Have you ever tried one of those smart toilets with water jets? They are more than common in the East and are gradually being introduced in the West. It would be equivalent to the bidet culture in Europe, which has been lost with the modernization of bathrooms. The need to find alternatives to the polluting lifestyle that contributes to climate change has led Europe to seek an alternative to toilet paper, finding smart toilets to be a good substitute.
As reported by the news portal Infobae, multiple studies show that the elimination of bacteria and waste is achieved better with water than with toilet paper, so in addition to reducing pollution, it offers better personal hygiene. The presence of this type of toilet is increasing, both in public establishments and in private homes. Its virality on social networks has favored its popularity and the rapid arrival in the West. It seems that washlets have traveled from the East to stay and become part of our bathrooms.
Where does the toilet paper come from?
Did you know that the toilet paper as we know it today originated in the United States in the mid-19th century? It was in 1857 when Joseph C. Gayetty marketed it in New York under the name ‘Gayetty’s Medicinal Paper.’ It wasn’t exactly like the current version, but rather loose sheets of hemp paper soaked in aloe vera. It was not sold as a personal hygiene product, but rather as a remedy for hemorrhoids.
It wasn’t until between the years 1870 and 1890 that the roll format became known, becoming a milestone and a basic element for personal hygiene. Despite the convenience it provides and its ease of use, its production and disposal pose a real threat to the environment and its sustainability. Being a non-biodegradable product, it ends up accumulating in huge quantities, polluting rivers, seas, and oceans.
Washlets: the Eastern alternative to toilet paper
The news portal Infobae defines washlets as “the technological evolution of the classic bidet, offering an advanced alternative. These smart toilets, common in Japanese households, use water jets for intimate cleaning and can incorporate features such as temperature control, hot air drying, or automatic lids”.
Meanwhile, experts claim that when it comes to maintaining good hygiene, water is much more effective than toilet paper, as it better eliminates bacteria and organic residues, in addition to being the most suitable method for people with specific medical conditions or sensitive skin. Although their presence was limited to luxury hotels and more exclusive places, there are increasingly more public spaces that have them, such as airports or restaurants, also increasing their use in private homes.
Obstacles for whaslets in Europe
Although social networks are helping to virally promote and popularize this product, the truth is that there is a barrier in Europe that hinders its implementation: its price. It is not a small amount, as in much of Europe, the most basic models cost around €1,200, reaching up to €7,000. We must also add labor and installation costs, which would mean that enjoying personal hygiene would cost much more than buying rolls of paper.
Investment in the environment
There is no doubt that installing a washlet represents a considerable economic investment that many people cannot afford. It is much cheaper to buy rolls of traditional toilet paper and forget about this modernity. However, using a toilet with water jets is not just a trend or a whim, but rather an alternative to a product (paper) that is already a real threat to the environment. Both its production and subsequent disposal pose a problem for the health of the planet, as it is a non-biodegradable material, which means it ends up generating mountains of waste, clogging sewage systems, and polluting the oceans of the planet.
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