As much as we love technological advancements, sometimes it’s the simplest things that bring us the most joy in life. Take the humble toilet roll, for instance. It’s been around since the late 1800s, and for the most part, has remained unchanged in design. But in the early 2000s, a new toilet roll design was introduced: the coreless toilet roll. You’d think that a toilet roll without a cardboard tube in the middle would be a game-changer, but it never really caught on. Why is that? Let’s take a closer look.
First of all, let’s address the elephant in the room: how do you even put a coreless toilet roll on the holder? This is the question that plagued many a consumer in the early days of the product’s release. The answer is simple: you don’t. That’s right, you just set the roll on the holder without the need for a pesky cardboard tube. Sounds easy enough, right? Well, not for everyone. Some people found the lack of a core made it more difficult to use, and they missed the satisfying “pop” sound that comes with removing the cardboard tube from a traditional toilet roll.
Another factor that may have contributed to the lack of success of coreless toilet rolls is the fact that they’re not as aesthetically pleasing as their traditional counterparts. Let’s face it, a toilet roll without a cardboard tube just looks a little… sad. There’s no colourful branding or playful designs to admire. It’s just a plain old roll of toilet paper. Some people might argue that the lack of a cardboard tube makes the roll look sleeker and more modern, but for the most part, people seem to prefer their toilet paper with a little more pizzazz.
So, there you have it. Despite its potential benefits (reducing waste, saving space, etc.), coreless toilet roll has never quite taken off. Perhaps it’s because we’re creatures of habit, and we’re just used to our trusty cardboard tubes. Or maybe it’s because we like a little colour and flair in our lives, even in the bathroom. Either way, it’s clear that the traditional toilet roll is here to stay. And really, who can argue with a design that’s stood the test of time for over a century? Long live the cardboard tube!
We are such Cardboard Cores Fanatics at JPT We've even had a go shamelessly at a Poem:
Oh, cardboard tubes, how we adore
You’re humble, yet you do much more
You hold our paper with great esteem
And keep our bathroom tidy and clean
Without you, our toilet paper rolls
Would be lost and lack their proper roles
We’d have a mess, a tangled heap
But with you, our rolls are neatly kept
Oh, how we love your sturdy shape
And how you keep our rolls in place
We’d never dare to throw you out
For you’re too useful, without a doubt
You’re the MVP of the bathroom scene
And we’ll always cherish your humble sheen
So here’s to you, our cardboard friend
May your reign of glory never end!
