ARE YOU BUYING THE BEST TOILET PAPER IN NZ?

Now that the craziness of people hoarding toilet paper (and now attempting to return it) is over – Consumer NZ’s latest test revolved around 26 different toilet papers to see which one is the best for skin, the environment, and your plumbing.

As a consumer, it is important to make sustainable choices where you can and change the world with your wallet. Put your money where your butt is and buy what’s best! I’ve always been in charge of buying the toilet paper for all of my flats. One time, an old flat mate brought home the WORST cheapest toilet paper and said: “Well it’s just gonna have sh*t on it anyway.” Not the point mate! No one wants bits of toilet paper left anywhere on their body from their bits to their shoes. So I’ve always been a proud owner of Sorbent. Tried and true. It’s a national hero.

During Consumer NZ’s toilet paper test they were keen to find out which one broke down the quickest. “We were surprised that the softest product Kleenex Complete Care (extra thick sheets), took a whopping 11 minutes to disintegrate,” said Jon Duffy, Consumer NZ chief executive. “This was 20 times longer than Earthcare 100% Recycled, which took 32 seconds.” Duffy added that it is important for everyone to make greener purchasing choices and there is more to just picking the best bog roll than just for comfort.

“We want to ensure Kiwis have the best information available to help them make good purchasing decisions in this critical area.”

THE CRITERIA

Consumer NZ assessed separation ease, disintegration time, environmental factors and, critically, puncture resistance to produce its toilet paper ratings. “Products containing recycled or sustainably sourced paper or that are manufactured in New Zealand using locally sourced raw materials were awarded higher scores.” Printed, perfumed and bleached products lost points because of the additional environmental impacts of these processes. “We think manufacturers should be minimising unnecessary features in products where those features consume extra resources.” Consumer NZ also considered softness, but it wasn’t included in its overall rating. “It’s a sensitive area and results vary depending on whether the user is a folder or a scruncher. We didn’t want to give anyone a bum steer,” Mr Duffy said. The good news is there are products that have a lower environmental impact and allow consumers to take the time to treat themselves to a higher level of comfort. In the end, only 10 of 26 products made the cut.