Ready to clean up your act and your spills? Making a small change in your shopping cart can have a big impact, especially since about 51,000 trees are cut down daily to meet North America's paper towel demand. You can help reduce this number by choosing sustainable paper towels.
We've found five amazing brands that make the switch easy:
Who Gives A Crap
Reel
Seventh Generation
Caboo
These picks offer great performance using eco-friendly materials like those found in bamboo paper towels. They prove you don't have to sacrifice quality to make a greener choice.
Did You Know? U.S. Paper Towel Use at a Glance The average U.S. household uses over 120 paper towel rolls per year. This contributes to a massive market for these and other paper goods.
Category
Value (2024)
Paper Hand Towels
$4.4 Billion
All Paper Products
$27.7 Billion
Choosing environmentally friendly paper towels is a simple step toward a cleaner planet.
Key Takeaways
Switching to sustainable paper towels helps save trees and reduces waste.
Bamboo and recycled paper are common eco-friendly materials for paper towels.
Look for certifications like B Corp and chlorine-free processing to find truly sustainable brands.
Many eco-friendly paper towels come in plastic-free packaging.
Sustainable paper towels work well for cleaning and help the planet.
Why Switch to Sustainable Paper Towels?
Making the switch to sustainable paper towels offers powerful benefits for our planet. You directly help the environment in several ways.
You save trees from being cut down.
You reduce the amount of waste going to landfills.
You conserve water and energy used in manufacturing.
You lower your household's carbon footprint.
Choosing greener options is a simple step with a big impact. Let's explore what makes these products a better choice.
Bamboo vs. Recycled Paper
Most tree-free paper towels use either bamboo or recycled paper. Each material has unique environmental advantages.
Bamboo is a fast-growing grass, not a tree. It grows back quickly after being cut, so it does not need replanting.
Feature |
Bamboo |
Wood (for traditional paper) |
|---|---|---|
Growth Cycle |
Matures in 3-5 years |
Takes 10-30 years to mature |
Harvesting |
Regenerates from its roots |
Requires replanting |
Recycled paper gives waste a new purpose. It keeps paper out of landfills and reduces the need for new materials. The fibers in recycled paper can get shorter each time, which sometimes affects softness. However, both bamboo paper towels and recycled options perform well for cleanups.
Attribute |
Bamboo Paper Towels |
Recycled Paper Towels |
|---|---|---|
Strength |
Naturally strong and tear-resistant |
Strength can vary; fibers weaken over time |
Softness |
Very soft and durable |
Softness can be moderate |
Key Eco-Certifications
Certifications help you identify brands that are truly committed to sustainability. Two important labels to look for are B Corp and chlorine-free processing.
What is a B Corp? A Certified B Corporation is a company that meets high standards for its social and environmental impact. It must show a commitment to:
Workers: Fair treatment and benefits for employees.
Community: Positive contributions to its local community.
Environment: Practices that protect the planet.
You should also look for paper towels bleached without harmful chlorine. Traditional bleaching can release toxins that harm fish and other water creatures. Look for labels like Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) or Totally Chlorine Free (TCF).
Plastic-Free Packaging
Packaging creates a lot of waste. In the U.S., only about 13% of plastic packaging is actually recycled each year. Many environmentally friendly paper towels come in paper or compostable wrappers. This small change on your paper towel rolls helps reduce plastic pollution. Choosing sustainable paper towels with better packaging is an easy way to make your daily habits greener.
Top 5 Eco-Friendly Paper Towel Rolls
Choosing the right paper towel is becoming more important for many households. The market for natural home cleaning products is growing fast, with projections showing it could reach over $13 billion by 2030. This is because you and other consumers are more aware of how chemicals can affect your health and the environment. You want products with safe, transparent ingredients. These five brands deliver on that promise, offering effective and environmentally friendly paper towels for your home. Let's find the perfect roll for your cleaning needs.
Who Gives A Crap
Primary Material: 100% Recycled Paper
-
Key Feature: Massive Social Impact 🌍
This Certified B Corp is famous for its mission. The company donates 50% of its profits to help build toilets and improve sanitation in developing countries. To date, their contributions have surpassed $7.8 million USD, making a real-world difference with every purchase you make.
