The Morality of Hoarding Toilet Paper in a Pandemic

At the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, one item stood out as the symbol of global anxiety: toilet paper. As shelves emptied and carts overflowed, a strange ethical dilemma unspooled—literally. Why were people hoarding? Was it justified? And what does this behavior reveal about human nature when fear takes the wheel?

While it may seem trivial, the toilet paper panic offers a surprisingly deep insight into moral decision-making, scarcity psychology, and the ethical tension between self-preservation and social responsibility.

The Core Dilemma

Imagine this scenario:

You’re at the store during a public health emergency. There’s a limited supply of toilet paper left. You could take a few rolls—just what you need. Or you could fill your cart, ensuring your own comfort for months… and leaving none for others.

There’s no rule against buying extra. But should you?

This is the moral tension of panic hoarding: the individual versus the collective. Fear and rational self-interest clash with empathy and fairness. And when it comes to essentials, the stakes (and the rolls) feel much higher.

Why Toilet Paper?

Toilet paper became the face of pandemic panic, even though COVID-19 didn’t affect the digestive system.

According to behavioral experts, it’s because:

It’s large and visible—empty shelves feel more urgent.
It’s associated with cleanliness and control.
It’s nonperishable—easy to stockpile.

It was less about need, more about uncertainty. When people saw others hoarding, they followed suit, fearing scarcity more than they feared actual lack.

Ethical Frameworks in Play

To better understand the ethics of hoarding, let’s look at a few moral theories in action.

1. Utilitarianism

This view holds that the morally right action is the one that maximizes well-being for the greatest number.

Hoarding fails this test. Taking more than you need causes shortages for others, especially the vulnerable—elderly, disabled, or low-income individuals who can’t shop as often or stock up in bulk.

From this angle, hoarding is ethically unjustifiable. Your comfort comes at someone else’s expense.

2. Deontology

Deontological ethics focuses on duties and rules, not outcomes.

Even if your hoarding didn’t lead to harm (say, the store restocked the next day), the act itself might still be considered wrong. Why? Because you’re violating a moral duty to be fair and considerate. You’re taking advantage of a situation where others can’t respond equally.

Think of it this way: Would it be okay if everyone did what you’re doing? If the answer is no, then it probably fails the deontological sniff test.

3. Virtue Ethics

This framework asks: What would a good person do?

Virtue ethics emphasizes character and intentions—generosity, compassion, temperance. A virtuous shopper buys what they need, leaves some for others, and maybe even checks in on a neighbor.

Panic hoarding, in contrast, stems from fear, selfishness, and mistrust. It reveals more about who we are than what we need.

Real-World Examples of Panic Hoarding

Toilet paper wasn’t the only target of mass stockpiling. Let’s look at a few more:

Hand sanitizer: Resellers bought in bulk and marked up prices on Amazon and eBay—some were later banned or shamed in the press.
Masks and gloves are hoarded by civilians, some hospitals, and suppliers, creating distribution problems.
Baby formula (2022): Supply chain issues combined with panic buying led to dangerous infant shortages.
Fuel in the UK (2021): A rumor about a fuel shortage led to actual shortages as people filled multiple containers unnecessarily.

In each case, self-interest snowballed into systemic harm—not because supplies were short initially, but because behavior made them so.

The Psychology Behind the Panic

Understanding why people hoard doesn’t excuse it, but it helps us make better systems.

Some key drivers:

Loss aversion: The fear of losing access to something is more powerful than the pleasure of gaining it.
Social proof: Seeing others buy triggers the belief that you should too.
Control illusion: Stocking up gives people a sense of control during uncertain times.
Media amplification: Photos of empty shelves spread faster than supply updates.

This results in feedback loops: fear leads to hoarding, which causes real shortages and more fear.

Was It Ever Justified?

Not all stocking up is hoarding. There’s a moral line between prudence and panic.

Buying enough for your family for a few weeks during a lockdown? Reasonable.

Clearing out the shelf so others can’t get any? Not so much.

Context matters too. A rural family with limited store access might stock more than someone living near a supermarket. A parent of three may need more than someone living alone.

Ethics depends on intent, necessity, and impact.

Systemic Factors

It’s worth noting that not all responsibility lies with individuals.

Supply chains weren’t always prepared.
Retailers didn’t ration early enough.
Governments gave mixed messages.

A moral society also depends on ethical institutions. Public trust erodes when officials or corporations act in their own interest while asking individuals to behave.

This doesn’t excuse hoarding—but it reminds us that ethics is both individual and collective.

Humor as a Coping Mechanism

Toilet paper memes exploded online. From “TP Fortresses” to cats guarding rolls like treasure, humor helped people cope with the absurdity.

While some found the jokes insensitive, others saw them as a relief valve—a way to stay connected, call out excesses, and humanize the stress.

Humor doesn’t solve moral problems, but it can soften our judgments and open conversations.

The Long-Term Questions

What the toilet paper panic really flushed out was this:

How do we behave under pressure?
Do we look out only for ourselves?
Or can we rise to protect each other?

These questions apply beyond pandemics—to climate change, resource scarcity, and any situation where fear tempts us to retreat into “me first” mode.

The answer isn’t found in a shopping cart—but in how we share the aisle.

Glossary of Terms

Utilitarianism – An ethical theory that seeks the greatest good for the greatest number.
Deontology – Ethics based on rules and duties, regardless of outcomes.
Virtue Ethics – Ethics based on character and moral virtues.
Panic Hoarding – Buying excessive quantities of goods out of fear, often during emergencies.
Loss Aversion – The psychological tendency to prefer avoiding losses over acquiring gains.