Recently, the China National Technical Textiles Industry Association (CNITA) officially released the Scientific Consensus on Toilet Wipes (Wet Toilet Paper) 2026. This is the industry’s first systematic, interdisciplinary professional consensus on wet toilet paper. The full document spans 40 pages and seven chapters, providing scientific responses to public misconceptions and industry controversies—covering historical evolution, perianal skin physiology, product definition, safety, environmental friendliness, value enhancement, and selection and use.
For a niche category that has developed in China for little more than a decade, the formation of an interdisciplinary industrial-level consensus is itself a sign of category maturity.
I. The Weight of the Consensus: Interdisciplinary Expert Review Covering the “Full Chain”
The consensus was compiled by CNITA, bringing together experts from materials science, dermatology, testing institutions, and other fields. Based on evidence-based medicine and scientific data, the seven chapters systematically elaborate on the scientific nature and advantages of wet toilet paper from multiple dimensions, including civilization evolution, skin physiology, product characteristics, quality and safety, environmental friendliness, and hygiene standards.
Viewed from a longer-term perspective, this consensus fills a real gap in the industry. The wet toilet paper category started in China around 2010 and experienced explosive growth after COVID-19 in 2020. While the market scale has expanded rapidly, consumer understanding, usage habits, and standard system development have clearly lagged behind the category’s growth. The consensus acts as both a “brake” and an “accelerator” for the fast-growing market: it guides scientific understanding while providing a reference for the future iteration of industry standards.
II. First, Clarifying the Name: Wet Toilet Paper Is Not “Paper”
At the beginning of Chapter 3, the consensus breaks one of the most widespread misconceptions—wet toilet paper is not “paper”; it is a wipe.
According to the national standard GB/T 30558-2025 Classification of Technical Textiles, wet toilet paper is classified under technical textiles for wiping purposes. The group standard T/CNITA 09113-2024 Toilet Wipes, released and implemented on September 14, 2024, provides a clearer definition: “Wipes made of nonwoven fabrics as the main raw material, used for cleaning the human body after toileting.”
Wet toilet paper has three core characteristics: first, it uses a nonwoven fabric base; second, it is dispersible in water and biodegradable; third, it is specifically designed for cleaning after toileting. In terms of raw materials, formulation, dispersibility, and intended use, it is essentially different from ordinary wipes, hand and mouth wipes, and disinfectant wipes.
III. Second, Correcting the Misconception: The “Safety Equation” of Wet Toilet Paper
This is the most technically rigorous chapter in the document. The consensus points out that the perianal skin has four physiological characteristics: thin epidermis (only 0.5–1.0 mm), abundant skin folds, rich sweat and sebaceous glands, and dense nerve endings. These features determine high requirements for cleaning products: they must effectively remove dirt and harmful bacteria while avoiding over-cleaning and protecting the skin’s normal flora and acid-base balance. The consensus proposes “three principles for scientific toilet cleaning”—thorough cleaning, gentle protection, and practical convenience—all three of which are indispensable.
Regarding the safety concerns most relevant to consumers, the consensus sets boundaries for the lotion formulation. It recommends using treated purified water as the base (over 90%, referring to the purified water standard in the Pharmacopoeia of the People’s Republic of China); surfactants should mainly be mild types such as alkyl polyglucosides (APG) and coconut glucoside; moisturizing and soothing ingredients often include glycerin, panthenol, plant extracts, ceramides, etc. Alcohol, fragrance, fluorescent agents, pigments, and highly sensitizing preservatives (such as methylchloroisothiazolinone, commonly known as “Kathon”) are explicitly listed as ingredients to avoid.
In terms of product pH, the consensus suggests preferring weakly acidic products (pH 4.5–6.5) to match the natural weakly acidic environment of the perianal skin and reduce damage to the sebum membrane. It also reminds consumers not to blindly believe marketing claims such as “weakly acidic” or “non-irritating” without evidence; they should request testing reports issued by professional third-party testing institutions.
IV. There Is Also an “Environmental Equation”
Dispersibility in water is the most differentiating feature of wet toilet paper and also one of the most controversial issues among consumers. Chapter 5 of the consensus provides clarification on this point: products meeting the “dispersible” standard can be disposed of in the toilet after use and will quickly disperse under hydraulic impact without causing blockages. The base materials of wet toilet paper are mostly biodegradable materials such as regenerated cellulose fibers, natural fibers, and wood pulp fibers.
However, the consensus also adds an important reminder: product packaging usually specifies the number of sheets that can be flushed into the toilet at one time (generally recommended to be no more than two sheets), and consumers should read the instructions carefully before use. Dispersibility does not mean unlimited flushing; excessive disposal is still a common cause of toilet blockages. Wet toilet paper is biodegradable only if it enters the sewage treatment system, rather than remaining trapped in pipes for a long time.
V. Consumers’ “Four Core Evaluation Indicators”
In the final chapter, the consensus summarizes the key selection criteria into four core evaluation indicators, which are highly practical:
First, look at ingredients and formulation. Prefer a “pure water +” minimalist formulation, avoid “harmful additives,” and pay attention to “plant-derived / gentle” formulas with natural soothing ingredients such as aloe, chamomile, and tea tree.
Second, look at the pH value. Prefer weakly acidic products (pH 4.5–6.5) and request third-party testing reports from the seller.
Third, look at dispersibility in water. Identify products with a “dispersible” certification mark or those labeled as “dispersible spunlaced nonwoven fabric”; follow the number-of-sheets instructions on the packaging.
Fourth, look at packaging and specifications. Prefer dual-protection packaging with “outer flip lid + inner sealing sticker.” For household use, choose large packs for better value; for travel emergencies or sensitive skin, choose small packs for better hygiene.
In addition, the consensus provides customized selection suggestions for five groups: infants and young children, women during menstruation or pregnancy, people with hemorrhoids or perianal discomfort, people with sensitive skin or allergies, and the elderly. People with hemorrhoids or perianal discomfort are explicitly reminded that wet toilet paper is only an auxiliary cleaning tool and cannot replace medical treatment; if symptoms are severe, they should seek medical attention promptly.
