You can use them once or a couple of times, depending on what you're doing, before tossing them in the washing machine. The very high absorbency compared to other paper towel brands means only 2 hand towels are needed to thoroughly dry your hands an excellent cost reduction tool! The last reason we still keep a roll on hand is because of our 4 legged friend, Wilbur. All my Green Living Investigations are meant to be read in just a minute or two, so you can get back to finding a green life thats just right for you. This is similar to the grocery paper bag vs. the bring from home cloth bag debate. But, only if they are unbleached and not greasy. Using recycled paper towels may seem like a more sustainable option to save a few trees and prevent chemical pollution. The paper and pulp industry are the fourth largest contributor to the emission of greenhouse gases. Although paper towels are relatively useful and undeniably convenient, they have an incredibly negative impact on the environment. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Theyre convenient, we see them as a sanitary option, and theyre on nearly every kitchen counter in America. The paper fibers are too short to be used again as pulp. Did you know that the internet is a huge polluter of the environment? These are great bins as they dont require individual bin liners, the liner is continuous, reducing liner wastage too. You may also see products with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts. Judging by the amount of information and fact based statistics out there, we can only assume the wishy-washy nature of the articles written, stems from the lack of data supporting the ecological impact that the average American household has, by purchasing this specific product. They also try relatively quickly if you're constantly dealing with spills (our dog often clumsily knocks over her water bowl, so this certainly comes in handy at times). Recycled paper towels give post-consumer materials a second-life, and most are Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) too. When I'm not the Green Living Detective, I am an environmental copywriter and mom of one kiddo who holds me to higher green living standards than I might do on my own. In our apartment, we use Amazon's Buff Pro Multi-Surface Microfiber Towel ($17.79). We are big believers in eating well, not to make less of an impact on the environment, but to fuel our bodies with the highest possible quality of food. On Facts And StatisticsPrior to writing this, we did a fair amount of research, to make sure we had our facts straight. In terms of CO2 emissions and water consumption, recycled paper towels are not any better or sustainable for the environment. In fact roughly 95% of the articles we read started out saying paper towels were bad and then morphed into some long-winded tirade about completely different environmental things. One roll generally contains 100 sheets, which means you're tossing 100 towels daily, if you're using just one per day. Why you ask, when theres other options available? When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it. Here are the Investigations that changed me, * The environment is an enormous complex machine with a million and one moving parts. You cant recycle paper towels. This site is powered by renewable energy and all hosting-related CO2 emissions are offset by three times as many renewable energy certificates. Even better sustainable options are biodegradable cloth towels, usually made from bamboo. That same year, it was estimated that every American spent an average $17.50 on paper towels, which definitely adds up especially if you're buying new rolls once a month. Here Are the Facts, 6 Most Sustainable Woods for Decking? Hey fellow impactful ninja ? . First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you. We are also using the Longopac bins on the line for labels, general waste and oily rags. Instant download! The Package Free Shop's Organic UNpaper Towels ($20) are another great option. We read a countless and mind numbing amount of posts from blogs and media sources about why we should try to eliminate the convenient roll from our countertops. The Post and Courier Study: Washing clothes on cold setting can reduce microplastics in local waters, Standford Magazine: Handy Options Paper Towels vs. Blow Dryer: Essential Answer, How Sustainable Is Black Cherry Wood? The whats best out of paper towels and air hand dryers depends on context. But I didn't know what was the most responsible way to get rid of it. Overall, cold air dryers have the least environmental impact on all grounds. Declaring something Good, Bad, or Ugly is subject to some interpretation. *, Copyright Green Living Detective 2022. Most of these links are informational-based for you to check out their primary sources with one click. All of those sound like solid, viable points, but were not all that convinced; Heres our take on why. I did it, and it's significantly reduced my regular expenses, as well as my environmental impact. Dont get us wrong, there are tons of reports on paper in general, but most focus specifically on white paper used in offices (with toilet paper being the next runner up) and the recycling costs to businesses. Paper towels production causes deforestation, chemical pollution in freshwaters, and fill up our landfill. Arguments Against Paper Towel UseBut in support of the general arguments most will try make, heres the main issues: Using paper towels means factories causing pollution from their production and trucks to transport them. Infants and toddlers are especially susceptible to the effects of chlorine bleach. If you had to wipe down a greasy pot, its probably way more environmentally friendly to use an unbleached paper towel and dispose of it than use a rag, which then needs