Germany is in second position, perhaps we should introduce the use of the bidet against deforestation? What do you think about it?

44 comments

  1. If you manage to touch poo with your hands, what would you use to clean them? (1) water and soap or (2) just toilet paper

    (…)

  2. I’m amazed how much paper the countries with bidets use tbh. Doesn’t seem to make too much of a difference. I also don’t know anybody who uses that much toilet paper. With a family of four, that would be a roll a day?

  3. Deforestation isn’t — or doesn’t have to be — caused by people using paper. Paper can be taken from sustainable forestry, and then recycled.

    Deforestation is caused by land clearance for things like agriculture, road-building and so on.

  5. Afaik toilet paper is produced domesticly and we raise trees for that purpose. So it’s not like we cut down forrests for it.

    Someone correct me if i am wrong.

  6. I’m Spanish and I’m still amazed about how much toilet paper my German wife uses for everything.

  7. I mean bidets are awesome, I would argue for subsidising/awareness campaign on a health/hygiene platform before I’d go for deforestation. Plus nowadays you can get bidet toilet seats, which are better than nothing.

  8. Interesting food for thought. Assuming you use 4-ply toilet paper, every German pays ~ 33€ in toilet paper a year. I don’t see how installing a bidet and still having to use toilet paper for drying would make sense fiscally. How much would it cost to have a bidet installed? Would the landlord have to pay for it?

  11. I think the bigger lever to pull against deforestation sits at the other end of the digestive system. Like eating less meat that grazed on pastures, or has been feed by soy beans that were grown on what used to be a forest. Maybe with more fiber of a more plant based diet you don’t need as much toilet paper. (This is not /s , I do mean every word of it but please still take with a grain of humour)

    I don’t oppose the idea of a bidet but I will not install basically an other toiletbowl with a faucet like in my grandmother’s old bathroom. I want something modern. That doesn’t take up so much space. Maybe something handheld with a rechargeable battery? I have seen advertising for these. Will this have a better environmental footprint over its lifetime than few a dozen packs of recycled toilet paper?

  15. I really don’t get it tbh. How can you use less? Or is this statistics just due to more layers?

  18. I’m not sure bidets are appropriate for women. I read a study once that said it can disrupt vaginal microflora and increase the risk of infections.

  19. That’s more than 40 sheets a day for the top countries if we talk 4-ply only. 60 to 80 for cheapskates.

    As a fellow human, I’m an avid defacator but I can’t see how these numbers can be real unless people use TP mainly for non-groin area related reasons.

  20. O think the number in Brazil has nothing to do with environment concernings … it’s more because a lot of people simply don’t even has access to it.

  23. It’s our women. I swear, she moves out and suddenly you need like a quarter of what you needed to buy when she was living with you.

  24. Does Japan not have bidets, in most places? I thought so, and therefor wonder what they use that much toilet paper for.

  25. 86?!
    I’m disgusted my German brethren. Didn’t Frauentausch teach us to use a single sheet per wipe?

  27. OP there is just one flaw in your logic here.

    German paper useage doesnt lead to deforestation. Deforestation only occurs when the actual forest area shrinks. But if you plant and harvest trees and then replant for paper production then there is no deforestation.

  28. Toilet paper has no influence on deforestation. Germany has a lot of Nutzwälder (usable forests) that are constantly cut down and replanted. Plus, a not inconsiderable amount of toilet paper is recycled paper.

    Don’t get me wrong, I’d love to have a bidet, but not because I‘m worried about our forests.

  33. I am Brazilian and live in Germany for a good while now. I can safely attest that we don’t use less toilet paper than Germans, at least not by length, but certainly by weight.

    In Brazil we have toilet papers with one, two or three layers, here in Germany the “normal” is at least four. I understand it helps with softness and strength, but wipe with a six layered toilet paper is too much.

  42. I’m pretty sure everyone I know does not use a new toilet paper roll every 5th day. Wtf. That would be ~40 sheets of toilet paper per day.

    And yes, I know how averages work. But that would mean some people use ~ 60-70 sheets per day.

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