The Great Napkin Debate: Cloth vs. Paper

The napkin. A commonplace element of daily life that many of us don’t think twice about. When we get some food on our hands or face, we reach automatically for a napkin to clean ourselves up. We may even preemptively handle spills and protect our clothes by tucking a napkin into our shirt or draping it across our lap before eating.

The world of napkin etiquette is admittedly a mystery to me. I come from a “non-napkin” family where I became accustomed to wiping my hands on my pants, the kitchen chair, or an errant dish rag while eating. It’s not that my family was opposed to napkins, we just used them rarely. On the occasion when someone would need a napkin, we’d simply head to the roll of paper towels and make do. When we’d have guests over or be hosting a party, a pack of paper cocktail napkins would inevitably appear, pulled from the depths of some drawer. While my personal experience with napkins may be a bit thin, I have still had enough experience to identify paper napkins as being an avoidable source of waste in our daily lives.

As with many single-use disposable paper products, a lot of energy and resources go into the production of paper napkins. When you factor in harvesting the material, processing and bleaching, packaging, shipping, and transportation to and from the store, paper napkins are about twice as energy-intensive and create more greenhouse gas emissions than their cloth napkin counterparts, according to the Mother Nature Network. Despite all the energy that goes into this product, paper napkins are used only once for a matter of mere seconds or minutes before being thrown away.

And paper napkins ultimately should be thrown away. Yes, paper napkins are made of paper (no surprise there), but because they come into contact with food waste, grease, and possibly bodily fluids and cannot be adequately “cleaned” during the recycling process, they should not be recycled.

So, we once again find ourselves in the position where recycling and reusing are not viable options to combat this source of waste. That leaves us with reducing! And the best way to reduce paper napkin use is to avoid it altogether by switching to reusable cloth napkins instead.

My first experience using cloth napkins (aside from encountering them in restaurants) came, appropriately, while I was participating in an immersive abroad program in college focused on sustainability. There were roughly nine of us living in an old farm house, and we each had a clothespin labeled with our name in the kitchen on which we hung a reusable cloth napkin. The napkins were collected and washed weekly and then redistributed to be used again. It was great! However, due to my family’s “non-napkin” tendencies, I hadn’t thought to implement such a measure at home until now.

When I decided to initiate the switch from paper napkins (or in my family’s case, no napkins supplemented by the occasional paper product) to reusable cloth napkins, I spent some time trying to figure out which cloth napkin was the best choice.

Factoring in water resources used and gas emissions produced to grow the raw materials, manufacture the napkins, and launder them weekly (for the cloth napkins), setting the table with a year’s worth of paper napkins produces 7.5 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and uses 24.5 gallons of water. Alternatively, using cotton napkins produces 3.9 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and uses 43.3 gallons of water, while linen napkins produce only 1.9 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and use a mere 8.9 gallons of water.

Ultimately, these calculations from environmental consultant and columnist Pablo Paster conclude that linen napkins are the most sustainable option. This is due in large part to the fact that cotton is a highly irrigated crop with heavy pesticide use as compared to linen that is made from the more eco-friendly flax plant. Unfortunately, linen napkins are also the most expensive option. However, for a one-time investment in something that you could use every day, it may be well-worth your money to invest in the pricier but more sustainable linen option.

Given my circumstances (living at home with limited income and a family that generally does not use napkins), I opted to purchase a 12-pack of vibrant, colorful cotton napkins. I know my family will be washing these much less frequently than once per week, so some water usage will be saved there. It’s also important to note that how you choose to launder your reusable cloth napkins does have an impact on how much they reduce your resource consumption (see my previous blog on greening your laundry routine). Generally speaking, to make the greatest environmental impact with your cloth napkins, they should be washed in cold water, using eco-friendly biodegradable detergent, and should be air dried.

I ordered my napkins from Amazon, which generates additional waste in transport and packaging, so ideally you would buy your reusable cloth napkins from a local store (declining both the plastic bag and the receipt if offered). In my defense, I did try to do this, but the one kitchen/linens store near me did not have any cloth napkins in stock. For the craftier among us, cloth napkins can also be made from recycled fabrics/textiles.

When my napkins arrived in the mail earlier in the week, I was ecstatic! I opted to buy a colorful pack and was greatly encouraged when my dad, a previous cloth napkin naysayer, asked excitedly, “Can I be the yellow one?!”

My napkins also arrived just in time for the holidays (in which feasting is generally a main event). I’m excited to add some style and sustainability to our traditional Thanksgiving meal this year when I set the table with my new reusable cloth napkins.

That’s another great aspect of cloth napkins—they can spruce up and fancify even the simplest of meals, adding a classy and stylish touch to your everyday eating. You can also take your cloth napkins on-the-go to avoid generating waste while eating out.

Overall, I have really enjoyed making the switch to reusable cloth napkins. As infrequently as we use napkins, my family now has an environmentally-friendly alternative to paper napkins that will help us reduce our waste over time. If you decide to join the winning side of this debate and switch your household from paper to cloth napkins, remember to shop locally, purchase linen napkins, and wash responsibly to have the greatest impact in reducing your waste and resource consumption. If you are unwilling or unable to forgo paper napkins, then consider switching to using napkins made from recycled paper.

Whatever you end up doing, let me know how it goes in the comments below! And stay tuned next week for my look into greener cleaners as I try out homemade all-natural cleaning products.

~Sam