to be washed in hot water (that needs to be heated by gas or electricity), use soap, use precious fresh water, use electricity for the washing machine, use electricity or gas for the dryer, the water then needs to go to the sewage station which requires energy to be cleaned, etc, etc. Some may argue that air dryers consume way more energy, and are not entirely sustainable, particularly for warm air dryers. Ace-Tex: Paper Vs Cloth What are the greenest options? But if you're dealing with a big spill, or something really gross, you're likely going to use multiple at once, without thinking even thinking about it twice. And no one wants to hear baby trees cry, right? They're made from 100 percent organic cotton, and they come in minimal packaging what more could we ask for? Likewise, they are also a great help with fried foods. Theres packaging, transportation, disposal and landfill space to consider. Long story short, no one can really tell us why. But that's still a long time to go. Well be more concerned with this point when they start making unbleached paper products that are absorbent and soft. Recycling Station Components & Waste Chutes, Spill Control & Containment & Hazardous Storage, ProfilGate Footwear & Wheel Cleaning System, National Health Service recommends that jet hand dryers not be used in clinical settings. Once used, paper towels are soiled with dirt, oils, and other solvents. When that happens, you bet, well hop on the eco-friendly bandwagon, because it will still mean were using the right tool for the job!. Impactful Ninja is reader-supported. I used to buy paper towels like everyone else, but when my boyfriend and I moved in together, we decided that giving them up would be an easy way to slash costs, as our rent was about to go up from our old place, which we lived in with several roommates. So, I became the Green Living Detective. save energy and reduce microplastic production, Science Direct: Life-cycle assessment (LCA), MIT SMR: Strategic Sustainability Uses of Life-Cycle Analysis, TreeRemoval: How Paper is Made from a Tree, Fast Company: Theres an overlooked product that you definitely use thats destroying vital forests, Readers Digest: 40 Facts That Will Make You Use Paper Less, Sciencing: Process For Making Paper Towels, The Shelby Sun Times: How Paper Towels Are Manufactured, LD Davis: Everything You Didnt Know About Paper Towels, Science Direct: Detailed life cycle assessment of Bounty paper towel operations in the United States, The Environmental Paper: The State of the Global Paper Industry, MSL MIT: Life Cycle Assessment of Hand Drying Systems, Statista Usage of paper towels in the U.S. 2011-2024, The New York Times: The Use and Abuse of Paper Towels, Cottage Core: The Dirty Details [and facts] on Paper Towels and Sponges. And that we love to link back to where we found all the information for each of our posts. Do you still use paper towels in your kitchen? Find out all about it here. They have a tremendous negative impact on the environment that we have largely ignored for far too long. The environmental impact of manufacturing is about equal to virgin paper towels and they both end up in the trash in the end. The amount of time that paper towels take to biodegrade varies, but typically it is about two weeks to a month per paper towel. And wonder, why? Notify me of follow-up comments by email. We dry our hands, wipe down counter tops and clean up most messes just fine. TreeHugger: Recycle Paper Towels Is It Possible? Keep reading for more about this relatively easy lifestyle change that will positively impact your life and the planet, for the better. Get our best recipes, grocery finds, and clever kitchen tips delivered to your inbox. According to TerraPass, the carbon output of paper towels is relatively minimal amounting to about 0.06 pounds of carbon dioxide per roll. Like paper, most paper towels are made from virgin wood pulps, recycled materials, or a combination of both. And then, they are made for single-usage and disposal. How many trees or gallons of water are we going to keep using to keep our hands dry and clean? A downside to jet air dryers is they are very loud. So we linked to where you can find them. Finally, the rolls are cut out to the desired shapes, packaged in plastic, and sent out for distribution. Impactful Ninja participates in affiliate & advertising programs designed to provide a means to this site to ensure continuous content creation for you. First, and most importantly, we still only recommend products that we believe add value for you. On the whole, paper towels are not sustainable. The current pandemic has really emphasised the hygiene factor, and it has outweighed the environmental factor. Imagine how much water we could save by choosing not to use paper towels? However, using paper towels doesnt require electricity, whereas warm air and jet hand dryers do. If we arent cooking our bacon in the oven, paper towels are almost a necessity for taking care of business with the microwave (without having one of those silly looking uni-tasker trays roaming around). The four stages of the life cycle of the paper towel that we will be looking at are: Across all these stages, paper towels are unsustainable. In Ontario, for example, paper towels are spread across landfills to strengthen the soil and prevent erosion. How Green Is It To Use Plastic Grocery Bags? You will be surprised at how many you use every single day. How To Go Paper Towel-Less in the Kitchen, (Images: too-hectic& Flickr members Dalboz17, ifijay, colinjcampbell, klynslis, swimboy1, nahlinse licensed for use under Creative Commons, Sarah Rae Trover & Elizabeth Passarella). Typically the jobs we have for them are those that involve grease, fat or slimy things in general. Stanford Magazine: Taking Paper Towels to the Compost Pile: Essential