The world of toilet paper is full of secrets, and one of the most intriguing is whether toilet paper is pink in France. This seemingly minor question sparked years of fascination and conflict, and it's time to dig deeper and understand this enigma.

Many of us are accustomed to using white toilet paper But why is the French toilet paper pink? The colour of toilet paper is a common topic of conversation among foreigners visiting France. The colourful toilet paper is also known as PQ (pécu), which stands for "papier cul." Although white toilet paper rolls are available in France, the majority of them are colourful, regardless of where you visit.
Colourful toilet paper originated in China during the sixth century. However, PQ only became popular in France in the 1960s.


Toilet rolls were set aside for folks who wanted to feel exceptionally comfortable when using the bathroom. People read newspapers for a long time before moving on to other media. When the first toilets were created, toilet paper was made from wood pulp, but environmental activists changed it after World Wildlife Fund protested. Following some extremely public protests, manufacturers began producing toilet paper rolls from recycled paper.

At first, the toilet paper appeared greyish. So the manufacturers attempted to colour or bleach it, but it did not work. However, as time passed, individuals began to use more bleach or colour since grey toilet paper appeared less desirable.

However, pink toilet paper is common in France due to regional preferences.

 

How did the Pink PQ trend begin?

Finding out who started this trend is difficult. Germans prefer toilet paper with a graphical design, whereas Americans prefer white because it is pleasing to the eye. However, French people have persisted with pink toilet paper.

Pink was chosen by sanitary marketers because it is associated with purity in the French culture. It is also linked to the suppleness of healthy young skin. Aside from France, Germany is another country where colourful toilet paper is popular. Toilet paper rolls can be found with patterns, most commonly flowers. Some countries, however, prefer white paper.

White toilet paper is widely popular in the United States and is also used for purity reasons. However, it is less eco-friendly. Many manufacturers now provide recycled paper in a variety of brown tones, believing it to be more environmentally friendly. There are many different types of toilet paper available in France, and they are marketed in packs or as stacks of leaves, something you may not see in the United States.

Pink toilet paper costs higher in France. However, since white toilet paper is uncommon, you have limited options. But as you may have seen, toilet roll designs are continuously evolving. The packs have been expanded to include new product categories. There are also some extremely appealing patterned toilet paper options on the market, such as three-ply and even those with prints. Although toilet paper designs have developed in numerous places around the world, the French are unlikely to modify theirs.

Some people complain that putting dyes to delicate regions irritates their skin, and there are environmental issues. It is highly disputed if colouring toilet paper pink is preferable than bleaching it to produce white toilet paper. Pink toilet paper has always been popular, despite its higher price. However, unbleached toilet paper is not commonly accessible since customers appear to dislike the brown colour of toilet paper.

Toilet paper continues to evolve; there is now perfume-infused toilet paper, three and four-ply paper, and even paper that lights when lit. There are some truly gorgeous and intriguing toilet paper designs out there, but change happens slowly in France. They appear to be satisfied with their pink PQ.