#22: Disposable Tissues Were Invented Because of WWI
World War I didn’t just change history on the battlefield; it also gave rise to a surprising invention—disposable tissues. Originally, these humble tissues served as affordable paper liners for gas masks. But when a cotton shortage hit the scene, tissues found a new role, replacing cotton in wartime respirators.
The aftermath of the war brought an innovative idea in 1924 when Kimberly-Clark introduced disposable face towels for makeup removal. Oddly enough, people preferred using them as disposable handkerchiefs. That’s when the company switched gears, rebranding the face towels as disposable tissues, and the iconic Kleenex was born.