University of Vermont to use recycled toilet paper

Last week, the University of Vermont announced that it would be using only 100% recycled toilet paper and paper towels. The decision is the result of a student campaign aimed at persuading the University to switch from toilet paper manufactured by Kimberly-Clark. Basil Tsimoyianis, a student at the University of Vermont, worked with Greenpeace for six months and on returning to college launched the “Forest Crimes Unit” to publicise the impacts of Kimberly-Clark’s logging.

The Secret Life of Paper

Inform recently produced “The Secret Life of Paper”. The video promises to answer the questions, “How is paper production related to forest destruction and global warming?” and “Why is recycling and buying recycled paper important?”

Charmin on ICE

Until recently, the German ICE (Inter City Express) trains used recycled toilet paper (you know what I mean – toilet paper made from recycled paper, not toilet paper that’s already been used) . That’s now changed. Inside the toilet door on ICE trains is a poster advertising Charmin, Procter & Gamble’s toilet tissue.

54.5% of paper used in Europe is recycled

Some statistics from CEPI:

In 1998, production of paper and board in Europe[1] amounted to 83.3 million tonnes. Consumption was 77 million tonnes. By 2005, these figures had increased to 97.1 million tonnes produced with 84.3 million tonnes consumed.