There are fears of more toilet roll shortages in the UK as a new EU law takes effect.
A business owner has warned there could be a ‘squeeze’ on the amount of toilet paper available after a new EU ban on products linked to deforestation. Memories are still fresh of empty shelves during the early days of Covid-19 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. The European authority plans to bring in a ban on products linked to deforestation and Cheeky Panda owner Chris Forbes said the change will have a “gigantic effect” on the industry.
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He told The Grocer: “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 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. He also claimed that 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.
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.
Despite Mr Forbes’s bleak outlook, major producer Essity said it was fully prepared for the new regulation, The Mirror reports.
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.”
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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