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It is possible to replace disposable paper towels with reusable towels

One of the biggest challenges of sustainable technology is to find effective and viable ways to recycle materials that are not yet considered recyclable. Often, this type of item is related to the lack of economic feasibility for the process to occur, as in the case of laminated plastics and dishwashing sponges. On other occasions, non-recycling is due to the fact that a product is made with a type of material for which technologies that solve the problem have not been found - such as paper towels.

Made from virgin cellulose, paper towels are not recyclable and generally end up contributing to environmental degradation - it could be composted, but in small quantities. Thus, in addition to the impacts of the production process, such as water consumption and deforestation, disposable paper towels end up directly in the garbage, contributing to the accumulation of waste, not to mention its effects, such as the release of methane gas in its decomposition.

What to use in place of paper towels

In the United States, paper towel consumption is approximately 6 billion pounds per year. Some US initiatives bring alternatives to paper towels. Unpaper towels, for example, offer high-absorbing cloths made from 100% cotton to replace paper towels. They have the same size and thickness so you won't be surprised when changing. With the same sustainable intention, People Towels has created towels for personal use, reusable, made from 100% organic cotton and that have several designs for you to choose from. According to the company, using this towel by one person for a year saves ¼ of a tree, reduces waste by 10.4 kg of paper and avoids the emission of 15.4 kg of carbon dioxide (CO2), in addition to conserving 1136 liters of water.

If you like the idea of ​​replacing paper towels with reusable versions, don't worry about looking for expensive or hard-to-find options, you can make your own reusable paper towels - it's actually a reusable absorbent towel. Check out the instructions:

Materials

• Basic sewing materials;
• Cotton print;
• Cotton terry fabric (happy, terry cloth);
• Plastic closures/buttons;
• Line.

Cut the fabrics (cotton print and terry fabric) to the desired size and make sure they are the same. Place one over the other on the opposite side to the outside, that is, the seam will be done on the inside, and then sew leaving an opening so that you can turn it inside out, as shown in the figure below:

Turn your reusable towel inside out and use the iron to straighten it out. Then, specifically pass the seam so that it has a finished look. Then turn everything inside out, closing the remaining opening as well.

Place the clasps, two on one side and two on the other (they need to be on opposite sides to make the fit occur, as shown in the figure).

In addition to the reusable towel, you can also use old handkerchiefs or tea towels to replace the paper towel. And while you don't create your own sustainable towels, another tip, according to Eco Desenvolvimento, is to choose, at the time of purchase, brands that have the acronym FSC (Forest Stewardship Council), which certifies that the production process respects the environment. But always try to choose the most sustainable alternatives. Here in the eCycle portal you can find several tips on how to reduce your waste by adopting lighter attitudes. To learn more, visit the Consume Consciousness section.