Fears of possible toilet roll shortages as boss warns of ‘squeeze’ ahead of new law

Fears of toilet roll shortages have sprung up once again after a new EU ban.

The boss of a toilet paper company has warned that new laws could have a ‘gigantic effect’ on the industry, the Mirror reports. The European authority plans to bring in a ban on products linked to deforestation.

Chris Forbes, owner of sustainable brand Cheeky Panda, told The Grocer this will lead to the price of recycled tissue increasing. Though major producer Essity said it was fully prepared for the new regulation.

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Mr Forbes said: “There will definitely be a squeeze on availability and we can expect the price of recycled tissue to rise as demand for alternatives increases.”

Mr Forbes said businesses reliant on virgin pulp as raw material will struggle to make the changes in time. The ‘vast majority’ of products like paper towels, facial tissues and toilet paper all use the raw material, which is garnered from newly harvested trees.

Mr Forbes claimed some of the major brands that produce these products would have to spend ‘billions’ on an ‘operational transformation’ to keep step with the new laws. American finance company MSCI found in a study that ‘preparedness does not appear to be high’.

“Eliminating products rooted in deforested land from a supply chain is typically a major endeavour requiring extensive due diligence,” it said. The EU’s new laws require all companies trading commodities like wood, coffee, soy and cocoa to follow strict processes to trade with the bloc.

Key to the UK is the fact that products linked to deforestation will be banned from imports and expert with the EU. Essity said it was fully prepared for the new regulation.

The company, which produces toilet rolls under the Velvet, Cushelle and Tork brands, said: “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.

“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.”

The company employs around 400 people at its site in Prudhoe, Northumberland. Vikki Makinson, the head of marketing and communications for tissue maker Accrol, said: “We don’t anticipate paper supply shortages as a result of these regulations but potentially a surge in demand for FSC-certified, PEFC and other sustainably sourced stocks.”

Though a different cause, any possible shortage of toilet rolls could be a strange flashback for people who remember the early days of the pandemic, in which panic buyers cleaned out some supermarket shelves as they braced for lockdown.

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