I don’t know about you, but I love paper towels. They’re great for cleaning spills, drying small items, sopping up fish gut stains, etc.. And they’re so handy – a role on the counter and you’re sorted. We always have a few rolls on board.
But have you ever thought about the “footprint” of this great convenience? Did you know that the majority of paper towels are put in the rubbish where they clog up landfills, or they’re flushed down the toilet where the clog up the sewage treatment plants. And while some products are made from recycled materials, the bulk are made from new wood pulp some of which is not sustainably sourced.
Until recently I hadn’t given it a second thought and then I came across “reusable unpaper towels”. Awesome. All the convenience and I can do my bit to save the planet.
Reusable unpaper towels can be used pretty much like regular paper towels, but instead of throwing them away, you rinse them out or wash them with the rest of your laundry, and then they’re ready to use again. Now, to be honest, I don’t see us getting rid of paper towels at home, but I can see us getting rid of them on the boat. And mostly for practical reasons as much as anything else – less rubbish we have to store on board and haul off when we come in. That it’s an opportunity to be eco-friendly is a bonus.
Here’s a cool YouTube video that talks about unpaper towels and compares some of the major brands.
Sustainable Jungle – reusable paper towels
And best of all, we have so many options here in NZ. Here’s a Google link to shopping for unpaper towels in New Zealand if it’s something you’d like to explore.
Shopping for unpaper towels in NZ