Why is toilet paper wrapped in plastic?

[ForeverbyJudyBlume]

In the olden days I clearly remember that you bought toilet paper in bulk wrapped in paper. Now it all seems to come wrapped in plastic. I know there are companies like whogivesacrap way you can get rolls each wrapped individually in paper – but I don’t want that as a lot of paper gets wasted that way too. Seems such an obvious change to make and a simple one, does anyone know why toilet paper manufacturers and supermarkets can’t do this for us?

Completely agree.

I’m assuming it’s to do with damp.

But I agree with you.

I think @Llareggub has a point, but I wholeheartedly agree that it shouldn’t be wrapped in plastic.

I bought some from B&M last week and noticed the packaging had changed to paper rather than the usual plastic. So maybe the message is getting across somewhere? Not sure what the brand is called, the cheap stuff with aloe Vera (Nicky maybe?)

I also noticed the packaging fell apart as I carried it home - managed to catch it all before it fell in puddles though... Should've brought a bag with me, I know!

I but from Who Gives A Crap to avoid plastic and they also donate half their profits to building toilets.

My local Oxfam sells Cheeky Panda 4 packs wrapped in paper. Ocado also sell packs of 24. It is expensive though, so I usually get waitrose recycled toilet paper and then recycle the bag along with other carrier bags that seem to accumulate!

Same with cans of drink. Some companies are now packing them in cardboard but it seems to be taking a while for things to change.

Toilet paper is designed to break down in water and dissolve into smaller bits. If you think about the journey from the factory to warehouse to shop floor to being purchased to arriving in your home, which can take months from production, then plastic is probably the most economical way of doing this. Doesn't make it right though. You can sometimes buy individual rolls in markets.

You should try Amazon.
Andrex 9 rolls per pack 4 packs in bundle.
All packs individually wrapped in plastic and then another huge plastic bag to keep the bundle together and then into a massive cardboard box stuffed with paper.

It's big roll, TP, not Crystal glasses

I too use Who Gives A Crap.
Their rolls are individually wrapped in paper.
Here is a discount link.
www.talkable.com/x/W0J4qs

So Cheeky Panda is wrapped in paper? I don’t mind paying a bit more. Right now I’m buying 2 packs of Andrex from corner shops - they come paper wrappped. I think there should be legislation to ban plastic wrapping unless proved necessary

It's simple - paper rips so half of the average supermarkets stock would end up damaged and dirty before it's even made it to the checkouts. An awful lot would probably end up having to be sold at a reduced price causing financial loss to the supermarket.
(former retail worker here - customers are frequently messy and have no respect for the stock on the shelves)

Bumboo is about the best I think. I buy a box of 48 rolls and with discount, works out at £32. All paper wrapped in lovely shades so looks decent in the bathroom too

Yes OP, Ocado currently do 24 rolls of Cheeky Panda for £20.

See this us why I cant afford to shop ethically it's too expensive 🤷‍♀️ you can get sweetcorn or potato starch plastic these days cant they use those instead

Thank you bookmum08, that's really helpful

As slippery says why can't they just wrap it in potato starch?

I agree these prices are too much for a lot of people but I've decided to cut corners elsewhere to buy the ethical version whenever possible because only if supermarkets start seeing that curve will they start developing more affordable versions. The whole situation makes me so

It is expensive. Who Gives a Crap is not that much more than regular supermarket own brand but as you have to buy 48 rolls at a time you have the money to buy 48 roles and somewhere to store them!

What I don't like about Who Gives A Crap is that they individually wrap the rolls, something they've admitted they do to gain Instagram traction. I see their point but it's still a lot of paper wasted. Plus they're shipping in from China. The Holy Grail would be British/European produced paper bulk wrapped in paper but hey, I may just need to get a life

No Forever You're right , we're in a crisis and so many people are ignoring it because it's too upsetting or for whatever reason , so very little will change unless we all make a fuss. I get at the amount of stuff that is tankered over from China when we could be buying it from Europe. That's true about Fr. too where we live 50% of the year.