It's a modern necessity that we use daily, but we rarely think about it: toilet paper. Today, there are countless toilet paper brands boasting features like ultra plush, ultra premium, and even "mega" rolls. Although Americans now have all sorts of TP options to choose from, toilet tissue used to be far simpler – oftentimes uncomfortably simple... Even though the toilet paper we use today wasn't developed until the mid-1800's, people have been wiping themselves clean since the dawn of time. This begs the question: what on Earth did they use before the soft white stuff was invented?

On December 19, 1973, Johnny Carson – host of The Tonight Show – said, “You know, we’ve got all sorts of shortages these days. But have you heard the latest? I’m not kidding. I saw it in the papers. There’s a shortage of toilet paper!” He meant it as a joke. Yet, many of the 20 million viewers in his nationwide audience took him seriously. Their run to stock up on bathroom tissue caused panic and created an actual temporary shortage. Some stores even waited several weeks before being able to restock. In other parts of the world a toilet paper shortage is no joke. While Americans have the luxury of debating 2-ply versus 3-ply, in many countries bathroom paper is becoming such a scarce item that it costs a premium.

According to The United Nations, "Should the global population reach 9.6 billion by 2050, the equivalent of almost three planets could be required to provide the natural resources needed to sustain current lifestyles." Now more than ever in the history of human civilization, our Earth needs us to make some big shifts and make them soon. With an ever-growing global population, sustainability needs are at an all-time high. Here's what collegiate organizations are doing in the effort to go green.

What’s your heinie’s preference? Are you a 1-ply, 2-ply, or 3-ply kind of bottom? Your answer might have a lot more significance than you think. Believe it or not, there are many layers to choosing the best toilet paper... You may be shocked to learn that your choice of toilet paper ply has far-reaching ramifications on climate and sustainability. But a little awareness about your choice of wipe goes a long way. So let’s take a look at what each ply means on a larger scale, so you can choose the best toilet paper for the environment and your booty.