TLDR
Around here on the Reel Talk blog, we talk a lot about sustainability, bamboo, and, of course, all things bathroom related. But today I'd like to shift gears and introduce you to something I'm really proud of: Reel Paper's giveback of biodegradable toilet bags to people in Africa.
Now, if you're like me, the first time you're hearing that you're probable experiencing a mixture of "awwww!" and "what on earth is a biodegradable toilet bags?"
Fair question.
The concept of biodegradable toilet bags is relatively new and most people who come to Reel Paper don't fully understand what it is we do and why we do it – which is why I'm so excited to share this special story with you.
What Are Biodegradable Toilet Bags?
Biodegradable toilet bags are a way for people in third-world nations who don't have access to indoor toilets to have a way to safely and privately go to the bathroom without worry about unsanitary waste or disposal.
Here at Reel Paper, we've partnered with Peepoople, the manufacturer of the PeePoo portable toilet. The PeePoo biodegradable toilet bags have been specially engineered to destroy harmful bacteria, biodegrade safely into the soil, and even serve as a safe, effective fertilizer for agriculture.
How Does the PeePoo Toilet Work?
A single PeePoo Personal Pack contains 28 portable PeePoo toilets, meaning one person can have access to a sanitary, eco-friendly PeePoo potty for a whole month!
Inside the PeePoo is a small pouch that contains urea – a safe agent that kills off all the bacteria and parasites in the PeePoo. It's biodegradable, so it can be buried or otherwise disposed of safely without contaminating the environment. This little self-sanitizing pouch is revolutionizing the way developing communities are living by making the most common bodily function safe, sanitary, private, and eco-friendly.
How Do Biodegradable Toilet Bags Help People?
Over 2.6 billion people around the world lack access to basic sanitation. Plus, 40% of the world's population doesn't have access to even the simplest latrine. Since everyone's gotta go, a lack of sanitary toilets causes serious health crises in the developing world.
This groundbreaking sanitation tool is not only helping reduce health threats in third-world communities, but also it costs very little to produce, making it easier to get into the hands of more people in need.
In fact, Peepoople's mission is to provide 800,000 biodegradable toilets to 20,000 children. In Kenya, Peepoople is running a school program that provides biodegradable toilet bags to nearly 20,000 school children... with plans to reach up to 100,000 children within the next three years.
The PeePoo toilets are health-friendly, financially friendly, and they even help support sustainable agriculture efforts. Each biodegradable bag can be planted and used as a fertilizer to help grow crops and trees.
Thanks to designers and engineers in Sweden, the PeePoo toilets are so easy to use and discretely designed that they're catching on quick!
That's Awesome! How Can I Help?
If you'd like to donate directly too Peepoople to help them reach their monumental goal, visit www.Peepoople.com and click the "Donate Now" button.
You can also support Peepoople by subscribing to Reel Paper. Our 100% bamboo toilet paper is biodegradable, super soft, and delivered right to your door. Plus, with every roll of Reel Paper you purchase, we buy one PeePoo toilet for someone in need.
Our mission is to help the 2.4 billion people who are forced to defecate outside and are suffering from lost dignity, deadly pathogens, contaminated water, and loss of life. As of June 2019, we've donated 20,000 toilets to people in Africa – and we have no plan to stop there.
Have questions about this awesome cause? Let us know and we'll get back to you with answers.
Until then, check out our mission video here.
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