Is This the Greatest Invention Ever?

Toilet paper as we know it today is a relatively recent invention. But the first paper made for wiping was created in China about 700 years ago. It wasn’t until the 1850s that the idea spread beyond China. That’s when an American named Joseph Gayetty began selling sheets made from plant fiber that he called “medicated paper.” He encouraged people to use the sheets after using the bathroom.

Gayetty’s wipes weren’t popular though, and the next big step forward in TP technology didn’t happen until 1890. It was then that brothers Clarence and E. Irvin Scott came up with the idea of having one long sheet of paper wound around a roll. But the brothers faced a major obstacle in marketing their product: Nobody wanted to talk about it.

Today the brothers’ brand, Scott, proudly proclaims that its TP “gets the job done.” In the late 1800s, however, people were generally uncomfortable talking about what happened in the bathroom. In fact, the Scott brothers were so embarrassed by their own product that they didn’t take credit for it for about a decade.

What’s more, purchasing paper just for bathroom use would have seemed unusual and extravagant at the time the Scotts debuted their product. Americans typically used corncobs, moss, leaves, pages torn from catalogs and books, or other readily available items to clean themselves. But all that changed in the 1900s, when flush toilets and indoor plumbing became commonplace in American homes. Suddenly, people needed a product that wouldn’t clog or destroy plumbing systems. Yet talking about bathroom business remained taboo.

Enter a new era: Charmin.

In 2020, during the Covid-19 pandemic, there was another TP shortage, proving Americans still cannot fathom living without it. And indeed, toilet paper remains a big business. In a typical year, Americans spend about $9 billion on toilet paper, going through about 140 rolls of it per person.

Unfortunately, all that TP is wreaking havoc on our planet. According to Edge, a company that specializes in sustainability, 1 million trees are cut down annually to make the plush stuff we are used to. Is it time for a change?

There are other options that would be better for the environment. In Japan, high-tech toilet seats that combine a mini-shower and blow-dryer for the rear are popular. In many parts of the world, bidets—basins with faucets for bottom washing—are common. Both options eliminate the need for TP and are less damaging to the environment, but neither has really caught on in the U.S.

So for now, think twice about how many squares you use. Or look for TP made from recycled paper. It may be a tad rougher on your bottom, but it’s a lot softer on the planet.