Toilet Paper Roll Redesign

Turn paper roll upside down, make dust go away!

People can't imagine living without toilet paper in the world, and we use toilet paper for a variety of reasons, such as wiping up spills, removing makeup, nose care, bathroom hygiene, and cleaning chores. However, people are prone to putting toilet paper on the table or placing kitchen paper towels near the sink in the kitchen without putting them in a toilet roll holder or toilet tissue reserve canister. This can easily lead to dust, bacteria, water, or oil stains attaching to the bottom surface of the toilet paper.

The unique properties of this redesigned toilet paper roll address these issues. By turning the paper roll upside down, the dust is kept away from the bottom surface. The new toilet paper roll is made from disinfected recycling paper pulp, making it an eco-friendly and green product. Additionally, there is no need to purchase a separate toilet roll holder, as the toilet paper roll itself serves as the best holder. After the toilet paper is used up, the compressible structure design allows users to easily press down on the roll, reducing waste size. This design not only promotes hygiene but also raises awareness about environmental protection.

The toilet paper roll is made from disinfected and cost-free recycling paper pulp. Toilet paper, on the other hand, is generally made from a combination of softwood and hardwood trees. Softwood trees, such as Southern pines and Douglas firs, provide strength to the paper due to their long fibers. Hardwood trees, like gum, maple, and oak, make the paper softer with their shorter fibers. Toilet paper is typically a combination of approximately 70% hardwood and 30% softwood.

The toilet paper roll measures 110mm in length, 110mm in width, and 100mm in height, with a weight of 1000g per roll. To use the redesigned toilet paper roll, users need to tear it along the precut dash line inside. Then, they turn the bottom part upside down and put it back, with the wavy part visible outside the roll. This transforms it into a toilet paper roll stand. After using the toilet paper, users can easily compress the wavy part to flatten the roll and reduce waste.

The design team, Sheng-Hung Lee and Josipa Dodig, placed the distribution of the redesigned toilet paper roll in 2015, with Shanghai, China as the headquarters and primary market. The design has received recognition, including being a finalist in the 2015 IDEA (International Design Excellence Awards) and publications in Yanko Design and Tuvie: Modern Industrial Design and Future Technology.

The redesign of the toilet paper roll was driven by research on various levels. At the product level, using disinfected cost-free recycling paper pulp makes it an eco-friendly and green design. At the experience level, the toilet paper roll itself serves as a stand, eliminating the need for additional holders or canisters. At the service level, the compressible structure design reduces waste and facilitates cleaning and recycling. At the perception level, the design raises awareness about hygiene and environmental protection.

The design team faced several challenges in creating this innovative solution. They identified scenarios where people would put toilet paper or kitchen paper towels on random surfaces without using proper holders or canisters. This could lead to dust, dirt, or dampness on the paper. The redesigned toilet paper roll addresses these challenges by providing a convenient and hygienic solution.

This innovative toilet paper roll redesign has received the Bronze A' Design Award in the Disposable and Single-Use Product Design category in 2016. The award recognizes outstanding and creatively ingenious designs that contribute to quality of life improvements and make the world a better place.