Answer, Forest Stewardship Council: Consumers Guide To Forest-Friendly Living. They are also dust/lint free, which is a unique feature among recycled papers. We might not be good at some things in this country, but Ill be a monkeys uncle if we arent great at growing trees! The paper towel is a common household item and is an ever-growing global industry. When we find products that we believe add value to you and the seller has an affiliate program, we sign up for it. Given a choice, what do you use: a paper towel or an electric hand dryer? Recycled paper towels or FSC certified products will make a difference to carbon emissions and our landfills. Green Matters is a registered trademark. LetsGoGreen states that for every single roll of recycled paper towel used, 544,000 trees are saved thats a lot of trees! Do you really want to be spending those extra few hundos on paper towels? If instead, you buy yourself a nice set of dishrags, you're paying a one-time fee for something you can use for years. When it comes to stopping the spread of dangerous germs, sometimes the environment has to take second place. They are mostly single-use. All Rights Reserved, Feeling overwhelmed by what it means to go green? It is a passion project of mine and I love to share helpful information with you to make a positive impact on the world and society. But some of these links are so-called "affiliate links" to products that we recommend. Onestudy found theres no benefit to buying recycled paper towels. Outside of work, he is a passionate salsa dancer, fast runner, and multiple Ironman finisher. Learn more Plain and simple. Learn more on landfills here. One studyused a bunch of math and science to determine if cloth rags or paper towels were greener for housecleaning. Although this method is possible, in the end, were really and truly ok with just throwing them in the trash. Paper towels take uptwo% of the space in landfills across the US. All Rights Reserved. And when you buy something through a link that is not an affiliate link, we wont receive any commission but well still be happy to have helped you. While the manufacturing process produces greenhouse emissions, around 98 per cent of the global warming potential of an electric hand dryer comes from the energy it uses once installed. But in sticking with using the right tool for the job idea, towels and sponge cloths also have the tasks they work best for too! Jet air dryers, on the other hand, arent hot. But, its never too late to start learning about the sustainability of paper towels. How Green Is It To Use Plastic Produce Bags? Although many try to argue that paper is paper in any form and the numbers should still apply, it feel like arguing that because tigers have been known to kill people we must eliminate household cats because they are both felines. Paper towels were first developed as a real way for medical facilities to stop the spread of germs. Therefore, if you're actively looking to reduce your environmental impact and waste, giving these babies up is a solid start. Company reg: UK04625059 2022. Weekly answers to your most pressing green living questions. They dont recycle well. What do these affiliate links mean for you? If you're looking for an easy way to cut down on costs and reduce your environmental impact, giving up paper towels is a really easy way to do so. Over the years, companies have strategically used LCA to research and create more sustainable products. Sarah Rae Smith has lived all across the Midwest and currently calls the bratwurst-laden city of Sheboygan home. And for the germaphobes, we promise: it really isn't gross. There can be a tinge of shame when you sheepishly raise your hand to admit you still use them in your home. She seeks out kitchens that make the best pie and farmers with fresh eggs. The thicker the towel, the longer it will take to digest into the environment. The aim of Impactful Ninja is to provide you with actionable insights to help make a positive impact on the world & society. But that's still a long time to go. Cold air dryers are 80% more energy-efficient than warm air dryers. The Hanzl Eco hand towel rolls are a great solution, as they boast great ecological credentials, as well as being the most hygienic option. They work by creating a squeegee effect that whisks the water off your skin. Very few paper products now come from virgin forests. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself. Until then, my regular white paper towels will still be shipped along side their eco-friendly cousins, causing no more pollution from transportation or manufacturing. You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. Because they fit into a dispenser with a (battery-free!) Recycled rags or old clothes also make great alternatives to cloth towels. They will help you feel better about the chemicals used in the bleaching process of the paper and allow you to use a product made from post-consumer waste and recycled paper. We take great strides to eat local, fresh, and in season. Even though paper towels can be made from recycled paper, they cant be recycled or reused as they are considered contaminated waste. Paper towel production contributes to deforestation, which in turn, leads to habitat loss, wildlife endangerment, higher greenhouse gas emissions, and therefore, rising global temperatures. Anyway, paper towels arent great, but there is such a broader environmental footprint than just a few factors. Scientists have found that warm air dryers are just as bad as paper towels in carbon emissions. The Controversy So why is there SO MUCH FUSS about paper towel use in the kitchen? They are one of the first paper towels to combine features of premium products with recycled material. We grow them for paper and we cut them down for paper. Why We Use Paper Towels In Our KitchenPaper towels in the kitchen. You can almost hear the baby trees crying and becoming more extinct as you wipe off a pan, or clean up a spill. Landfills are filled with disposable items like diapers, napkins, printer paper, notebooks, tissues, and paper towels. Unlike paper and cardboard, paper towels are strongly advised to not be recycled. But in all honesty, you don't need to purchase anything fancy an old t-shirt or towel will do. Speaking about the virgin wood pulps: Did you know that the virgin wood pulp industry in Canada accounted for 23% of its forest product exports? Today, almost every public toilet has a hand air dryer. All rights reserved. In addition, trees for paper products arent depleting our forests as they are a grown crop in this country, just like corn and potatoes. