Toilet Paper Origami

Speaking of low tech, I was floored when I came across a site on Pinterest that is dedicated to making origami figures from toilet paper. It has everything from flowers to boats, and more. Almost was afraid to share this, but couldn't help myself. If you really want to waste some time, here is the LINK.

History of TP in the USA

The first product designed specifically to wipe one’s behind was invented in 1857 by a New Yorker named Joseph Gayetty, who sold boxes of  individual sheets infused with aloe. It was a difficult sell and he didn't exactly wipe out the competition as Americans still had the free Sears catalog, as well as other free alternatives.

In 1890, the Scott brothers came up with toilet paper on a roll, which they mainly marketed to hotels and drugstores. It was still a difficult sell and many were reluctant to go out and order something so personal. They managed to cling on and are still selling their product today.

As the 1900s began, more homes included inside flush toilets. That is when greater acceptance came for toilet paper. Indoor plumbing did not do well with catalog paper or other heavier alternatives, like leaves, etc. People required a product that could be flushed away with minimal clogging or damage to the pipes and catalog paper, corncobs, and moss did not flush well. Toilet paper became an alternative that still works.

The United States spends more than $6 billion a year on toilet tissue, more than any other nation in the world. Maybe someone can invent a way to turn junk mail into toilet paper and it would at least have some value.

Gillette and Objectionable Hair

In November 1902, King (his real name) Gillette filed a patent for a safety razor that was a modest improvement on previous models.  It sold for $5, the equivalent of about $100 today. He told his staff that, “The whole success of this business depends on advertising.” Then he proved it.

Many countries do not share the hygiene habits we do in the US. Did you ever think about why we do things differently? Maybe it is not so much custom as it is the power of advertising. After selling millions of razors and blades to men, Gillette developed a new insecurity for women and he called it 'objectionable hair'.

The Journal of American Culture reveals that women shaving, in particular their underarms, was caused by magazine marketing.It says the hair-free underarm revolution was created by a marketing blitz from Gillette called The Great Underarm Campaign.

It began in May 1915, in Harper's Bazaar magazine. The first ad "featured a waist-up photograph of a young woman who appears to be dressed in a slip with a toga-like outfit covering one shoulder. Her arms are arched over her head revealing perfectly clean armpits. The first part of the ad read, 'Summer Dress and Modern Dancing combine to make necessary the removal of objectionable hair.'

Within three months, the once-shocking term "underarm" was being used. A few ads mentioned hygiene as a motive for getting rid of hair, and most appealed strictly to the yearning to be hip.

Gillette changed a nation and has sold billions of razors and blades in the process. This is the same company showed us that one blade was not enough, then two, then three, then four, and now five blades make the perfect shave. Reminds me of two and three ply toilet paper. The Gillette products became so ubiquitous that the name became as synonymous with razor as Kleenex is with tissues.

Toilet Talk

Had to share this strange, but useful web site 'where do i put the paper' for travelers. LINK  It provides a guide to toilet and use of toilet paper habits around the world. Don't expect pictures or fancy text, just a black and white text of what to expect. You will be surprised at how many cities do not have facilities for flushing and how many do not provide paper. For instance, in Greece you should use the bin next to the toilet, because the plumbing system can't handle the paper. OK, if you are not planning to take a trip, skip it. If you are planning a trip, it could provide some good advice to save a bit of embarrassment.
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Did You Know

Sixty million rolls of toilet paper are flushed away in Europe every day. The average American uses 57 sheets a day, six times the global average. Although usage in the US has remained stable, third world countries are catching up. China usage has increased 11% in the last ten years.

Environmentalists are concerned and someone actually calculated that TP usage equals 27,000 trees being flushed down the, um, drain. We can't go back to corn cobs or we will deprive cattle of food or fuel for the new eco cars.  So, if we use less toilet tissue, are we being green, or . . .

More Toilet Paper

Crumpler Bags does many wacky advertisings, but the below is a bit far out. Notice the numbers and colors: 1 - brown, 2 - brown, etc.

They always find the most unique way to reach their customers and further their brand.

Their latest endeavor is distributing customized toiler paper in an array of areas in USA, Australia, Asia, Canada, and New Zealand. They plan to distribute 100,000 rolls of Paint By Numbers Toilet Paper.

Crumpler is an Aussie designer of trendy, colorful, and stylish bags that are perfect for ever day use, whether it be commuting to work, going to the gym, an outdoor trip, and more. Bags are available online, through selected specialty retailers nationwide, and at their two Crumpler NYC retail stores. LINK to the unique website.

Tree Saver

Leave it to the Japanese to be this creative. Oriental Company has come up with a machine by the name of ‘White Goat’ recently. It is an innovative machine that converts your wasted office paper into toilet paper in about 30minutes. After you put about 40sheeets of paper into the machine will then shred the paper, dissolve it in the water, thin the paper out, and then dry it into toilet sheets.


The company claims it costs $0.11 to churn out one toilet roll and it will save up to 60 trees a year. The machine is expected to hit the market in Japan in summer 2010, at a price of about $100,000. Ingenious.