your butt might be a wee bit upset

but, it is for the betterment of the planet, for gosh sakes.  So GET OVER IT!!

We in America have this awful habit of wiping our asses with the most pristine of tissue papers… made from virgin wood, process with chemicals… just so we have that soft texture for the THREE SECOND job.  Yep.  That is the average amount of contact time of toilet paper to nibbly bits.

And that habit is doing more damage than driving an SUV, eating fast food, or owning a huge house.  More than 98% of what is sold in this country is toilet paper made from virgin trees.  Other countries, only purchase 40%.  Interestingly, Americans use more paper than any other country in the world: about three times more European and 10o times more than your average person in China.

What are virgin trees or forests?  Timber from an original forest that has not been previously disturbed or influenced by human activity. Many consider 150 year old trees virgin. Also, and most importantly, untouched, natural forests can store up to three times the carbon than those forests created in man-made tree farms and plantations. Plus, to add insult to injury, those untouched forests not only store more, but the carbon that is stored is never released, as it is with tree farms that are frequently logged.

In other words… stop buying Charmin or Cottenelle or Brawny paper towels even. JUST STOP IT… you really have no excuse because it is just the right thing to do.

Greenpeace has put out a very easy guide to follow about purchasing eco-friendly tissue. Download it, follow it, do your part to save the trees and the planet.