How can you call it sustainable when it’s shipped halfway around the world?

This is a question we get asked a lot... if your paper is manufactured in Asia, how can you call it a sustainable product? The carbon footprint alone must be huge?!

Well, let's look into it.

Sugarcane And Its Environmental Sustainability  

Environmental sustainability has become increasingly important to individuals and businesses and we've come to understand the need to reduce our carbon footprints.

Sugarcane is a versatile crop that offers several environmental advantages over traditional wood pulp used in toilet paper production.

Unlike trees, which take around 40 years to mature, sugar cane has a rapid growth cycle and can typically be harvested within 12 months. This means that sugarcane can be replenished more quickly, reducing deforestation and preserving natural habitats.

Sugarcane paper is made using Sugarcane Bagasse, a byproduct of sugar manufacture. This bagasse is a waste product and would otherwise be burnt, creating further environmental problems with pollution. 

By using  bagasse, we turn this waste generation to our advantage and reduce reliance on non-renewable resources.  Sugarcane processing facilities use the most advanced processes to maximise energy and water efficiency and most modern sugarcane mills have systems in place to produce both electricity and heat from biomass residues. 

This reduces the reliance on fossil fuels, and added to this sugar cane harvesting generally needs less water compared to other crops; its sustainability is even greater.

So How Does It Reduce Carbon Emissions?

When compared to conventional toilet paper production methods, manufacturing sugarcane toilet paper in China and shipping it to the UK has a significantly smaller carbon footprint.

China may well be 4,831 miles from the UK but eco-friendly shipping methods such as maritime cargo transport (which has a lower carbon footprint than air freight or road transportation), means we can reduce the impact of bringing it to the UK. When you add this to the already mentioned benefit of less energy and fewer greenhouse gas emissions from the production of the paper compared to wood pulp processing, it all begins to make sense. 

In 2020, an independent environmentalist wrote a white paper report of the carbon footprint of manufacturing bamboo toilet roll (sugarcane is very similar) including shipping to the UK, compared to manufacturing recycled and pure pulp toilet roll in the UK. 

The results were incredible. A snapshot of them are as follows:

Average carbon footprint for making 1 recycled toilet roll in the UK 188 grams of CO2

Average carbon footprint for making 1 pure pulp toilet roll in the UK 289 grams of CO2

Average carbon footprint for making 1 sugarcane toilet roll in China and shipping to the UK 114 grams of CO2

This demonstrates that sugarcane still has a 40% lower carbon footprint even including the shipping from China.

Increasing Consumer Awareness Improves Green Credentials

As consumers become more environmentally conscious, there is a growing demand for sustainable products that align with their ethical and ecological values. 

By choosing sugarcane toilet paper, consumers actively support companies that prioritise sustainability and responsible sourcing practices.

This shift in consumer behaviour further encourages manufacturers to adopt greener production methods and invest in renewable alternatives, driving even more positive change throughout the supply chain.

By opting for sugarcane toilet paper, consumers contribute to the preservation of biodiversity in regions where sugarcane is grown.

Unlike some wood pulp production, sugar cane cultivation can be integrated into diverse agricultural landscapes.

This helps support varied ecosystems, further enhancing biodiversity and conservation efforts.

So we hope that answers the question for you. The manufacturing of sugarcane toilet paper in China and shipping it to the UK represents a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions, conserving natural resources, and promoting environmental sustainability.

By harnessing the renewable properties of sugarcane and utilising efficient transportation methods, it helps fight climate change and preserves biodiversity.

As individuals and businesses alike embrace eco-friendly alternatives, the adoption of sugarcane toilet paper serves as a great example of how innovation and collaboration can lead to a greener and more sustainable future.