Tissue Paper
Overview
Tissue paper (휴지) is a collective term for thin, soft paper products used throughout daily life, including sanitary disposal in restrooms, cleaning of the face and hands, and removal of grease and dirt in kitchens. In the narrow sense, it refers to 'toilet paper' that is water-soluble and decomposable so it can be flushed with toilet water, but in the broad sense it includes the entire category of sanitary paper products such as facial tissue, kitchen towels, napkins, and wet wipes. In modern society, tissue paper is regarded not merely as a consumer good but as an indicator symbolizing hygiene standards and living culture, and as shown by pandemic-era stockpiling, it sometimes serves as a barometer of social psychology.
Main Content
Etymology and Definition
The Korean word 'hyuji (휴지)' originated as a Sino-Korean term meaning 'paper discarded as useless,' but in modern usage it has become established as a common noun referring to sanitary paper products. It is sometimes used interchangeably with the Japanese-style expression 'hwajangji (화장지),' and in English-speaking regions it is subdivided by use into toilet paper, facial tissue, paper towel, napkin, etc. In international standard classification, product grades are divided according to pulp content, basis weight (weight per unit area), wet strength, water absorbency, and so on.
Types
- Toilet paper: Rolls are common, and thickness and absorbency vary depending on the number of plies, such as 1-ply, 2-ply, and 3-ply. Fluorescent-free and unbleached products are gaining popularity in line with eco-friendly consumption trends.
- Facial tissue: Used in boxed or pop-up tissue forms to wipe the face or nose, with softness and suppression of dust generation as key quality indicators.
- Kitchen towel: A product with increased wet strength for removing grease and absorbing moisture in the kitchen, often made using recycled paper instead of pulp.
- Wet wipes: Made by moistening nonwoven fabric with purified water, and subdivided into baby, cleaning, and hand-sanitizing types, forming their own market.
- Functional tissue: Products with added fragrance, lotion, or aloe ingredients, or with antibacterial treatment, are also distributed.
Manufacturing Process
The raw materials for tissue paper are broadly divided into natural pulp and recycled paper (waste paper). Natural pulp is chemically treated to separate cellulose from wood chips, then goes through bleaching and refining. After that, thin paper is formed on a paper machine, and a creping process adds wrinkles to increase flexibility and absorbency. Finally, it is cut and packaged into rolls or individual sheets. When recycled paper is used, an ink removal (deinking) process is added, and this process consumes large amounts of water and energy. Recently, the use of FSC-certified pulp and improvement of bleaching processes have emerged as major tasks for the industry.
History
Paper itself was invented in China during the Han dynasty in the 2nd century BCE, but the popularization of sanitary paper came much later. There are records that toilet paper was already used in China in the 6th century, and historical sources remain showing that in the Ming dynasty in the 14th century, toilet paper exclusively for the imperial court was mass-produced. In the West, roll-form toilet paper was patented in the late 19th century, and afterward a mass-production system was established centered on the United States and Europe. In Korea, its spread increased rapidly with industrialization after the 1960s, and in the 1980s roll toilet paper became common in each household. After the 1990s, 3-ply products and premium products with fragrance and patterns appeared, diversifying the market.
Cultural Significance
Tissue paper is a sample of material culture that reflects changes in hygiene concepts. The transition from an era dominated by handkerchiefs and rags to an era of disposable sanitary products proceeded in tandem with urbanization, the rise of nuclear families, and changes in housing environments. In addition, toilet paper usage practices in each country reveal cultural differences. Korea and Japan consume a lot of wet wipes and functional tissues, while some European countries prefer alternative means such as bidets. The toilet paper stockpiling that occurred worldwide in the early pandemic was recorded as a representative phenomenon combining supply chain anxiety and psychological unease.
Environmental Issues
Because tissue paper is a disposable product, its environmental burden is large. Natural pulp production causes forest damage and carbon emissions, and chlorine-based compounds can be generated during bleaching. In addition, wet wipes are made of nonwoven fabric and do not decompose well, and are pointed out as a cause of sewage pipe blockages and marine pollution. Accordingly, expanded use of recycled paper, unbleached processes, and decomposability certification systems for wet wipes are being introduced. In Korea as well, standards for separating and disposing of wet wipes and mandatory labeling of 'do not flush down the toilet' are being strengthened.
Latest Trends
As of 2024–2025, the tissue paper industry is moving along two axes: eco-friendly transition and advanced functionality. First, eco-friendly products using recycled pulp and non-wood raw materials such as bamboo and sugarcane are expanding, and carbon-neutral certified products are entering distribution channels. Second, as environmental regulations on wet wipes strengthen, products using biodegradable raw materials and 'flushable' products that meet solid discharge standards are increasing. Third, with aging and the increase in single-person households, demand for small-capacity and premium products is growing, and online subscription-based consumption is becoming established. Fourth, as pulp raw material price fluctuations and rising logistics costs lead to repeated price increases, consumers are showing a rational consumption tendency to weigh price efficiency against basis weight and number of plies. Finally, with the spread of smart bidets and alternative sanitary means, gradual changes are also being detected in the structure of traditional toilet paper demand.
Related Topics
- [[Wet wipes]]
- [[Pulp]]
- [[Bidet]]
- [[Recycling]]
- [[Environmental pollution]]
- [[Household goods]]