As our world is moving towards environmentally-conscious items, many people are selecting bidets to save toilet paper. The idea is to reduce the waste that comes with using toilet paper. However, you might be wondering if using a bidet can entirely replace toilet paper.
If you have this question on your mind, you have come to the right place. Here is a complete guide to help you answer your questions.
Table of Contents
Can A Bidet Replace Toilet Paper Entirely?
In the long run, using a bidet will help reduce toilet paper use. For example, using a bidet can help you save at least two rolls of toilet paper each week for each person. So, if four people live in your house, you will save at least eight rolls per week.
If you take this example and apply it to the population of America, then using a bidet can help save more than thirty-six billion toilet paper rolls per year in the US. In addition, millions of trees are destroyed each year to create toilet paper, and bidet use can save this destruction.
Keep in mind that a bidet might not replace the use of toilet paper entirely. That is because many people still use toilet paper after using a bidet. For example, they use toilet paper to dry themselves before wearing their clothes.
So, it might not replace toilet paper entirely, but it will significantly reduce the amount of toilet paper we need daily. Because of this, it is a better method than using toilet paper.
Bidet Vs. Toilet Paper: Are They Sustainable?
While you might not completely replace toilet paper with a bidet, there are still many benefits to the environment when it comes to using a bidet. Here is a small comparison to help you understand if bidets are more sustainable or toilet paper rolls.
Here are all the factors that you need to consider when choosing between bidet and toilet paper:
1. Water Consumption
Many think that bidets are not better because we will still consume a lot of water, especially during production. Of course, this is a fair point to ponder, but let us tell you that bidets consume less water than toilet paper. For example, producing one toilet paper roll leads to using thirty-seven gallons of water.
On the other hand, when using a bidet, the average flow rate of water is more than 0.12 gallons each minute. This is because everyone uses the bidet for around twenty seconds. Of course, this means that a person uses less than even half a gallon of water every time they go to the bathroom.
In the long run, bidet use can conserve the use of water. But on the other hand, toilet paper production requires an immense amount of water that proves to be a waste in the long run.
2. Trees
Another important factor that many people consider when using toilet paper is trees. Millions of trees are destroyed each year to manufacture toilet paper. An average American uses nearly 30 pounds of toilet paper every year.
The use of thirty pounds of toilet paper each year means that, for an individual, more than 380 trees are being cut down each year. Of course, if you don’t use toilet paper, you will be saving hundreds of trees from getting destroyed. If you don’t want to stop using toilet paper completely, then you can reduce its use.
For example, even if you use less paper to dry yourself, it will help you reduce your consumption. Even this small change will help you save hundreds of trees in the long run.
3. Shipping
Most of the toilet paper that Americans use is made in the country. Of course, this is good because it means that the country doesn’t have to ship from abroad, which leads to fewer emissions. On the other hand, most of the bidets are manufactured in South Korea or China.
When these bidets are shipped from these places to the United States, it will lead to a high carbon footprint. Of course, once you have a bidet, you will not need to purchase another one for many years. While the initial impact of the bidet is heavy, it will not be as significant if you use the bidet for many years to come.
If you want to reduce the carbon footprint, you can invest in a bidet that has been manufactured in America. Doing this will help you reduce the impact of your carbon footprint.
4. Manufacturing Of Bidet
Finally, the manufacturing of trees is questionable because billions of trees are used each year for toilet paper. However, the manufacturing of bidets doesn’t require trees. Instead, most of the bidets have metal and plastic parts that help them function.
While plastic is not great for the environment, you will still be using the bidet for a long time to come. On the other hand, you can also opt for a stainless steel bidet if you are trying to reduce your metal consumption. Such a choice will ensure that you are not selecting any product made of plastic.
There are many options available in the market that will help you select the right bidet with the least environmental impact. It is up to you to make better and more conscious choices for yourself.
Final Verdict: Can Bidets Replace Toilet Paper Entirely?
That was your complete guide to understanding if bidets can entirely replace toilet paper. While they may not replace the use of paper entirely, they can significantly reduce the amount of toilet paper we use each year. If people only use one paper while drying themselves, even that will have a significant impact.
So, be sure to invest in the right bidet that also has the least significant environmental impact. It will help you reduce the carbon footprint and ensure that billions of trees are not harmed each year.
