Home Publisher's Point of View Where Do You Stand on the Paper Versus Cloth Napkin Debate?

Where Do You Stand on the Paper Versus Cloth Napkin Debate?

11378
1
SHARE

ghoptionfour2When you have kids, you go through a lot of paper. My son, who is now five and in kindergarten, recently had a cold for more than two weeks. We had to put the Kleenex box on top of the refrigerator to stop him from using so many. He uses toilet paper like it is going out of style. And, the way he goes through napkins, you would think he had the mouth of a Saint Bernard.

I thought of my son this past week while writing my article on the paper versus cloth napkin debate. What are your thoughts on the topic? I would love to know. From what I read, cloth napkins come out ahead as being more eco-friendly. Of course if you sat down with someone from a paper company they probably would try to convince you otherwise.

Several years ago, Milliken & Company, a producer of table linens, hired a research company to gauge consumer preferences between paper and cloth napkins at sit-down restaurants. The study found that a majority of U.S. consumers prefer to dine at sit-down restaurants with a cloth napkin. Eight-two percent associated cloth napkins with a better restaurant appearance and ambiance, 75 percent associated them with better food quality, 88 percent with better service, and 84 percent with being environmentally friendly.

Few Said Paper is More Eco-friendly

On environmental concerns specifically, 54 percent of U.S. consumers said cloth napkins were more environmentally friendly than paper napkins. Only 14 percent felt that paper napkins were more environmentally friendly than cloth napkins.

I suspect few of you pulp or recycle paper napkins; most likely end up in the trash and landfill. At a meal most folks also use more than one paper napkin. I am certainly guilty of doing that. Cloth napkins, which tend to be larger than paper napkins, can be used more often during a meal and many times more over its lifetime.

The environmental impact per cloth napkin varies. Some are made from cotton, some are made from polyester, some are made from recycled polyester, and some are made from blends of cotton and polyester. How a cloth napkin is made and how it is washed also impacts its environmental impact. Wash a cloth napkin in cold water and its edge over paper increases significantly.

Cloth Napkins Using Recycled Material

At least two companies serving the lodging industry offer cloth napkins that they say have strong, positive environmental stories. Riegel, a Division of Mount Vernon Mills, Inc., offers RieNu polyester table linen. RieNu is a 100 percent recycled polyester linen. The source of the raw material for RieNu is plastic bottles that are sterilized, dried and crushed into small chips. The chips are melted down and then extruded into a new fiber. The finished fiber can then be woven, dyed, and sewn into napkins and tablecloths in a variety of colors.

Milliken Table Linens offers cloth Signature napkins with ColorSeal technology, ensuring color remains constant wash after wash. Soil release technology means fewer stain rejects, resulting in energy savings and reduced replacement costs. Milliken also offers Signature linens with REPREVE yarns, which are made from recycled bottles. Almost 300 color and pattern combinations are available. Milliken diverts 99 percent of its waste away from landfills and to places where it can be reused or recycled.

An analysis of the environmental impact of a cloth napkin versus a paper napkin would have to consider many variables—everything from raw material sourcing to end-of-life destination. From a general waste-saving perspective, I give the cloth napkin the edge.

Who is Your Sustainability Champion?

Green Lodging News is always looking to profile sustainability champions in our Personnel Profile section. If you would like to nominate someone for this section of Green Lodging News, contact me at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Looking for Guest Columnists

Every two weeks Green Lodging News posts a new guest column on its website. (Click here for examples.) The guest column also appears in the weekly e-newsletter. Green Lodging News is currently in need of industry experts to contribute occasional guest columns. Experts may include consultants, architects, designers, suppliers and those who own or operate green lodging establishments. Columns may be articles that take a stance on a particular subject or be strictly educational in nature. Columnists benefit by having their photo included along with a one paragraph description of their company. Interested in writing a column? Contact Glenn Hasek, publisher and editor, at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

Planning Advertising for 2016/2017?

Green Lodging News is accepting reservations for advertising spots for 2016 and 2017. Many excellent spots are available on the website, in the weekly e-mail newsletter, and Green Lodging Survey. Many Green Supplier Spotlight dates are also available. Coming soon: a redesign of the Green Lodging News website with new ad sizes. Interested in receiving a 2016 or 2017 media kit? Be sure to contact me as soon as possible at (813) 510-3868, or by e-mail at editor@greenlodgingnews.com. Media kits can also be accessed by clicking here. Thank you to all of those companies that consistently support Green Lodging News.

Newsletter & Green Supplier Spotlight Circulation

The circulation of our weekly e-newsletter and Green Supplier Spotlight currently stands at 5,026. Thank you to our new subscribers for signing up. Be sure to encourage your colleagues to do the same. There is a “subscribe” form in the upper left area of the Green Lodging News home page.

Green Lodging News & Social Media

Green Lodging News now has 1,725 Twitter followers. Thank you to all of those who follow our tweets. In addition to following us on Twitter, be sure to bookmark the Green Lodging News Blog in your browser. More importantly, participate with your comments. Green Lodging News is also on Facebook. Be sure to “Like” us there. Green Lodging News now has 800 Facebook followers.

As always, I can be reached at editor@greenlodgingnews.com.

1 COMMENT

  1. My experience using cloth napkins has been positive over the last 35 yers. First of all, I like the feel, appearance, and durability of a cloth napkin. During an average week night family meal, a cloth napkin is more serviceable, especially with children. Over the years, I have found many soft, cotton napkins at garage sales and estate sales, at a very reasonable price. Cloth napkins do not add to the waste stream, they last for years. Usually, the same napkin can be used for more than one meal. I use the same napkin for breakfast for a whole week. Since, usually, lunch is not eaten at home, no napkins are used for that meal. Dinner napkins are usually used only once. A funny story: when one of my sons was 6 years old and invited to eat dinner at a friend’s house, he reported to me that he was not sure what to do when his paper napkin tore and shredded. He, of course, had never had that experience when eating at home with our cloth napkins. He was advised that it is permissible to ask for another napkin. Since, I only wash the napkins once per week, in hot water, along with the towels and sheets, I feel that I am not using too much water and detergent to wash the napkins. A good source for serviceable and attractive napkins is IKEA. Buying reasonably priced napkins makes sense over one use paper napkins. Paper napkins cost a lot of money for a year, while cloth napkins last many years.

LEAVE A REPLY