DALLAS — Kimberly-Clark has introduced Scott Naturals Tube-Free bathroom tissue, which the company said is the nation’s first toilet paper without the cardboard tube for use at home.The eco-friendly product removes the cardboard tube that has been the central fixture of rolled toilet paper for more than 100 years, a simple step with major potential to eliminate millions of pounds of material from the waste stream, according to Kimberly-Clark.

Scott Naturals Tube-Free bathroom tissue is easily placed on a regular tissue spindle and dispenses the same way as traditional toilet paper, the company said, adding that the product will be priced the same as current Scott Naturals bath tissue with the tube.

Currently, Scott Naturals Tube-Free bath tissue is being tested at select Walmart and Sam’s Club stores in the Northeast. Kimberly-Clark said the market test will be supported by a comprehensive marketing campaign including television advertising, a partnership with MeetUp.com, free-standing inserts, direct mail, in-store marketing and product demonstrations.

“The Scott brand was the first to put bath tissue on a cardboard tube — and is now the first brand to eliminate the tube,” commented Doug Daniels, brand manager of strategy and innovation for the Scott brand. “Scott Naturals Tube-Free bath tissue performs as well as traditional rolled toilet paper while reducing material in the waste stream.”

U.S. households use an estimated 17 billion bath tissue tubes annually, equivalent to 160 million pounds of waste, equal to the weight of more than 250 Boeing 747 airliners, Kimberly-Clark reported. The cardboard tubes can be recycled but often are not. In fact, in a survey of about 1,000 adults by Scott Naturals, over 85% said that they throw it out with the trash most often.

“By eliminating the tube, we are making it easy for consumers to help tangibly improve the environment, without compromising on product quality or performance,” Daniels stated. “We know that it all adds up, and we’re helping our consumers make a positive impact.”

Kimberly-Clark noted that Scott Naturals Tube-Free builds on the 2009 introduction of the Scott Naturals “green” line of bathroom tissue, towels, flushable moist wipes and napkins.

“Scott Naturals Tube-Free bath tissue is another example of an item that helps Walmart move closer to its goal of selling products that sustain people and the environment,” commented Al Dominguez, vice president of household chemicals and paper goods at Walmart.

Jill Turner-Mitchael, senior vice president of health and wellness for Sam’s Club, stated, “We are pleased we could work with the Kimberly-Clark team on the development of the new Scott Naturals Tube-Free bath tissue as part of our effort to make the products we offer more environmentally sustainable.”