Sustainable Alternatives to Paper Towels

When Alexandra Foster moved into her own apartment, she decided to cut down on unnecessary purchases. And that included paper towels. She replaced this ubiquitous kitchen product with a sustainable alternative: Un-Paper Towels.

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Paper towels are common in most households and even public spaces. They're handy for cleaning up all sorts of messes, from kitchen spills to pet accidents. This convenience can sometimes also lead to their overuse.

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But what’s the environmental cost of using these single-use, disposable products? And can we not recycle them to reduce their impact?

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Environmental Impact of Paper Towels

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The problem with paper towels begins with their production, as it involves chopping down trees and using excess water and chemicals. Transporting these bulky items from factories to stores and homes leads to even more carbon emissions.

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Since paper towels are used once, millions of them end up in landfills every year. As they decompose, they generate methane, a greenhouse gas that is 80 times more potent than CO2.

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A more sustainable approach is composting paper towels, provided they aren't contaminated with harmful substances. But since they're made of paper, can't we simply recycle them?

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Can You Recycle Paper Towels?

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Most paper towels are discarded after being used to clean up messes. At the time of disposal, they're contaminated with food waste, grease, or toxic cleaning chemicals. This contamination makes it difficult to recycle them. And even if they are not contaminated, they are produced in a way that makes it difficult to recycle them.

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Paper towels are made using a mixture of wood, cardboard, and paper by-products that are pounded into a pulp. This process breaks down the natural fibers and makes it difficult to recycle them. Not to forget, the toxic printing inks or bleach colors used on them make recycling even more tricky.

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While life without paper towels might seem difficult, there are some sustainable alternatives that you can use to replace them.

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Also read: Bidet vs.Toilet Paper: Which Is More Sustainable?

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Sustainable Alternatives To Paper Towels

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Reusable Cloths

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To clean food messes, you can use cloth towels and napkins. Keep a stash of clean, folded ones in your kitchen and wash and reuse them. You could also try Un-Paper Towels—the sustainable alternative Alexandra used to replace paper towels in her home.

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Newspaper

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Newspapers are a great way to clean glass surfaces and mirrors and can help you remove those streaks and spots. They are easily available and can be conveniently ripped off into a desired shape and size.

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Reusable Wax Wraps

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For packing lunchboxes and leftover food, you can use reusable wax wraps instead of paper towels. They are made of sustainable beeswax and organic cotton and can be easily cleaned and reused.

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Bamboo Paper Towels

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If you're not ready to give up paper towels yet, consider switching to bamboo paper towels. They're strong, absorbent, and biodegradable. Since bamboo grows faster than trees, it requires fewer resources and doesn't lead to deforestation, contributing to a lower carbon footprint.

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If you still have paper towels at home, use them efficiently. Pull off only what you need, dry and reuse them when cleaning with water or soap, and cut them into smaller pieces to extend roll life. These practices will help you transition sustainably away from paper towels.

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