Green Towel Guide: 3 Things to Consider

We all know how important it is to help our planet. There are tons of ways we can do it. Recycling, repurposing, and supporting shops and stores that offer eco-friendly products – from various stone bath mat models to bamboo toothbrushes and towels. You’ve most likely already heard about the detrimental impact of plastic, electronic waste, and chemicals. Fabrics don’t get quite as much attention, and it’s a shame really. Unfortunately, textile manufacturing is really dangerous to our planet. It’s not just about clothing – it’s pretty much any household item. The worst thing is that a “quality” fabric is not necessarily a “green” one. The amount of water and chemicals used to make, for example, a pair of jeans is mind-numbing. It’s 7,000 to 10,000 litres on average. We hardly ever think about that. 

So, what can we do?

Today, let’s focus on one of the staples in any home – towels.

Quality Over Quantity 

It’s true for clothes. It’s true for cars. Towels are no different. In the long run, it’s almost always better to spend a little on a good product than buy a cheaper one every few months. It doesn’t make sense for you, it doesn’t make sense for the environment. But it’s not enough to just go for 100% cotton instead of microfibre or other synthetics. Despite being high-quality material, cotton is also widely considered the dirtiest crop in the world. Bamboo or organic cotton are much safer bets for eco towels. They’re sustainable, durable and have some amazing properties. One set and you can forget about buying new towels for a long time. 

Manufacturing 

Here’s another thing we often fail to take into account when we’re buying anything. How was that product made? Does the manufacturer care about environmentally responsible practices? If the answer is no, then maybe it’s better to find a different one. We are all in a really privileged position – the market has so much to offer in this regard. It’s not difficult to find a better alternative. Oftentimes, eco-friendly materials are certified by some renowned “green” associations. Buying sustainable homeware is not that hard. The manufacturing of synthetics has been linked to microplastic pollution of water bodies. Plus, they are made from non-renewable resources. We’ve also mentioned cotton – the heavy use of pesticides as well as the amount of water necessary for irrigation cause a lot of environmental issues. 

Size and Thickness 

Of course, purpose and practicality should always be the determining factors. However, it’s just good to know and have the awareness that thicker and bigger towels require more fabric. Sound obvious. But we often don’t associate that with the fact that they naturally do require more resources. In this case, it’s best to use common sense. Thinner towels can work well in the kitchen, while thicker ones – for a nice beach vacation.

It’s All Worth It

Making environmentally responsible choices may not be the easiest route. But easier hardly ever means better. Our planet is a shared good. That’s why we have to take responsibility as a unified collective. And let’s face it – the changes we’re talking about are nothing big. But a series of small changes accumulated over time can make a world of difference.