Why is embossing used on toilet paper?

If there is anything in this world more indispensable than a mobile phone, it must be tissues. Though small, they are essential.

Have you ever noticed the patterns on toilet paper during your leisure moments? Have you ever wondered why these patterns exist? Are they there merely for your idle amusement?

Today, let us delve into the “science” behind toilet paper!

The primary uses of toilet paper are to absorb moisture and remove dirt. Setting aside those products created for “marketing gimmicks,” the reasons for embossing ordinary tissues are as follows:

1. It begins with aesthetics.

The patterns indeed cater to aesthetic preferences, fulfilling the needs of some consumers. But what about the embossed designs on tissues? In part, yes. They enhance brand recognition, deepen understanding and impression of the product, and lend an air of sophistication.

2. Enhance the paper’s density.

Another crucial reason is to increase the density of the toilet paper. If you look closely, you’ll notice that each sheet of toilet paper is composed of at least two thin layers. With embossing, these layers can be pressed together, making them less likely to separate.

3．Reduce the likelihood of damage during transportation.

Moreover, embossing can reduce the likelihood of the paper products being crushed or deformed, and the fibers being damaged during transportation. This is easy to understand, as the embossing adds texture, providing a cushioning effect during transit.

4. Enhance adhesion.

Embossed paper towels are commonly used for kitchen towels and toilet paper. For instance, when cleaning oily dishes, the embossing provides greater friction, allowing for more effective cleaning. Additionally, embossed paper is less likely to tear when wet.

5. With enhanced absorbency

Tissues are primarily used for cleaning and drying, commonly in scenarios requiring absorption. Compared to box tissues and toilet paper, embossed patterns are more frequently found in kitchen paper towels due to their heightened need for absorbency. The embossed surface, with its uneven texture, creates numerous small pockets, making it more efficient at storing (absorbing) moisture.

Can toilet paper and facial tissues be used interchangeably?

In theory, both are paper and should not be distinguished by status, but there are indeed differences between toilet paper and facial tissues.

Generally speaking, facial tissues are held to stricter standards than toilet paper. Facial tissues are typically made from virgin fibers, while toilet paper can be made from recycled materials. Additionally, fluorescent whitening agents used in toilet paper are not permitted in facial tissues, and the bacterial content in toilet paper is higher than in facial tissues. This is why manufacturers invest in advanced face tissue making machine to ensure the highest quality and hygiene standards. These machines are designed to handle virgin fibers delicately, avoiding the use of any fluorescent whitening agents and maintaining low bacterial content.

Therefore, it is not advisable to use toilet paper for wiping your mouth, and similarly, it is recommended not to use facial tissues for wiping your bottom. Facial tissues have higher wet tensile strength (resistance to tearing when wet), making them difficult to dissolve in water and prone to clogging toilets. Moreover, facial tissues are less absorbent than toilet paper, making them less effective for cleaning after using the restroom.

By ERIC.WANG

Hi, I’m the founder of Zhejiang Onepaper Smart Equipment Co., Ltd.  Eric Wang, You can call me Eric, senior engineer, a long-time practitioner in the field of automated tissue paper equipment.

With over 20 years of experience, always focused on one thing: how to use intelligent equipment to make tissue production lines fold faster, more beautifully, and more efficiently.

In 2010, I founded Zhejiang Onepaper Smart Equipment Co., Ltd  

Over the past fifteen years, we have served more than 1,000 factories across 60+ countries worldwide, including well-known tissue brands such as APP, Kimberly-Clark, Vinda, and Jin Hongye.

What makes me proud is that one of our customers has repurchased our machines 29 times.

This is undoubtedly a high recognition of our product quality and service, and the best proof of Onepaper's consistent commitment to the philosophy of “quality first, customer foremost.”

What we have always adhered to is a kind of "craftsmanship spirit":

Laozi said, "Governing a large country is like cooking a small fish." I believe that running a business is about being a good person. With a kind heart, thinking of others, not judging by gain or loss, but by right and wrong, good and evil.

Wang Yangming said, "One becomes a sage only by pure principle, and gold is refined only when it reaches full purity." We do not pursue the size of the enterprise, but the character and broad mind of the enterprise. Running a business is not just about price competition, but about value. Pursuing employee happiness and customer happiness is our greatest value proposition. Creating a small yet high-quality, respected, and century-old enterprise is my lifelong dream.

On our entrepreneurial journey, we have experienced hardships and difficulties, and received help from many benefactors — you are one of them. I am deeply grateful and firmly rooted in this dream: to work steadily and diligently on products and services, and to proudly pursue poetry and the horizon.

Onepaper's Mission and Vision:

We are committed to the mission of "Steady Progress with Long-term Vision, Building Happy Digital Tissue Factories."

We uphold the values of "Sincerity, Altruism, Excellence, Innovation, and Hard Work."

We strive to:

· Become a great and happy enterprise

· Make workers enjoy happy and fulfilling work and life

· Create real value for customers

· Promote the industry’s digitalization, automation, and intelligence upgrades

· Continuously contribute to the progress of human society

— Wang Eric

Founder of Zhejiang Onepaper Smart Equipment Co., Ltd