May 23rd, 2022 by Sarah Miles

As we face a climate crisis, it’s everyone’s responsibility to make better environmental choices and in a washroom, the two greatest opportunities to be more sustainable are toilet rolls and hand towels. There has always been a trade-off in these consumables between environmental concerns and functionality. However, two new materials have emerged onto the market that tick both boxes, offering a number of benefits that meet both criteria. These materials are sugarcane and bamboo.

Sugarcane

Sugarcane toilet paper is an incredibly eco-friendly toilet paper in the world. That’s a bold claim but is backed up with evidence for a number of reasons:

• Sugarcane fibres are a by-product of the sugar processing industry and would otherwise be wasted
• It’s more compact than traditional toilet paper, meaning you can transport more for the same weight and space

• Even though it is shipped from Asia, where it is manufactured, it has a 64% lower carbon footprint than recycled toilet paper manufactured here in the UK
• They come in shorter sheet lengths, so users take less paper, meaning less waste

There is no compromise in function either:

• Sugarcane fibres are short and delicate, which means that they break down easily when flushed which is necessary to avoid blockages
• Despite their ability to break down, they are incredibly durable for use
• If you combine them with a Fig Ecomatic feed restricting dispenser, this also reduces the volume used
• Because the material is so compact and light, you can fit more length into a dispenser, reducing refill frequency (saving staff time and reducing the risk of running out)

Fig Bamboo Paper Hand Towel Dispenser - White

Price: £29.94

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Bamboo

Bamboo is similar in many ways to sugarcane and its main application is hand towels. Just like sugarcane, they are an extremely sustainable alternative:

• Bamboo also reduces waste by repurposing by-products of the gardening and construction industries
• It has a lower carbon footprint than traditional recycled hand towels
• Research shows that people generally take the same number of sheets each time. Shorter sheets mean less material taken
• Bamboo as a material is extremely absorbent, which is another strategy for using less
• In total, due to these amazing waste-reducing properties (in combination with a Fig Ecomatic Autocut Dispenser) one case dries an average of 2,349 pairs of hands, compared to the equivalent of standard hand towels, which will only dry around 375 pairs

And very functional:

• Just as sugarcane fibre is perfect for toilet paper, bamboo is perfectly suited to hand towel because the long, strong fibres won’t disintegrate with use and have incredible wet strength
• Bamboo is also naturally anti-bacterial so it’s really hygienic for drying hands but also won’t smell bad in waste bins between emptying

It is through the development of these types of environmentally conscious materials as well as strategies to reduce consumption that organisations and washroom managers can really do their bit to be more sustainable. Plus, of course, reduced consumption also equals reduced costs. With no compromise in performance, there really are no downsides.