AGRICULTURE NEWS - Any perceived shortage of toilet paper in retail stores can be ascribed to a consumer behavioural issue rather than a production issue.

This was according to a statement by Jane Molony, executive director of the Paper Manufacturers’ Association of South Africa (PAMSA).

The sector provided wood and recycled paper fibre for the production of tissues, toilet paper, paper packaging, hospital gowns and masks, as well as personal hygiene products.

Molony said the outbreak of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) global pandemic resulted in a global phenomenon of stockpiling and “panic buying” of items such as toilet paper in recent weeks. “Never before has toilet paper enjoyed such publicity.”

She said the pulp, paper, packaging, recycling and tissue value chains would continue to operate as a “critical business continuity service”, supporting the manufacturing, processing and distribution of essential goods and services during the lockdown.

Molony explained that South African tissue mills produced toilet paper continuously and the risk of a shortage was minimal.

Read the full article here on the Caxton publication, Farmer's Weekly