Move over bitcoin – toilet paper is the now hottest currency in play.
Unless you were living in a part of the United States prone to hurricanes or blizzards, you may not have thought of stockpiling toilet paper prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Yet we are now in a new world which is considerably lacking in toilet paper.
According to Mike Wehner, in his piece Toilet Paper Manufacturers Think We Are All Crazy and We Probably Are, even the companies themselves cannot understand the mentality behind having an extra 200 rolls of toilet paper in your closet.
Also of note, as Wehner points out, is that the increase in demand may be putting a strain on manufacturing and transportation infrastructure components which are needed for vital items.
Heidi Brock, President and CEO of the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA) issued the following in a statement in response to Coronavirus and paper shortage concerns:
“AF&PA members make essential products, including tissue products, packaging for food and other consumer products, building products and shipping containers. Our members also supply packaging to agricultural producers, food processors, hygiene product manufacturers, grocers and other retailers. Disruptions in the availability of these goods would cause significant hardships to consumers across the country depending on steady and stable supplies.”
AP writer David Sharp writes in his piece Amid Virus, Humble Toilet Paper is Suddenly a Hot Commodity,
“The numbers back up the reports from the field: Toilet paper sales nationally jumped about 213% in the week ending March 14, compared to the same period a year before, according to market research firm Nielsen. The Great Toilet Paper Panic of 2020 was not confined to the United States. A video seen widely earlier this month from Australia showed three women brawling over toilet paper, underscoring the dire situation.”
Among the big players in toilet paper manufacturing are:
- The Procter & Gamble Company (P&G), makers of Charmin
- Kimberly-Clark Corporation, makers of Scott and Cottenelle
- Georgia Pacific, makers of Angel Soft, Quilted Northern, and Soft n’ Gentle
Here are some documents from leading corporations in paper manufacturing currently available in the RealDealDocs database:
Procter & Gamble (P&G)
Kimberly-Clark
Kimberly-Clark Corporation Nonqualified Stock Option Award Agreement
Georgia Pacific