We naturally reach for a paper towel to clean up a mess when something is spilled. We rarely stop to think about this as customers.
Where is the paper towel discarded? in the garbage.
After a single usage. Where did paper towels originate?
Trees.
Do paper towels contain chemicals? What effect does this have on the environment?
Obviously, a product like paper towels, generated from a valuable resource for a single use, is neither sustainable nor environmentally benign.
And the US is the largest paper towel purchaser.
In 2017, people around the world spent more than $12 billion on paper towels for their homes. About $5.7 billion of that was spent by Americans.
According to research, Americans consume and discard over 254 million metric tons of single-use paper towels annually.
That is equivalent to 51,000 trees each day! Demand for paper towels and other wood products leads to deforestation, which is one of the most important environmental problems.
One of the four things that cause trees to be cut down in tropical areas is wood products, especially paper.
When trees are cut down, wildlife and native cultures lose their homes and places to live. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, trees are crucial for mitigating greenhouse gas emissions.
As the effects of climate change intensify, trees are vital for absorbing carbon dioxide. In addition to cutting down trees, making and distributing paper requires a lot of fossil fuels and water, which is bad for the environment in a big way.
The paper problem persists after the product has been utilized. Paper items, like paper towels, frequently wind up in landfills that are already overflowing.
Microfiber Dusting Towels
When abandoning paper towels, choose a reusable alternative that is ecologically beneficial. Soft microfiber cleaning cloths clean porcelain surfaces such as sinks and toilets with care.
In addition, these fabrics may be reused after a cycle in the washing machine.
Dishcloth From Flour Sacks
What is superior to hand-drying with a paper towel? Utilize a dish towel! Even though soft, absorbent kitchen towels like terry cloth are great for drying hands, they can leave lint on surfaces.
The smooth cotton or linen used to make flour sack cloths, on the other hand, makes them a better choice than paper towels for drying dishes. These dishcloths are biodegradable and compostable due to their composition of natural materials.
There are several advantages to using flour sack cloths around the house since they are quite adaptable.
Swedish Dishcloth
Ten & Co. Swedish Dishcloth is a Canadian company that I adore. I’ve used the vast majority of their items, including the Swedish dishcloth. One Swedish dish towel can replace seventeen rolls of paper towels!
What is Swedish material? I’m certain you’ve heard of them. Since the 1950s, these sponges have been a mainstay in Scandinavian households.
They are composed of cellulose fiber and are biodegradable, fast-drying, and naturally antibacterial. And they may be used to clean anything!
The quick-dry feature is a game-changer for me, and it will be for you as well. Consider that wet, stinking yellow sponge you’ve used repeatedly! Countless germs and bacteria inhabit these sponges.
These alternatives to paper towels may also be cleaned in the dishwasher or washing machine. They are also very versatile, so you can use them in the bathroom or to clean windows and mirrors.
Use them to dry your pet’s paws, remove your nail paint, wash your face, clean your child’s hands, and anything else you can think of!
My replacement paper towel rolls are color-coded for the kitchen and the bathroom, respectively. They may truly replace napkins, sponges, and even dish towels since they are so soft and simple to use.
These are also exceptionally absorbent, which is a notable quality. They take in 15 times their own weight in water, which is about 3/4 of a cup. Consider how much paper towel you’d need to clean up a spilled glass of juice.
After each usage, they are quite simple to wring out fully. They do harden as they dry, but you may easily reactivate them by adding water.
The Paperless Towel
This new and clever idea looks like a roll of paper towels, but it is actually a set of clothes that snap together.
Place it on a standard paper towel holder, use it to clean up spills or the house, and then chuck it in the washing machine for reuse. Simply reattach the clothes, and you’ll have your very own roll of eco-friendly paper towels.
It is inevitable that accidents may occur in your home or business. Although it may seem more convenient to use a disposable roll of paper towels, it is much simpler to choose one of these five environmentally friendly alternatives.
You can wipe down the bathroom sinks, the kitchen table, and glass surfaces, even mirrors, without using paper towels.
Fully Biodegradable Paper Towels
Seventh Generation offers two eco-friendly paper towel choices. Unbleached, 100% recycled paper towels are among the best recycled paper towels.
Due to the lack of bleach, they are biodegradable and include at least 80 percent post-consumer recycled material.
They can also use 100% recycled paper pulp that has at least 50% post-consumer recycled content as an alternative.
They don’t have any chlorine bleach or other dyes in them, so they break down completely after use. These eco-friendly paper towels are incredibly durable and absorbent.
Conclusion
Alternatives to paper towels, which are sometimes called “reusable paper towels,” are very different from each other, even though they both aim to help people stop using paper towels.
Some of them, which are about 12 inches by 12 inches, are small versions of kitchen hand towels. Others are made from recycled or natural materials like cotton, polyester, viscose, or cellulose, and they come in different sizes.
Most of them are biodegradable or compostable, just like leftover paper towels and some dirty ones. However, a few aren’t, which means that when they end up in a landfill, their environmental benefits are lost.
