- A South African start-up is selling a toilet paper that fights germs and cleans toilet pipes.
- The toilet paper is treated with enzymes, or good bacteria, which ultimately breakdown waste in pipes.
- The solution can help save consumers' costs by avoiding plumbing problems, says founder Vanessa Snyman.
- For climate change news and analysis, go to News24 Climate Future.
It would cost billions to repair South Africa's sewerage network, but a start-up selling "weird" toilet paper believes that it will solve the country's problems, "one wipe at a time".
Vanessa Snyman, is one of the founders of VEZ Technology, the makers of a toilet paper that fights germs and helps clean toilet pipes.
Snyman explained that before starting VEZ Technology, her team had been managing a large cleaning contract for another company but found that even though bathrooms were "spotlessly clean", there would always be a lingering smell.
They had tried different solutions that were eco-friendly and long-lasting before stumbling upon a patent for a "bioactive toilet paper", by an Italian company, BBA Ecotech.
The toilet paper is essentially treated with enzymes - or good bacteria. Once the toilet paper hits the water, the bacteria "wake up," release different, specific enzymes, and start the process of breaking down waste in the pipes, Snyman explained.
The dirtier the pipe, the more the enzymes multiply and clean. When nothing is left to clean, they biodegrade into carbon dioxide and water.
The concept for this toilet paper has been around for 10 years and is implemented in countries such as the UK, Australia, Dubai and Mexico.
VEZ Technology managed to acquire the rights to make and sell it in South Africa and within the Southern African Development Community.
Flush and forget
It's been a challenging three-year journey securing the right market for the toilet paper, in South Africa. "South Africans tend to flush and forget," said Snyman. On top of that, the toilet paper industry is "really cut-throat", and VEZ Technology is up against some big players, said Snyman.
However, VEZ Technology had a breakthrough after being selected for the Grindstone Green Economy Accelerator Programme in 2023. The Anglo-American Foundation sponsors the entrepreneurship development programme.
"We always saw ourselves as a small little company selling weird toilet paper," said Snyman.
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But having completed the programme and receiving business coaching, VEZ Technology was able to develop a strategy as well as a vision for its future.
"We are here for the future. We are ready to disrupt the toilet paper industry," she said.
Their alternative toilet paper sells at a premium, but it's still affordable at R210 for a pack of 24 two-ply rolls [R8.75 per roll], said Snyman. And avoiding blocked drains that will have to be treated would also result in savings for consumers.
"As South Africans, we do share a number of challenges, and one of our biggest concerns is the security of water. The whole country's municipal wastewater network is outdated, dilapidated and working at absolute maximum capacity.
"So what we're saying is instead of spending millions to increase capacity, let's increase the efficiency by equipping every South African with a cost-effective, beneficial means to treat the sewage waste at the source," Snyman said.
Citing the 2018 National Water and Sanitation Master Plan: Call to Action document, Snyman pointed out there is a funding gap of more than R330 billion over a 10-year period to repair the country's sewerage network.
Snyman does not see toilet paper as a replacement for wastewater treatment plants but rather as an addition to its processes - treating the water to a certain extent before it even gets to the treatment plant.
"Wastewater treatment plants are currently adding enzymes to break down the waste particles during their treatment process - but this only at the end of the sewage lifecycle. We're adding it where this sewage lifecycle starts so that it continues the cleaning action all the way down pipes and along the sewerage network," she said.
"By increasing the sanitation levels, we're also increasing the overall health of communities. I mean, how many of our communities aren't affected by a sewerage pipe overflowing, or even just raw sewage being discharged into a natural water stream? If the water was even somewhat cleaner, this would reduce the risk of cholera outbreaks, and hyacinth invasions."
But everyone can "chip in" by buying this different toilet paper, currently available on Makro Marketplace.
"Everyone can make a difference. We do not always have to put our hands in the air and blame the government for everything. We have a saying: 'We are solving problems one wipe at a time'," said Snyman.
