Toilet paper has become a topic of the day since it was realized that the outbreak of new coronavirus, born in December in China, where he was confined for some time (the first case diagnosed outside this country’s borders was registered on 13 January, two days after China confirmed the first death), had spread throughout the world. Suddenly the hashtag #toiletpapergate invaded social networks, with news of looting in supermarkets, especially in countries like Japan and Australia.
On the European side, with Italy still startled, but far from the current scenario, the reactions were one of astonishment and disbelief – until, finally, they took on a mimetic character. Toilet paper started to “fly” off supermarket shelves all over the world, with people doing stock for at least the next six months.
In between memes and jokes, the search for this good, for comfort, but far from being essential to survival (even though it has multiple uses, some that support hygiene measures), it would not have happened that someone imagined that among the symptoms were intestinal problems, but by simple market speculation. “There is a rumor on social media that there is a lack of toilet paper, such as masks. And those who buy it are buying in bulk. As soon as we receive a delivery, it disappears immediately ”, described a supermarket cashier in Tokyo, on the first day of this month, to a reporter for the French information radio chain France Info.
The Government and the Japan Toilet Paper Manufacturers Association did not take long to ensure that the supply of this good was not at stake – not least because, as in Portugal, the country has its own production. But the damage was done, and it’s not even the first time.
Whenever something interrupts the Japanese daily calm, the toilet paper shelves are the first victims. And the reasons are historical. After all, this was one of the missing assets when 1973 oil crisis, due to the embargo imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to all countries that supported Tel Aviv in the war that opposed Arabs to Israelis, including Japan (curiosity: Portugal was also hit in this cut, in a second wave decreed by OPEC). Without oil, supply was jeopardized and prices soared, with absurd increases every day.
At the moment, the issue of threat to supply is not on the table, but the historical trauma compels the Japanese to go looking for toilet paper. Then, in an increasingly global society, there is the domino effect and, from country to country, the false toilet paper crisis finally came to Portugal, the European country that, it is said, has more bidets.
However, what is at stake is not, at the moment, the supply, but rather the capacity of the stores’ labor force to replace the shelves, while the affluence is greater than on New Year’s Eve. “We have a full truck to replace everything that is missing, but we can’t get out of here,” said an audience at a supermarket in the Lisbon area, to the PUBLIC, the morning after the alert status declaration, while pointing to the rows of meters and all the boxes to operate.
It is certain that on the part of Renova, a Portuguese company operating in Torres Novas that manufactures products made of paper, such as kitchen paper, toilet paper, wet wipes or tissues, there seems to be no reason for the current state of alarm around of toilet paper: “Right now we are able to respond to our customers’ requests.”
Speaking to PÚBLICO, the company informs that it is “following the effects of covid-19 in the different markets” where it operates, admitting that, “in Portugal, there is an increase in sales”. Also, “internationally there is a significant increase in customer orders as well as sales growth in the store online”. At this point, it should be noted that in the website there are usually promotions.
Toilet paper, what to do with it?
In addition to the jokes, there are actually several uses for toilet paper. And if in an instant of panic, you bought too much, don’t worry – first, because it is normal in these types of situations to engage in less suitable behaviors; then, because there are several uses for it, in addition to the primary:
– serves as a towel: you can cover the table with it (in situations of doubt of contagion, do not use textiles);
– serves to blow (and throw away, preventing the spread of the virus);
– it serves to put in front of the mouth when speaking (and, again, to throw away, preventing the spread of the virus);
