This is a bit complicated. Don't flush wipes, even if they're described as flushable, because almost none of them pass the test for a flushable wipe and those cause harm. But these wipes do pass...
Exemplary
This is a bit complicated.
Don't flush wipes, even if they're described as flushable, because almost none of them pass the test for a flushable wipe and those cause harm.
But these wipes do pass those tests:
The "flushable" claim was based on the wipes passing "flushability" tests set by the International Nonwovens and Disposables Association and European Disposables and Nonwovens Association.
That's a good find. Thank you for that. I was intrigued to find this in those guidelines: Assuming each person in the family of 4 flushes some wipes once per day, that's 4 flushes per day...
That's a good find. Thank you for that.
I was intrigued to find this in those guidelines:
4.1 FG501.R1(18): Toilet and Drain-line Clearance Test
Principles: In the case of nonwoven wipes used for toileting, a test consists of 35 toilet flushes using a specified loading sequence of product based on the habits and practices of a family of four.
Pass/Fail Criteria: No more than one of the flushes containing nonwoven wipe(s) should be associated with a clog that requires use of a plunger to clear product and excess water from the bowl and trap.
Assuming each person in the family of 4 flushes some wipes once per day, that's 4 flushes per day involving wipes. 35 flushes is therefore only about 9 days' usage. The guidelines say the wipes are flushable if they only clog your toilet once per 9 days. The guidelines say that about 3 clogs per month is acceptable.
And that's before the wipes even enter the sewage system! (I'll admit I don't understand the significance of the tests looking at disintegration of the wipes.)
On another note: you prompted me to do further research, and I found this press release on the ACCC's website:
The Court also found that it was reasonable for Kimberly-Clark to rely on guidelines, developed largely by nonwovens industry associations, to substantiate its ‘flushable’ claims. The ACCC had argued these guidelines were not an independent testing regime, as they were developed by the manufacturers of ‘flushable’ labelled products, without substantial input from wastewater authorities.
In other words, the companies that make "flushable" wipes wrote their own guidelines to decide what is and is not flushable.
This is a bit complicated.
Don't flush wipes, even if they're described as flushable, because almost none of them pass the test for a flushable wipe and those cause harm.
But these wipes do pass those tests:
That's here: https://www.edana.org/docs/default-source/default-document-library/guidelines-for-assessing-the-flushability-of-disposable-nonwoven-products-ed-4-finalb76f3ccdd5286df88968ff0000bfc5c0.pdf?sfvrsn=6
That's a good find. Thank you for that.
I was intrigued to find this in those guidelines:
Assuming each person in the family of 4 flushes some wipes once per day, that's 4 flushes per day involving wipes. 35 flushes is therefore only about 9 days' usage. The guidelines say the wipes are flushable if they only clog your toilet once per 9 days. The guidelines say that about 3 clogs per month is acceptable.
And that's before the wipes even enter the sewage system! (I'll admit I don't understand the significance of the tests looking at disintegration of the wipes.)
On another note: you prompted me to do further research, and I found this press release on the ACCC's website:
In other words, the companies that make "flushable" wipes wrote their own guidelines to decide what is and is not flushable.