Green Gas makes the world's most sustainable toilet paper even greener

Energy company Essent and Van Houtum Paper have entered into an agreement for the supply of Green Gas, a 100 percent carbon neutral product. Van Houtum uses the gas for the production of the world's most sustainable toilet paper that is produced in accordance with the Cradle-to-Cradle principle. Through this agreement, both parties emphasise the importance of Green Gas in a sustainable energy supply in the Netherlands.

‘Van Houtum is an unusual customer for us, because the company performs its business processes totally in accordance with the Cradle-to-Cradle principle said Xander van Mechelen, Manager of Business Development at Essent. ‘As the largest producer of green energy, we like to do our bit towards the business operations.’

Cradle-to-cradle toilet paper

Van Houtum has placed the world's most sustainable toilet paper on the market under the name ‘Satino Black’ and, in addition to Cradle-to-Cradle, has also certified the product in a number of other ways. By, for example, using Green Gas in the production of the toilet paper, Van Houtum is able to offer its customers a carbon-neutral product. The sales of this product are increasing rapidly because there is a customer demand.

Innovative solutions for better toilet hygiene

‘Essent considers corporate responsibility to be of paramount importance’, said General Director Henk van Houtum, meaning our philosophies are perfectly in line with one another. In our family concern, the business operations determine a natural and deep felt respect for people and the environment. We thus develop innovative solutions for better toilet hygiene with exceptional environmental performances. Purchasing Green Gas from Essent is a perfect example of that.’

About Green Gas

Green Gas is an organic material that is converted into gas. Green Gas comes from landfill sites, sewage works, industrial digesters and co-digesters. For the past 20 years, Essent has been the market leader in Green Gas in the Netherlands. The government is also placing an emphasis on Green Gas and, in future years, the product will take the Dutch market by storm.

About Van Houtum

Van Houtum has been an independent manufacturer of tissue products for 75 years and is a leader in Corporate Responsibility. The head office and both production sites are located in Swalmen, in the municipality of Roermond. With around 200 staff, Van Houtum has an annual turnover of € 60 million. Products and services are supplied exclusively to the business-to-business market via, for example, cleaning companies and trade wholesalers for a variety of sectors, including the office sector, catering, recreation, hospitals, schools and industry.

Under the brand Satino Black, Van Houtum produces Cradle-to-Cradle Silver certified tissue products. These products include high-quality white and soft toilet paper and paper hand towels made from 100% recycled paper. Satino Black is the world's first and only tissue products that can display the quality marks FSC recycled, European Eco label and Cradle-to-Cradle. Production is fully carbon neutral.

Published: 24 February 2011