Toilet paper sometimes called bathroom tissue is a household essential used for quite a lot of things.
There are lots of unexpected ways toilet paper can be used which could also explain the concern on if it is biodegradable or not. Whether you are just conscious of your environment’s health or want to help protect your health, It is important to know what items around the house are biodegradable or not.
The topic of the safest toilet paper for the environment is an important one and knowing alternatives can also go a long way. Toilet paper has been around since the 6th century, but it wasn’t until the 19th century before it received some recognition and was introduced in England and America.
Yes, toilet paper is biodegradable and this applies to all kinds of toilet paper. Toilet paper is made with natural material which includes paper-like wood pulp or virgin wood pulp fiber. Since it is also made to be flushed down the toilet then hence it is sure going to decompose however note that some materials can take around 100 years to biodegrade. There are also biodegradable toilet papers that decompose faster than regular tissue paper.
Biodegradable toilet paper is a lot different from regular toilet paper. The production process involved in making toilet paper is different from one used in making biodegradable ones but read on to find out if they have a toxic impact on the environment before discarding them completely.
What ”Biodegradable” Really Means?
Not many understand the term biodegradable and knowing about it can help decide what is safe for the environment and what is not. Biodegradable means that an item can be broken down by bacteria, microbes, or fungi into really small pieces.
In basic terms, it can also mean for an item to decompose by the action of microorganisms.
When a product is biodegradable, it means that it will break down faster than an item that is not. Biodegradable products can break down into organic material or carbon dioxide. Biodegradable products have to be made from ingredients like sugarcane, cornstarch, and plant by-products.
Everything used daily can be called biodegradable however they each have a specified length of time they biodegrade completely. Items like food and plant are naturally biodegradable and items such as plastics and wooden cutlery are biodegradable as well, but they can take longer.
Is Toilet Paper Biodegradable?
All kinds of toilet paper are biodegradable but unfortunately, some can take a long while before they break down. In terms of environmental benefits, it is best to go for toilet paper that is specifically made with biodegradable ingredients instead of regular toilet paper.
Biodegradable toilet paper breaks down 4 times faster than the regular ones hence they are safer for the environment.
Biodegradable toilet paper is meant to break down completely and not leave any harmful material behind, and they don’t clog the drain as well unlike the traditional toilet paper. Toilet paper is made from natural material so yes, it is biodegradable, but you might want to consider the thickness.
How Long Does It Take For Toilet Paper To Biodegrade?
How long it takes toilet paper to biodegrade depends on the material used.
Most toilet paper can take 5 weeks to break down completely while thicker ones can take longer. Toilets paper buried are sure to take longer to biodegrade completely, but if soaked in water, the process takes anything from 1 to 4 minutes to dissolve.
Since toilet papers are designed to be flushed down the toilet then there their quick dissolved method has to be engineered to make this happen. In conclusion, traditional toilet paper should biodegrade completely in 1 to 3 years.
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Final Thoughts
There are quite a lot of factors that will determine how fast toilet paper biodegrades.
There are also toilet papers that can take 100 years to fully decompose hence it is important to stick to the ones that biodegrade faster for the benefit of the environment.
Note that during the production of some toilet paper might come in contact with some chemicals that can still harm the environment which is why some people consider the use of recycled toilet paper.
However, you simply opt for toilet paper that can break down as soon as they come in contact with water.
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