Public toilet cubicle

A recent survey of 100 restaurant industry professionals conducted at the National Restaurant Association Show, May 18-21, 2019, reveals opinions about restroom paper waste and sustainability efforts in foodservice operations.

Administered by Sofidel, a global provider of paper for hygienic and domestic use, the survey found that 67 percent of respondents believe it’s very important for restaurants to use sustainable restroom solutions like water-saving faucets, dispensers that reduce paper consumption and toilet paper that sanitizes pipes. Another 25 percent believe restroom sustainability is somewhat important.

“While restaurants are increasingly improving kitchen operations through methods like food waste reduction, it’s also important to look at restrooms with an environmental lens,” said Giorgia Giove, Marketing Manager – Away from Home, Sofidel America. “Selecting responsibly sourced paper products and finding ways to limit overuse can help restaurants be more sustainable and realize cost savings.”

The survey also revealed that:

 • Nearly 8 in 10 respondents (78 percent) agree that the majority of restaurant guests use more toilet paper than necessary.
 • 84 percent of respondents believe that customers use more paper towels than necessary in the restroom.
 • 78 percent would be willing to purchase restroom paper products that come from sustainable sources, and an additional 18 percent might consider purchasing these products.
 • The meaning of sustainability is complex, with 44 percent of respondents selecting two or more of the following when asked to define sustainable restroom paper products: responsible sourcing of raw materials, creating products from recycled paper, using recovered energy during production, implementing water-saving techniques during production.