Someone asked me the other day, "Why do you hate paper towels so much?" Now, hate is a strong word. In fact, I don’t hate much of anything—except maybe brussels sprouts (just kidding, I love them)—but I do hate paper towels and waste. I mean, they go hand in hand, don’t they? So, why the big fuss over these little sheets of paper?
Let me break it down for you:
1. Deforestation:
Paper towels = trees. Trees = life. We need them for air, homes for adorable creatures, shade on a hot day...you get the idea. Yet, we chop down billions of trees to make single-use paper towels, most of which end up in the trash within seconds of use.
2. Water Pollution:
It takes an absurd amount of water to produce paper towels—37 gallons per roll. Let that sink in while you mop up that spilled coffee with yet another one. Not to mention, the process dumps harmful chemicals into our waterways. You know, those places where fish live and you vacation? Yeah, those.
3. Methane Machines:
When paper towels decompose in landfills, they release methane, a greenhouse gas 20 times worse than carbon dioxide. Yup, every paper towel you toss is contributing to that. If your New Year's resolution was to reduce your carbon footprint, this is a good place to start.
4. Plastic Packaging:
Paper towels come wrapped in plastic, which we all know is like the villain in every environmental story ever. It’s non-recyclable, non-biodegradable, and not something you want hanging around for the next 500 years.
5. Toxic Chemicals:
Paper towels are bleached with chemicals, including dioxins, which are not great for the environment or your health. Do we really need chemically treated paper to clean up some spilled juice? (Hint: No.)
6. The Fossil Fuel Factor:
It’s not just the towels themselves, but the energy and fossil fuels required to produce, package, and transport them. Every paper towel roll has its own carbon trail—and it's not a small one.
I could go on, but if you've read this far, you're probably my mother.
So, there you have it. Paper towels are a single-use disaster wrapped in guilt—and plastic. But there’s hope! The next time you reach for that roll, ask yourself: is there a better way?
(Spoiler alert: Yes, there is. And they’re called Soak iT Up Cloths and Clards®!)