For the longest time, I was using paper towels made from trees and it feels like such a waste to throw them away just after one use. So I recently went on a journey to find the best eco friendly paper towels and I want to share with you my favorite ones! I also included some reusable paper towels at the end. I like to use those alongside single-use paper towels.
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My Top Pick: Seventh Generation Paper Towels
After comparing the costs of all types of paper towels, this one actually came out to be cheaper than the Bounty brand! I was surprised.
If it weren’t for the high price tag, I would choose the Caboo bamboo paper towels as my top pick.
But comparing price, sustainability, and least amount of chemicals used – this Seventh Generation would be my recommendation.
Best Eco Friendly Paper Towels
1. Caboo Tree Free Paper Towels
Best Bamboo Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: Bamboo
My Review: These are some of the most absorbent bamboo paper towels I’ve tried. They’re stronger than your average paper towel so it’s really effective at cleaning up spills. I noticed they also tear nicely. I love that they’re more sustainable than paper towels made from trees. That’s because bamboo is regenerative much faster than trees and needs less water to grow. The downside is they’re quite expensive. Let me show you my calculations.
Cost:
- The cost of 810 sheets of Bounty paper towels is $17
- The cost of Caboo 450 sheets is $24
- That means 100 Bounty sheet costs $2 and 100 Caboo sheet costs $5. It’s quite a big difference.
2. Unbleached Seventh Generation Paper Towels 100% Recycled
Best Unbleached Recycled Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: 100% Recycled Paper
My Review: I know, the look isn’t the best with unbleached paper towels but that does mean it wasn’t processed with any sort of chemicals and dyes. If you don’t mind the look so much, these are a good choice. It’s made with 100% recycled paper so they don’t cut down new trees for these. They’re not too expensive too – just slightly more expensive than regular paper towels.
Cost:
- The cost of 810 sheets of Bounty paper towels is $17
- The cost of 810 Seventh Generation paper towels is $15.46 (if you buy a pack of 24)
- That means 100 sheets of Bounty costs $2 and 100 sheets of SG costs $1.91 – SG is cheaper!
3. Reel Paper Towels 100% Recycled
Best Recycled Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: 100% Recycled Paper
My Review: I’ve been using these for an entire month and they’re been working well for me. My only wish is that they could be slightly more absorbent. I also tried their Reel’s bamboo paper towels and they are SO much more absorbent. One thing that really stands out to me is the packaging is 100% plastic-free. Each paper towel is wrapped in paper packaging and inside a cardboard box which is all recyclable and compostable.
Cost:
- The cost of 810 sheets of Bounty paper towels is $17
- The cost of 810 sheets of Reel paper towels is $24.30 (without 16% subscription discount)
- That means the cost per 100 sheets for Bounty is $2 and Reel is $3. Just a little more.
4. EcoFirst 100% Recycled Paper
Best Affordable Recycled Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: 100% Recycled Paper
My Review: I tried to find the cheapest recycled paper towels and I found this one. Don’t expect it to be the most strong or absorbent, but it gets the job done! It doesn’t tear that nicely but it does come in half sheets so you can save paper. It’s also made with chlorine bleaching. It’s even Rain Forest Alliance Certified and exceeds EPA standards.
Cost:
- The cost of 810 sheets of Bounty paper towels is $17
- The cost of 810 sheets of EcoFirst is $7.98 (if you buy a pack of 24)
- That means the cost per 100 sheets for Bouty is $2 and EcoFrist is 0.99 – much cheaper!
5. Mioeco 20 Pack Reusable Paper Towels
Best Reusable Cotton Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: 100% GOTS-Certified Organic Cotton
My Review: I like to use one-time use paper towels for cleaning things that might stain but if there’s no stains, I will use reusable paper towels like this one. It’s made with 100% organic cotton in a fair trade factory. I like that it’s machine washable so I can reuse it over and over again.
Cost: $35 for a 20 pack ($1.75 each)
6. Ecolifestyle Reusable Bamboo Paper Towels
Best Reusable Bamboo Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: 100% Organic bamboo
My Review: Bamboo is another great material to be used in reusable towels. This package comes with a pack of 3 rolls and each roll has 20 sheets. The best part is it’s machine washable! The texture is super soft and it’s highly absorbent and strong. The only downside is it can collect lint from the dryer. When you’ve worn them out,
Cost: $17.99 for 3 rolls ($0.30 per sheet)
7. Ecoboo Towels Washable
Best Colorful Reusable Bamboo Cloths
What It’s Made Of: Bamboo
My Review: If you want something more flexible and most similar to a kitchen towel, this one is it! They’re quite thick and super absorbent. They’re machine washable so it can be reused. Since these towels are more durable and long-lasting than the reusable towels in a roll, they cost a bit more per cloth. I really love that there is a hook at the corner of each cloth so I can easily hang it up to dry.
Cost: $22.99 for 10 cloths
8. KitchLife Reusable Bamboo Paper Towel
Best Design Bamboo Paper Towels
What It’s Made Of: 60% bamboo fiber and 40% wood pulp
My Review: These are quite similar to the ones by EcoLifestyle but more colorful! They’re super sturdy and absorbent. I love that they’re made with organic and biodegradable materials. It’s also machine washable so you can use them over and over again. They say that one roll of 40 sheets can last up to 10 months.
Cost: $9.99 for 40 sheets ($0.25 each sheet).
9. FEBU Swedish Dishcloths
Best Swedish Dish Cloths
What It’s Made Of: 70% cellulose, 30% cotton
My Review: These are probably my most-used reusable cloths! They feel very solid and tough when it’s dry. But when it’s wet, it feels like a flexible dishcloth. It also dries extremely quickly and doesn’t leave a musty smell. It’s also machine washable. I’ve washed mine at least 10 times and it’s still looks new!
Cost: $14.95 for 5 pack. ($2.99 each)
And that’s a wrap on the best eco friendly paper towels. It really surprised me to see that the cost of using sustainable paper towels can be similar to or even cheaper than conventional paper towels!
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