Stay Calm: Exploring The Truth Behind The Toilet Paper Supply Chain
Guys, let's talk.
Get comfy. I know, this isn't going to easy, but... it needs to happen.
What's the topic, you ask?
Toilet Paper. Yep. It's time.
I remember, and I'm sure you remember, the big Toilet Paper Shortage we had a few years ago. I didn't see it get super crazy here, but.. it still happened. I remember going to a store one day and picking out one packet of the stuff. There was a big sign saying, "Two Per Customer", you know. And there was a lady next to me, who saw me take one and start to walk away. She turned to me and said, "You can take two." I said, "I know. I only need one, though." Then we commiserated a few minutes about hoarding. But to me, taking more than what I need just...isn't my bag.
Some people, well. They were taking a CRAZY amount more than they needed, though, right? Which caused a problem. So I get that people are nervous about this new problem. What's the problem? Dockworkers on the East Coast and Gulf Coast walked off the job when their contract expired on Tuesday. They're looking for better pay and more protections against job automation, which I'm sure you've got concerns about, too. So nothing's coming in through those ports.
Which means people are going a little nuts to stockpile again.
But it turns out there's no reason to stock up on bathroom tissue, because we don't really import much of it from overseas. Around 90% of the toilet paper we use is American-made.
The other 10%? Mostly from Canada and Mexico. So it's mostly brought in on trains and trucks, not on boats. It's not like your TP is better if it comes on a boat, anyway. I mean, will they have a nautical themed pashmina afghan? Probably not. So your TP is on the train and the truck safe.... for now.
So really, there's no need to hoard...... anything at this point. I mean, toilet paper, cat food, anything else. Suppliers have known the port strike was coming for months, so they stocked up for it. I imagine NOBODY wants to go through what we all went through years ago... again.
So guys, you don't need to stockpile seven thousand rolls of TP. We're fine. As you were.
Hoardingly yours,
Behka
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Gallery Credit: Rob Carroll