If you are using toilet paper in Europe, then it makes sense to buy it in Europe from both a financial and sustainability standpoint. Why do I think that? Let me explain.
A typical toilet roll is a low cost, lightweight item. But it’s also a bulky item. This means that when you fill a container, you often reach the volume limit long before you reach the weight limit. This is because traditional toilet rolls have a hollow centre, which means you are transporting air, or empty space. And nobody wants to be paying for that.
Surprisingly, that empty space can account for as much as 10 to 15 percent of your shipment. So you are not just wasting space, you are also wasting part of the cost of the container. If a container costs around 5,000 USD to ship, then 10 to 15 percent of that cost is tied up in transporting air.
This all makes shipping a container of toilet tissue a relatively expensive proposition, not to mention increasing the carbon impact of the shipment.
In the video below, I explain why toilet paper is such an inefficient product to ship long distances and why sourcing locally in Europe is often the smarter choice for cruise.
For vessels deploying from America to Europe, the cost of shipping bulky, low value items adds up quickly. Every container slot used for toilet paper is a slot that cannot be used for higher value or operationally critical items. When you factor in port schedules, consolidation windows and the pressure to keep supply chains lean, shipping air across the Atlantic becomes an unnecessary burden.
Local sourcing also reduces supply chain miles, which supports the wider industry focus on lowering environmental impact. When bulky paper products are sourced within the region where they will be used, freight costs fall and the carbon footprint of the operation is reduced.
Tower has established hubs across key cruise regions, including Northern Europe, Southern Europe and the UK. These hubs allow us to supply toilet tissue, facial tissues, napkins and paper towels directly within Europe, without the cost and delay of long-distance freight. Our distribution network is already set up to deliver to port or to your consolidation point, which keeps the supply chain simple, predictable and efficient.
This approach aligns with Tower’s wider goal of reducing the supply chain footprint. By sourcing paper products in Europe, cruise lines can reduce container usage, cut freight costs and support a more flexible replenishment model when itineraries change or vessels move between regions. If you would like to explore this further, our cruise team is ready to help!