Performance Highlight: Strong and Reliable These paper towel rolls are surprisingly strong for being made from recycled materials. The tensile strength of the paper ensures the sheets hold together, so you can confidently tackle tough spills and scrubbing jobs without the towel falling apart.
Reel
Primary Material: 100% Bamboo
Key Feature: Plastic-Free and Purpose-Driven 🤝 Reel is completely tree-free and ships its products in 100% plastic-free packaging. Through its partnership with the organization SOIL, your purchase helps fund access to clean toilets in communities in Haiti, preventing the spread of waterborne diseases.
Performance Highlight: Soft, Absorbent, and Versatile These bamboo paper towels are exceptionally soft and absorbent. Customers note they are durable enough to be rinsed and reused for multiple cleanups throughout the day. You can use them for everything from wiping up juice spills to cleaning glass and stainless steel appliances.
Ecolipak
Primary Material: 100% Sugarcane & Bamboo Fiber
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Key Feature: Certified Compostable and Proven Impact 🌿
Green Pack, Go for ECOLipak! Ecolipak stands out with its impressive achievements, having sold over 59 million eco-friendly products in 2024. The brand's products are BPA-free and certified compostable by both the Biodegradable Products Institute (BPI) and the Compost Manufacturing Alliance (CMA), ensuring they break down safely.
Performance Highlight: Superior Absorbency and Strength Designed for performance, these towels have a high absorbency rate, making them perfect for soaking up liquids quickly. Their strong fibers hold up to vigorous scrubbing, giving you a reliable tool for any mess in the kitchen and beyond.
Seventh Generation
Primary Material: 100% Recycled Paper
-
Key Feature: Commitment to Recycled Content ♻️ A pioneer in the green cleaning space, Seventh Generation is dedicated to using post-consumer recycled materials. This practice gives paper waste a second life and reduces the need for virgin materials.
Their unbleached paper towel rolls contain a minimum of 80% post-consumer recycled paper, one of the highest levels available.
Performance Highlight: Practical and Dependable These towels offer reliable performance for everyday cleanups. Many rolls come with select-a-size sheets, which allow you to tear off just what you need. This smart design helps you reduce waste and makes your roll last longer.
Caboo
Primary Material: Bamboo & Sugarcane
Key Feature: "Panda Friendly" Sustainable Sourcing 🐼 Caboo uses a blend of fast-growing bamboo and sugarcane that regenerates quickly after harvest. Importantly, the brand sources its bamboo from species that are not a food source for pandas, showing a deep commitment to protecting wildlife and ecosystems.
Performance Highlight: Lint-Free and Absorbent These sustainable paper towels are known for being strong, absorbent, and lint-free. This makes them an excellent choice for wiping down windows, mirrors, and electronics, as they won't leave behind frustrating fibers or streaks.
You can make a real difference for the planet. Switching to sustainable options from brands like Ecolipak, Reel, or Who Gives A Crap is a simple yet powerful step. You reduce your household's environmental footprint with every cleanup. These eco-friendly paper towel rolls prove you do not have to give up performance for sustainability.
Your green journey doesn't have to stop here! You can reduce even more paper waste with other easy swaps:
Use cloth napkins instead of paper ones.
Bring your own reusable cup for takeout drinks.
Choose reusable bags for snacks and sandwiches.
Pick your favorite from the list and make the switch to a greener clean today!
FAQ
Are bamboo paper towels really better for the environment?
Yes, they offer significant benefits. Bamboo is a type of grass that grows incredibly fast and regenerates from its roots after harvesting. This means you help save forests because farmers do not need to clear land or replant trees to produce these paper towels.
Do sustainable paper towels work as well as regular ones?
Absolutely. You will find that eco-friendly paper towels are strong, absorbent, and effective for all your daily cleanups. Brands design them to handle tough spills and scrubbing jobs, so you do not have to sacrifice performance when you make a greener choice.
What does "compostable" mean for a paper towel?
A compostable paper towel can break down into natural elements in a compost setting. This process enriches the soil instead of adding waste to a landfill. You can turn your used paper towels into a resource that helps plants grow. 🌿
Is it expensive to switch to eco-friendly paper towels?
The price can be slightly higher, but many people find the value balances out. Sustainable rolls are often very absorbent, so you may use fewer sheets per cleanup. Buying in bulk or using select-a-size sheets also helps you save money and reduce waste.
