FEARS that a new super-strong toilet tissue might clog up Britain鈥檚 sewage
system have been averted, thanks to the swift introduction of a 鈥渇lushability鈥�
test.
The crisis was sparked by Procter & Gamble of Newcastle upon Tyne, which
in January launched a fortified brand of toilet tissue. Charmin contains special
ingredients which give it 鈥渢ransient wet strength鈥�. This prevents 鈥減remature
disintegration鈥� of the tissue when it is exposed to small amounts of moisture
during use.
Kimberly-Clark of Reigate, Surrey, which makes Britain鈥檚 best-selling Andrex
brand, cried foul. In a letter to Procter & Gamble and the industry鈥檚 trade
association, Kimberly-Clark said that the technology had been rejected by
British manufacturers because of fears that stubborn tissue would clog filters
at sewage works.
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To rescue a touchy situation, the trade body, the Association of Makers of
Soft Tissue Papers, drafted a voluntary testing protocol for new tissues, which
can check that their 鈥渇lushability鈥� and 鈥渄ispersability鈥� stay within agreed
limits. Procter & Gamble, meanwhile, has agreed to halve the transient wet
strength of Charmin to match a sister product sold in the US.
According to one source in the industry, there is evidence that before
Americans use toilet paper they usually 鈥渟crunch鈥� it. Britons tend to fold their
tissue, which makes it weaker when wet. This might explain, says the source, why
Procter & Gamble opted for an extra-strong product for Britain.