Toilet roll shortages may be on the horizon again after new EU rules to ban products linked to deforestation come into force next month.
Memories are still fresh of empty shelves during the early days of Covid lockdown, as shoppers panic-bought toilet paper and caused retailers to ration sales. Now the boss of a toilet paper company has warned those days may return soon due a lack of preparation for the new laws.
Chris Forbes, boss of Cheeky Panda, which produces toilet paper made from bamboo, said the ban on products linked to deforestation from May, and will have a “gigantic effect” on the toilet paper sector, as many companies are still heavily reliant on virgin pulp as a raw material and so will struggle to make the changes needed in time for the new rules. "There will definitely be a squeeze on availability and we can expect the price of recycled tissue to rise as demand for alternatives increases,” Forbes told The Grocer.
Read more: High court orders Tesco to stop using yellow Clubcard logo in Lidl copycat row
He said “the vast majority” of tissue products – such as toilet paper, facial tissues and paper towels – sold in the UK and EU was still made of virgin fibres from newly harvested trees and some of the biggest brand and own-label tissue suppliers would have to “spend billions of pounds on operational transformation” to abide by the new laws.
The EU’s new laws will require all companies trading commodities like wood, coffee, soy and cocoa to follow strict processes to trade with the bloc and products linked to deforestation will be banned from import and export with the EU. The new laws will have an 18 month implementation period for larger firms and a 24 month period for smaller to medium sized businesses.
However Essity, which produces toilet rolls under the Velvet, Cushelle and Tork brands in its Prudhoe, Northumberland, site, said it was fully prepared for the new EU regulation and supports the introduction of the law. Prudhoe is Essity’s largest site in the UK and employs around 400 people.
"Essity fully supports any legislation designed to combat deforestation. We have a long history of working closely with our suppliers under strict requirements to ensure that all of our raw materials are sourced ethically and responsibly," said a spokesperson.
"For companies of Essity’s size, the new EU legislation will come into full effect in 2024 following a transition period that will enable organisations to adapt to any required changes in supply chain. We can say with absolute confidence that there will not be a shortage of toilet roll resulting from changes to EU laws."
Now read:
- Tesco to close eight in-store pharmacies by August as part of shake-up
- Co-op takes on Sainsbury's and Tesco as it introduces special prices for loyalty members
- Seven sneaky tricks shops use to tempt you to spend more money
- Boots announces major change to its Advantage Card scheme for shoppers
- Drivers furious as Tesco takes £120 for fuel even if they buy much less
