 Of late there is a growing trend amongst Premium Hotels in India to opt for only Toilet paper (TP) as the medium for personal hygiene in toilets. Earlier, a combination of TP and water faucets( also known as health/hygiene faucets) were used basically to cater to the requirements of foreigners (TP) and Indians (hygiene faucets). Hygiene faucets were anything but “hygienic” since they invariably contaminated the toilets with their sprays falling outside the WC , had leakage issues and left the toilets wet and messy- a nightmare for the Housekeeping staff.
The issue of contaminated Wet Toilets and cost of maintenance prompted hotels to do away with these faucets and convert their toilets to TP only toilets, little realising that this was like getting off the hook and into the sharks mouth.
All major hotel chains today profess their commitment to a Green culture and are making a conscious effort to bring about greater awareness and adoption of Eco-friendly practices. However, they seem to have missed one of the main culprits of ecological damage- The Toilet Paper.
Allen Hershkowitz, a top scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council ,USA says toilet paper is a product that people use for less than three seconds but the ecological consequences of manufacturing it from trees is enormous. Future generations are going to look at the way we make toilet paper as one of the greatest excesses of our age.
Lets take a closer look at why such strong statements are made. Not many people know that 15 Million Trees( equivalent to over 100 public forests) are cut every year to produce 15 billion toilet rolls to satiate the need for Toilet Paper (TP) around the world. This is the single largest dispensable ecological disaster that mankind has brought on itself.
The ecological damage does not end with just the felling of trees. Water, the other fast diminishing natural resource is the second target of TPs. 60 litres of water is used to produce 1 roll Of TP . This translates to almost 1 Trillion litres of water required to produce TPs which is equivalent to the entire annual water consumption of cities like Bangalore and Delhi combined.
Chlorine for bleaching, sulphur etc. used in the manufacture of TPs find their way into our Eco-system through the waste effluents and are one of the causes of Dioxin Pollution, known for its carcinogenic and deformity producing capabilities.
Greenpeace has joined the issue by building awareness on TPs ecological impact and is aggressively promoting the use of recycled paper for manufacturing TPs and insisting on stopping virgin forests from being felled for TP production by the manufacturers.
What is ironical is that it is a well known fact that Toilet paper actually does not clean you thoroughly and leaves excreta residuals on the anal area and onto the hands since the faecal matter permeates through the porous paper and contaminates the fingers /hands. Toilet paper is also known to be one of the causes of itch, rash and other diseases and is a primary cause of blockage of pipes and sewage systems.
With so many negatives linked to the use of TP , it is pertinent that the Hospitality industry seriously looks at addressing the following 2 major issues:
1. Why are hotels in India feverishly adopting a Toilet Paper ONLY culture in the toilets?
2. Isnt there a better alternative to Toilet paper that is Eco-friendly, provides hygienic and convenient cleaning and helps in keeping a Dry toilet culture?
There is no doubt that Water is the best medium for cleaning after toilet, and we in India have been using the right medium for centuries ( unlike the western world which adopted the use of TP and are facing its disastrous consequences). However, the issue we have failed to address is how to make water a preferred medium for personal hygiene in a convenient , hygienic and eco-friendly manner.
Today, technology has a simple solution to these issues . The solution lies is in the adoption of Attachable Bidets, a device originally invented by the Japanese and now rapidly being accepted by many in the west as the best solution to the above problems.
What are Attachable Bidets?
Unlike the old fashioned ceramic bidets which were installed as a separate bowl (thus occupying a lot of space and making the user shift from the WC), the Attachable Bidets are a simple device made of ABS plastic that can easily be installed on any existing WC with a water line connection from a nearby water faucet point or the cistern (a simple T joint is all you require). The device has a specially designed retractable nozzle that sends a jet of water at an angle from below to clean the anal area. It takes just 5-10 seconds to get a thorough cleaning and a refreshing feeling WITHOUT having to use ones hands to clean. Just turning a knob or pressing a button by your side is enough to activate and close the system. You get a HANDS-FREE ( therefore GERMS FREE) cleaning in a convenient manner while being seated at the WC and use just 10% of water as compared to the traditional Hygiene faucets. Since the cleaning is all done from below and inside the WC, no spillage or wetting of toilet takes place, thus maintaining a Dry toilet culture .
Attachable Bidets come with an array of in-built options like a separate nozzle for feminine personal hygiene, Anti-bacterial and soft drop seats, warm water wash, warm air dryers, heated seats , remote controls and medicinal benefits for those with Piles, constipation etc.
They are suitable and convenient for everyone- be it adults, children, elders or those with special needs like handicaps.
These attachable bidets are an ideal solution to our Toilet hygiene issues. They also help save on the costs associated with expensive TP while providing a hygienic wash without use of ones hands unlike hygiene faucets/TP.
They are very affordable with starting prices at Rs. 1790 MRP. The savings on expensive TP and 90% water as compared to Hygiene faucets soon recover the cost of the product.
They are being currently marketed in India under the name HYGICLEAN. For more information, you may contact us on [email protected] |
