Scotts Naturals Tube Free Bath Tissue: Good Green Wiping or Greenwashing

Just a few months ago, Kimberly Clark, the producer of Scott tissues, toilet paper and paper towels announce a revolutionary development in toilet paper, a tube free roll. Introduced in select parts of the country and distributed by Wal-Mart and Sam's Clubs this toilet paper was described as being less waste and eco-friendly but is it really a good green wipe or just another greenwashing?

For as long as many of us can remember toilet paper rolls have a cardboard paper center with the last piece of toilet paper glued to the cardboard roll. In most cases you can pull the last sheet off, but in many others the glue and paper stick to the roll and is "wasted." The cardboard as well as the last sheet of paper is recyclable, so what's the big deal about a cardboard tube that is no longer being used?

According to a survey conducted by Scott Naturals of 1,006 Americans, 85 percent said they typically do not recycle the tubes, but throw them away. The company states that this means with 17 billion tubes used annually, approximately 160 million pounds of waste, is not recycled. This amount is almost equal to the weight of more than 250 Boeing 747 airliners.

Just the facts about Scott Naturals Tube Free Bath Tissue

Scott Naturals is using a patent pending, top secret rolling system specially designed to eliminate the need for the cardboard tube in the middle to keep the roll, on the roll. There are no other changes: your toilet paper will still load onto the toilet tissue dispenser and remain circular making it pull off of the roll just like using the tube does. Even better, Scott Bath Tissue claims that this "eco-friendly" toilet paper will cost no more than the regular rolls of Scott Naturals Bath Tissue. KC says, "By eliminating the tube, we are making it easy for consumers to help tangibly improve the environment, without compromising on product quality or performance. We know that it all adds up, and we're helping our consumers make a positive impact."

Kimberly Clark's efforts to "go green"

The "tube free" tissue paper isn't the first time that Kimberly Clark has tried to "go green." It also produces a line of "naturals" and products made with recycled materials. Kimberly Clark has also designed a "Rapid Dissolving" tissue that will break down in water four times faster than traditional TP, in an effort to produce less waste water. They also produce a napkin product made with 80 percent recycled content.

What comes next for Scott Naturals Tube Free Tissue Bath Tissue? If popular, the next step is to take the paper national, and use the same "formula" to create a tube free paper towel product.

How does Scott Naturals Tube Free Tissue Bath Tissue measure up to other eco-friendly tissue paper alternatives?

There are many other eco-friendly tissue paper alternatives available for your bathroom, so how can you tell which one you should choose? Ask these three questions when considering the eco-friendliness of your tissue paper:

Was the paper and packaging made from recycled materials?

Is the paper chlorine/chemical free?

Is the paper biodegradable?

Let's do a little comparison shopping and see which way the "roll" rolls:

White Cloud Green Earth Bath Tissue: Fiber content: 100% Recycled

Scott Naturals Bathroom Tissue: Fiber Content: 40% Recycled

Marcal: Fiber Content 100% Recycled, Chlorine, Fragrance and Dyes Free

Seventh Generation: Fiber Content 100% Recycled, Chlorine, Fragrance, Dye and Chemical Free

You do the math and decide, is tube free toilet tissue by Scott the best eco-friendly alternative for your family? Before we judge the tube by its center let's look at the overall roll and ask ourselves does the production cost more; does it use more energy? And is the end product really a good green wipe or a wipe gone greenwashing?

If your toilet tissue is going down the tubes try reusing and recycling with these ideas and tips:

Use a TP tube to determining if a child can choke on an object? If the toys or object can go through the tube, it most probably can be swallowed - not that that's a good thing but it gives you a measuring "stick" or maybe we should say tube.

Use tubes to create fun and interesting craft projects like puppets and binoculars? You can even create a whole set of "people," seasonal crafts and even a giant castle with your toilet paper rolls.

Recycle the tubes. Keep a small recycling container in the bathroom for the tubes and your empty plastic bottles of body wash or shampoos. This way you make sure that what can be recycled actually makes it out to the curb, but not in the landfill.

Sources:

Personal experience

Kimberly Clark Press Release

Kimberly Clark Scott Tissues Tube Free

White Cloud

Marcal

Seventh Generation