Markus Torgeby, 49, hasn't used toilet paper since the 20th century, opting for natural alternatives like white moss instead. He views toilet paper as unnecessary and environmentally harmful. Torgeby shares his lifestyle in the SVT series 'Under bar himmel'.
Markus Torgeby, 49, moved to a hut in the forest 26 years ago and lived there for five years. There, he learned to handle bathroom needs in a primitive way, leading him to question the use of toilet paper.
'I realized quite quickly that the way we do it is completely insane. It's utterly bizarre to use paper. If you go training and then step into the shower, water comes out to get you clean. It doesn't come out paper,' he says.
Torgeby compares it to Asia, where water and hoses are more common. He highlights the environmental aspect:
'Should we cut down a bunch of trees just to wipe our butts when there's water and soap? I think it feels both unhygienic and environmentally destructive.'
In nature, he uses water, snow, or white moss, which he calls an 'antiseptic washcloth'.
'I think most people have never tried it. If they did, they'd just say "shit, this is just a hallelujah moment for the butt".'
The topic arose in the SVT series 'Under bar himmel', where Torgeby took comedian Per Andersson to the mountains. Andersson called it 'the sickest thing he's heard'. The toughest time is spring with hard crust snow, but he breaks through to softer snow underneath. During the COVID pandemic, he felt relieved not to hoard paper and estimates the savings could buy a new car.