A Solution to the Tissue Issue: Give Handkerchiefs a Try!

     As the weather turns colder and the time for flu season draws ever nearer, we may find ourselves start reaching for that box of tissues. However, before you do, I urge you to consider an alternative: the tried and true handkerchief.
     When it comes to living more sustainably and reducing the amount of waste we produce, there may be no simpler change we can make than adopting the use of handkerchiefs as alternatives to single-use, disposable tissue products. A handkerchief, for anyone who may be unfamiliar with the concept, is a square of fabric that is used for personal hygiene purposes such as wiping your hands or face or blowing your nose. According to the Wikipedia page on handkerchiefs, they can be made from a variety of fabrics including cotton, synthetic blends, silk, or linen. For the fancier and more fashionable among us, handkerchiefs can serve as a form of stylistic expression that simultaneously showcases your style and your sustainability.
     I, being neither fancy nor fashionable, began my week-long handkerchief journey by simply cutting an old cotton bandana into fourths.

     In the wake of a devastating breakup, I had more than ample opportunity to try out my handkerchief this week, and, broken heart aside, things went very well! 
     Whereas before I commonly found myself reaching for the tissue box or tearing off a swath of toilet paper to wipe away tears, snot, or a combination of the two, I now had a functional and reusable purple hanky to do the job. In having a handkerchief on hand, I eliminated my use of disposable tissue products and additionally improved my personal hygiene and cleanliness by no longer turning my sleeves into makeshift snot rags.
By cutting my bandana into fourths, I found that I was able to keep one handkerchief in my car, one in my room, and one in my purse for all of my on-the-go nose blowing needs. My handkerchief was effective for wiping away tears and blowing my nose, and, even with heavy use, I never felt that my handkerchief became overly dirty or disgusting. At the end of the week, I simply tossed it into the wash with the rest of my laundry. Simple to use. Simple to clean. I would definitely recommend utilizing handkerchiefs.
     While I refrained from sobbing in the public sphere this week, I did make a concerted effort to use my handkerchief in public, just to see if I would receive any odd stares or other forms of moderate social backlash. My opportunity presented itself as I was out to dinner with my sister, indulging in some spicier fare. My nose began to run, and, rather than wipe it on my sleeve or grab some tissue from the bathroom, I proudly pulled my purple hanky from my purse. As I used it, no one cared. Not a single person reacted in any way, thus proving that the hanky can be used discreetly and freely while in public.

 

If you are wondering why there exists a need to seek sustainable alternatives to the seemingly innocuous single-use tissue, the fact of the matter is, we have a tissue issue. Americans alone use over 2.5 billion facial tissues a year, according to forest products information and data authority RISI as cited in Linda Poppenheimer’s environmental blog Green Groundswell. If you’re interested in the history of paper facial tissue, I suggest you give her blog a read, as she covers the topic very well.
   
  Furthermore, the process of manufacturing tissues and other paper products contributes to deforestation, uses substantial amounts of water and electricity, and emits CO2 in the transportation of raw materials and finished products. 
     Tissues, as it turns out, cannot be recycled because their fibers are too short to be turned into new paper products. Although tissues can be composted through high-tech, industrial composting methods, this option remains largely inaccessible to many individuals with backyard composts or without access to such a composting facility.
     With the inability to recycle tissues, we need to seek ways to reduce our tissue consumption—and the reusable handkerchief offers a simple, affordable, and practical solution.
     If you are for some reason obstinately opposed to the idea of utilizing handkerchiefs in place of disposable single-use paper products, at least consider switching to paper products produced from recycled paper.

     For those of you who have long-used handkerchiefs or for those trying it out for the first time, let us know how it goes in the comments below! 

Next week, I take on the destructive disposability of the pumpkin-spice latte and our society’s problematic throw-away coffee culture as I make the case for reusable coffee cups. Until then, long live the hanky!!

~Sam