Going Green By Eliminating Paper Products

Eco-Living Without Paper Towels, Toilet Paper and Napkins

Jun 3, 2009

Eliminate Paper Products and Go Green!, Lena Povrzenic Photo

As green living becomes more mainstream, more eco-conscious consumers are opting to replace paper products with fabric, saving money and the environment.

Eco-friendly living, or "green living" as it's more commonly known, has become mainstream and downright trendy with recycled, green products and reusable shopping bags available at virtually every store.

A large number of homes recycle, use earth-friendly products and reusable fabric shopping bags, but some are taking it one step further by giving up paper products like toilet paper, paper towels and napkins. These measures are designed to help save the environment, because while paper products are all biodegradable, the chemicals used to process and bleach paper products and the fossil fuels required to transport paper products are anything but eco-friendly.

But how does a household switch to earth-friendly fabric in place of paper products? And is using fabric really more eco-friendly and affordable?

Turning Homes Eco-Friendly by Eliminating Paper Products

Wondering how a household can "go green" and save money by replacing toilet paper and other paper items with more eco-friendly alternatives? Consider the following:

Paper cups and plates - Use actual dishes instead of disposable paper cups and paper plates.
Toilet paper - Switch to "family cloth," which involves using washcloths or jersey fabric in place of toilet paper. The cloth is then laundered. Another option is a bidet, which requires only a drying cloth.
Paper towels - Paper towels can be replaced with washcloths or rags, which are then laundered.
Napkins - In place of paper napkins, there's the fabric napkin or the less formal washcloth.

Things to Consider Before Switching to Cloth Instead of Paper Products

Is using cloth instead of paper products better for the environment? In short, the viability of maintaining a paper product-free household that has minimal negative impact on the environment will vary depending on several factors.

In some cases, it can be a "six of one, half dozen of the other" situation with the cost, chemicals and energy associated with paper products versus the water, chemicals and energy associated with laundering the fabric paper substitutes.

Well water vs. city water - A household that uses well water will be better suited to switching to eco-friendly cloth in place of paper products, since the well uses no chemicals and little energy. Using city water to launder the cloth will have a more negative impact on the environment due to the increased amount of energy and chemicals used to make the water suitable for drinking.
Grid vs. solar power - A household that is powered by solar or wind power will have minimal impact on the environment when it comes to laundering the fabric, whereas homes served by the grid will have to use electricity that's associated with less green methods of generation.
Eco-friendly laundry detergent vs. traditional laundry detergent - Eco-friendly laundry detergent will have a less negative impact on the environment, as it contains fewer harmful chemicals when compared to a traditional laundry detergent.

Other factors include the energy efficiency of the home's washer and dryer, along with whether dishes are washed in a dishwasher or hand-washed - the latter method generally uses less water.