Watch CBS News

Why Is There Still No Toilet Paper?

DENVER (CBS4) – If you've been to the store in search of toilet paper, you know the supply is still scarce. Store shelves are getting cleared out daily. Why is there still no toilet paper? CBS4's Alan Gionet set out to find the answer to that Good Question.

toilet paper generic
(credit: Thomas Trutschel/Photothek via Getty Images)

Toilet paper is largely made in American factories from mostly American paper pulp, according to Zac Rogers, an Assistant Professor of Supply Chain Management. But he admits toilet paper is not very profitable.

"And so because of that and because toilet paper is such a low margin item, most of the big producers, your Georgia Pacifics, your Kimberly Clarks, are pretty much running at maximum capacity all the time," Rogers told CBS4.

Demand for toilet paper is usually constant.

"And so they don't have a lot of extra capacity, say, to increase," Rogers said.

The stores don't have a lot hanging around because it takes up a lot of space in the back room.

"You've got to think because you have limited capacity back there, it's, 'Where do I get the most bang for my buck, because I'm paying rent for every square foot in this building,'" Rogers explained.

Another reason there is so little in the stores is that so many people are using the loo at home instead of at work.

"If you look at toilet paper production, it's really a 50/50 split, consumer toilet paper and the toilet paper you see at an office or retail building," Rogers said. "It's a little bit thinner, it's not as nice."

Commercial grade is available, but manufacturers are shifting to make more consumer grade.

"Or the end of this might come if we all go to commercial and thus we're a little bit less comforted because it's just not as nice?" asked CBS4's Alan Gionet.

"I like to think society won't fall apart that far, but it could happen," Rogers said with laugh.

RELATED: How Coronavirus Toilet Paper Shortage Could Help Reshape Global Supply Chain

If you have a Good Question for CBS4's Alan Gionet, you can e-mail it to goodquestion@cbsdenver.com or post them to CBS4's social media sites with the hashtag #4GoodQuestion. Gionet will try to report on as many as he can.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.