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Comment by castillar76 | Hacker News Reader

The toilet paper we buy now comes in individually-wrapped (paper wrapping) rolls, and several rolls in every box are wrapped in bright red paper. Those rolls have the suggestion printed on them that you put them towards the bottom of the pile in the bathroom so that when you reach for a new roll and the one you pull out is wrapped in red paper, you know it's time to go get more from the box. It's a clever design, although it does somewhat rely on people remembering to order the rolls that way when putting them in the cabinet...

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I get that it's paper so probably not that big of a deal environmentally, but why would anyone want to individually wrap TP rolls??

Selling individual rolls used to be more common. I'm sure you'll still see it today in smaller stores without a dedicated aisle for toilet paper/towels.

Why would they package those in larger packs? My guess is that the paper does help protect the roll while it's waiting to be racked. Dust/splashes/unravellng/etc. Might be where hotels get their TP.

If you buy in bulk, the rolls come in a big cardboard shipping box and not a shrink wrapped pack like the supermarket. The wrappers prevent stuff from getting on the rolls. Who Gives a Crap does the red wrapper thing.

Also common in commercial environments where you want to leave rolls out in the open, like a couple extra in every stall.

Wrapping with some tissue paper is probably more environmentally friendly than people buying 4-packs with non recyclable plastic.

Incidentally I've also worked somewhere with a little flag indicator on the milk cooler to let the kitchen staff know it's out and needs refilling (and to warn other users).

Yep! And indeed, this is Who Gives A Crap. I've been really impressed with their product. I do still intend to buy bidets for the house to cut down on TP use overall, but theirs is pretty darn environmentally friendly for the product that it is, and the subscription has been just the right amount that we're not having to buy extra at the grocery to cover shortages nor winding up with stacks and stacks like a doomsday prepper.

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