Sudden surge in demand for toilet paper in China

[Fenris]

SHANGHAI (AFP) - Surging demand for toilet paper in China has some of the nation's suppliers in a flush, state press said.

"I'm happy to see many young people adopt paper tissues for the convenience, which is a sign that reflects our social development and has helped improve our industry," Wang Yueqin, vice-director of Shanghai Paper Trade Association, said.

But Wang, quoted in the China Daily, said he was "beginning to worry about the large wood consumption" and the industry needed to consider other technologies and uses.

"We are trying to encourage the application of new materials and technologies," he said, pointing to one factory in Jiangsu province now making toilet paper from straw.

Another in southern Guangxi has managed to produce tissues from sugarcane.

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http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=1516&ncid=1516&e=8&u=/afp/20050217/od_afp/chinatoiletsoffbeat_050217233549

[SpiralHawk]

1. "As usual, we will paper this problem over." - BushCo

Finally, BushCo has a foriegn policy suitable for China's "problem."

[expatriot]

2. If you read the article, the traditional method is handkerchiefs!

My question, do they fold them up and put them in their pockets when they are done?

Gross.

[cliss]

5. I was just wondering the same thing.

Notice, the article says, "I'm happy to see many young people adopt paper tissues for the convenience..."

My first thought was, so what did they do before TP? You answered my question.

I remember reading about 10 years ago, Chinese farmers were really short of fertilizer. They didn't have so much access to chemical fertilizers then. It was just c-r-a-p; the old-fashioned kind. The article said that farmers would try to entice a passer-by to come take a dump in his out-house, so he could use the goods. :smoke:

[madrchsod]

3. recycled paper is one of the

united states biggest export....

[Sporadicus]

4. 'toilet paper from straw'?

Sounds like a recipe for that 'John Wayne paper' I remember from elementary school...rough, tough & don't take shit off nobody!

[Spinzonner]

6. Sounds like they could be in a world of sh*t

if they don't solve the problem