30-Day Challenge #1: The Toilet Paper Switch

Ideas become powerful when we take action together.

As we settled into tiny living, my daughter and I thought it would be fun to create what we called an Earth Challenge for our close friends and family. It was our way of letting them know that while tiny living wasn’t for everyone, there are so many little things we can all do to keep the planet healthy.

We were so excited! And a bit too ambitious. After sharing a well-designed, and very lenghtly, document on all of the ways people could make a positive impact on our environment, we didn't get many replies.

What we learned was that people weren’t ready to change everything in their lives overnight because it was something that worked for us. And while everyone loves to take part in doing something good, we weren't necessarily appealing to the unique driving passions in their life.

So here is our reboot.

Details and Goals of the California Minimalist 30-Day Challenges

With California Minimalist, I decided to break down our Earth Challenge into simple, 30-day challenges with all the details needed to successfully complete it, if you choose to.

But since we are here to have conversations about a number of factors that affect environmental sustainability, these 30-challenges will reach beyond swapping out physical products for eco-friendly ones.

Starting with the TP switch will get your momentum rolling. But don’t be surprised to see a 30-day challenge focused on minimalism, your food choices or purchasing decisions in the future.

The goal of these 30-day challenges is to do something, or not do something, for an entire month in an effort to:

  • Be a positive part of environmental sustainability
  • Change your perspective on your wants vs needs
  • Find positive alternatives for things, or experiences, in your life that fuel more happiness for you, and the planet

30-Day Challenge #1: Switch to Bamboo or Recycled Toilet Paper

Supporting environmental sustainability isn’t just about living life with less stuff. It’s about making small seamless changes in your life that contribute to the big picture.

Switching to eco-friendly TP is the first 30-day challenge and it’s a super easy one that only requires two steps:

  1. Continue using the remainder of the toilet paper you already have.
  2. Once you are down to about a week’s worth, place your order for recycled or bamboo toilet paper to be delivered to your doorstep.

Easier said than done? This time, it's not. It actually is that easy to make a small change with a big positive environmental impact.

Since it can be hard to decipher marketing packaging and choose what you think might be a good eco-friendly toilet paper, California Minimalist has taken all the guesswork out of it for you. That’s why we’re here!

Introducing Your New TP Supplier: Who Gives A Crap

Who Gives A Crap (affiliate link) started in 2012 with a crowdfunding campaign. The founders were driven by this:

“2.4 billion people don't have access to a toilet. That's roughly 40% of the global population and means that around 289,000 children under five die every year from diarrheal diseases caused by poor water and sanitation. That's almost 800 children per day, or one child every two minutes.” –Who Gives A Crap

While these guys manufacture and sell forest-friendly toilet paper, tissues and paper towels as an eco-friendly alternative, they address their driving motivation above by donating 50% of their profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in the developing world. That total today so far is over $10,800,000 AUD.

Why Make the Switch

If supporting the amazing work of Who Gives A Crap isn’t motivation enough, here are some key facts to boost your switch:

  • According to the Environmental Paper Network, toilet paper made from trees has three times the climate impact as toilet paper created using recycled materials.
  • Toilet paper is a single-use paper product with a huge negative environmental impact from start to . . . flush
  • A single roll of toilet paper uses 37 gallons of water to manufacture
  • 27,000 trees worldwide are flushed down the toilet DAILY in the form of toilet paper
  • Bleaching toilet paper (to make is white and fluffy soft) uses approximately 235,000 tons of chlorine that pollutes local water

Accept the Challenge

Are you ready to make a difference?! Let’s do this!

This is the very first 30-day challenge from California Minimalist and it would be great to hear how how it went for you! Please leave a comment below, or reach out directly to brag about your new toilet paper.

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