Shortly before the COVID-19/coronavirus pandemic was announced I ordered my first shipment of toilet paper from whogivesacrap.org. I'm not saying I predicted the pandemic panic shopping t.p. shortage, but my butt and I are glad I'm prepared! I'd been considering this company for a couple months because they share my passion for living more sustainably.
One reason I decided to order is because the packaging is plastic free. Rolls are wrapped in tissue paper consumers can reuse as gift wrap, packing paper, or - this just in - emergency toilet paper if there is a t.p. shortage due to a virus pandemic or zombie apocalypse.
Another reason to support this supplier is their contribution to building poo infrastructure. Whogivesacrap cares about where people give a crap by helping provide toilets.
My first shipment of 48 rolls arrived with impeccable timing, shortly before the WHO (World Health Organization) declared a pandemic and the Great T.P. Shortage of 2020 began.
Three rolls in the shipment are packaged with "EMERGENCY ROLL" messaging to remind subscribers to reorder (or adjust their next delivery date). With the pandemic, these emergency rolls are taking on a second meaning. There may actually be an emergency t.p.situation if people don't stop panic buying... I promise not to sell these on eBay for extortionate prices. I may share with those in need, though.
I don't think t.p. supply will be an issue after this week but stranger things have happened. American consumers do questionable things in "the best of times" - there's no predicting what we'll do when a pandemic has been declared and zombies are rumored to be real. These are strange times. Strange times indeed.
Photos by author.