Wipe That Smirk Off Your Face!

Trees are needed, as a partial solution to climate change. They remove atmospheric carbon, storing it for relatively extended periods. This action reduces the 'greenhouse gas' effect and slows planetary heating. Global deforestation, however, has been directly linked to an increasing demand for toilet paper. This currently requires the annual chopping down of circa 1m trees. Environmentally-concerned folk, in the UK, have been offered two alternatives. Toilet tissues a) manufactured from recycled paper and b) rolls utilising bamboo (https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/mar/27/three-of-uks-top-five-bamboo-loo-roll-brands-made-from-other-wood). Although it's a big plant, bamboo is actually a fast-growing grass. On a weight-for-weight basis, it consumes more carbon dioxide and releases more oxygen than a tree. Several bamboo-containing toilet rolls (often with amusing names) have been marketed in the UK (and elsewhere). Some have been certified by the Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC). The FSC certifies responsibly-managed forests and their products. The consumer watchdog, Which, has, however, evaluated the contents of top-selling brands of UK 'bamboo' toilet rolls. Although a few were 100% bamboo, others contained as little as 2.7% of this plant. Some rolls, had much higher (unadvertised) contents of Acacia and/or Eucalyptus, fast-growing hardwoods. The FSC is concerned and appears keen to stop people being bamboozled by such 'greenwash'.