sounds like a more sustainable choice, it can often be misleading for purchasers. Many aren’t aware that recycled paper products endure a lengthy process that utilizes an abundance of water and electricity and isn’t as hygienic. Taking a closer look, responsibly made virgin toilet tissue is ideal for facilities looking to provide quality, yet sustainable products to ensure an enjoyable, eco-friendly restroom experience.
Balducci is a manager with a career of over 25 years in the paper industry, all within the Sofidel Group where he has held various positions. During his career, he also represented Sofidel in a number of trade associations in Italy and Europe, where he still serves (Assocarta, European Tissue Symposium). Since 2023 he has held the position of Group Sustainability Director.