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Net weight of some 12-roll toilet packs is not what you see - CHOICE # 393

  • 2009.07.15

The riddle of the toilet rolls in short weight is solved.

This followed a subsequent survey of 17 models of toilet rolls available in pack sizes of 10 and 12 rolls.

Earlier, the Consumer Council reported the dubious sale tactic of some toilet roll suppliers in which a "buy-10-get-2-free" or "10+2" promotional pack was found to be actually of a less net weight than a normal 10-roll pack.

In this (July) issue of CHOICE were published the results of the survey complete with brandname information for the reference of consumers.

In the survey, 3 groups of toilet rolls involving 6 models were shown with disparity in total net weight of paper (without the core and packaging) between their 12-roll packs and 10-roll packs: the former were lighter than the latter by 2% to 5%.

It was found that for these models, the individual toilet rolls in their promotional 12-roll pack size were also lighter in net weight than the rolls in their normal 10-roll pack size.

Consumers, however, had little way of finding out since the products in question closely resembled each other carrying identical brandname (in all 6 samples), model name (in 4 samples), and roll packaging (in 4 samples).

The remainders (11) of the models surveyed all had their 12-roll packs heavier in net weight than their 10-roll packs - by 6.5% to 24.8%.

The survey noted that few models were labeled with weight. Toilet roll suppliers are urged to label comprehensively with detailed product information such as the net weight per roll, the number of sheets per roll or the size (the length and breadth) of the sheet.

The disclosure of such information will go a long way to help resolve the differences in sale practices adopted by toilet roll suppliers that are causing confusion and even dissatisfaction to consumers.

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