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Paper towels are great for a quick fix, but they may not benefit the environment in the long haul. In fact, the industry consumes a whopping 4% of the worlds energy! Now you know why we use them, but Im sure youre dying to know how we justify this greedy and gluttonous use of virgin crying trees for our own convenience, right? It is heated, dried, and rolled out to form paper sheets. But you can compost them, as long as you bought the unbleached kind, and if you havent been super sick in them (nobody wants snot or vomit in their compost bin). We figured it was better to be honest about our efforts to reduce our paper towel usage (not because were trying to be green), why we think they can still be essential in the kitchen and how to be ok with the stigma that surrounds their use. Wilbur is a Boston Terrier with horrible acid reflux issues and what goes inside his body doesnt always stay there. If you use paper towels on a daily basis, this creates quite a bit of waste. It has also been claimed to kill virgin trees and is depleting the worlds resources one roll at a time. Which ever side of the fence youre on, it seems like a silly point to cause so much drama, like there should be other issues we might be able to make a bigger personal impact on. You will find these products by looking for brown paper towels with Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) labels. Including better and sustainable alternatives you can use instead! We still use white, off the shelf, regular old paper towels and dont bother with the eco-friendly version. Copyright 2022 Green Matters. Americans are lazy and we lived without them for years, who need convenience, my Grandparents sure didnt! When you buy something through one of our affiliate links, we may earn a small commission - but at no additional costs to you. Ocean Conservancy: Paper Towels Whats The Big Deal Anyway? If you have a garden they are great for composting and can be mixed in with the rest of your kitchen scraps. So recycled paper towels must be better, right? So we should recycle them when were done? Paper towels are perfect for removing all the little bits of stuff left in the bottom of your pan after cooking something tasty! Being green enough is a whole new way to keep up with the Jones. A post shared by PACKAGE FREE (@packagefreeshop). But, studies show that recycled paper towels overall environmental impact is still substantial and almost equal to virgin paper towels. And while nothing beats paper towels for soaking up bacon grease, theres no evidence to show that paper towels are more sanitary than a cloth option. sales@unisanuk.com, Environment Manager - Global Drink Manufacturer. You too can compost paper towels in your home. The virgin or recycled pulp is fed into a paper-making machine. Unfortunately, almost every stage of a paper towels life-cycle is unsustainable in one way or another. At this stage, recycled paper towels would be easier to compost than virgin paper towels as they are less likely to be bleached. Your best bet will be trying to keep them clean and compost them when possible. Because they just work better. First, lets look at paper towels. The carbon that they store in their wood helps slow the rate of global warming. They are 36gsm high grammage which makes it highly absorptive, and 1-ply thickness makes it very strong even when wet, for effective hand drying. In 2017, according to The Atlantic, Americans spent about $5.7 billion on paper towels. Sure you can use newspaper instead of paper towels, but we dont get the newspaper and neither does anyone in our building. We grow, can, pickle and try to only eat out when we cant make it better at home. I spend the time doing rigorous research on green living questions so you don't have to. Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. The UK National Health Service recommends that jet hand dryers not be used in clinical settings for this very reason, as well as how unhygienic they are. I think there are a lot of other factors here that need to be considered. Trees also help prevent flooding and soil erosion, absorbing thousands of litres of stormwater. Eventually, my dream is to one day turn this passion project into my full-time job and provide even more helpful information. You may have noticed that Impactful Ninja is all about providing helpful information to make a positive impact on the world and society. You may use these HTML tags and attributes:
. The impacts of manufacturing and transportation of cloth towels may be similar to paper towels. The composting process ensures that primarily carbon dioxide is produced and not methane (as emitted in incineration plants). Theres no real reason for them when you have towels and sponges. Your email address will not be published. This includes all operating costs for running this site and the content creation itself. (The pulp is so broken down after use they cling to other recyclables, making them impossible to sort out later.)