The people growing their own toilet paper (www.bbc.com)

submitted 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago) by wolfyvegan@slrpnk.net to c/biodiversity@mander.xyz

4 comments fedilink hide all child comments

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ca/post/41960022

Plectranthus barbatus grows to its full height in 1-2 months from a cutting and the cutting itself costs around 50 Kenyan shillings ($0.37).

"The leaves are similar in size to an industrial toilet paper square, making them suitable for use in modern flush toilets or for composting in latrines," says Odhiambo.

They emit a minty, lemony fragrance. Covered in tiny hairs, the leaves have a soft texture.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments

[-] federalreverse@feddit.org 4 points 6 days ago* (last edited 6 days ago)

One drawback is that wastewater and disposal systems, especially in Europe, aren't designed to handle this type of paper

I guess those French households with excrement-hacking toilets might finally be at an advantage..? Of course, apartments with such bad plumbing are unlikely to have a garden, so tant pis.

"I use a compost toilet. The leaves go back to the earth and produce soil, which can then support food growth. It's a closed-loop system, [...]"

Presumably the guy from Florida buys at least some of his food in a supermarket. He'll end up with a lot more nutrients than he should, and it's not really a loop anymore.

WEPA has developed a new method using recycled cardboard to produce toilet paper, which does not involve bleaching the fibres, a spokesperson says.

Was not accepted in this household, because brown also is the color the thing you smear on it. So back to bleached (but recycled) paper.

(Massive props to the BBC for including the Gates Foundation end card in the video. The segment is going to do great with the kinds of people who are already worried about 15-minute cities and the Rainforest Alliance logo. "Gates wants to take away MY precious 5-layer pure-teak old-growth TP!?")

[-] jol@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 6 days ago

Recycled paper is way less brown than poop, in don't know what you're talking about...

Anyway, I use a bidet 9/10 times and a towel. No toilet paper needed.

[-] federalreverse@feddit.org 1 points 5 days ago* (last edited 5 days ago)

It wasn't me who complained. I believe it had something to do with both insufficient contrast between bottom layer and spread and excessive beigeness for the other person.

[-] AngryCommieKender@lemmy.world 2 points 5 days ago

France has poop knife toilets?

this post was submitted on 09 Apr 2025

36 points (97.4% liked)

Biodiversity

1767 readers

77 users here now

Welcome to c/Biodiversity @ Mander.xyz!

A community about the variety of life on Earth at all levels; including plants, animals, bacteria, and fungi.

Notice Board

This is a work in progress, please don't mind the mess.

2023-06-16: We invite our users to contribute resources for the sidebar.

2023-06-15: Looking for mods!

About

Biodiversity is a term used to describe the enormous variety of life on Earth. It can be used more specifically to refer to all of the species in one region or ecosystem. Biodiversity refers to every living thing, including plants, bacteria, animals, and humans. Scientists have estimated that there are around 8.7 million species of plants and animals in existence. However, only around 1.2 million species have been identified and described so far, most of which are insects. This means that millions of other organisms remain a complete mystery.

Over generations, all of the species that are currently alive today have evolved unique traits that make them distinct from other species. These differences are what scientists use to tell one species from another. Organisms that have evolved to be so different from one another that they can no longer reproduce with each other are considered different species. All organisms that can reproduce with each other fall into one species. Read more...

Rules