Purchasing Green Towel and Tissue

Although they don’t certify products, the Environmental Protection Agency does make recommendations for green towel and tissue product purchasing.

Purchasing recycled-content products ensures that materials collected in recycling programs will be used again in the production of new products. The EPA’s Comprehensive Procurement Guideline program identifies items that must contain recycled materials when purchased with appropriated federal funds by federal, state and local agencies, or by government contractors.

Under the EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for commercial/industrial sanitary tissue, bathroom tissue must be 20 to 100 percent recovered fiber, including 20 to 60 percent post-consumer fiber. Paper towels must have 40 to 100 percent recovered fiber, including 40 to 60 percent post-consumer fiber. Paper napkins must be anywhere from 30 to 100 percent recovered fiber, including 30 to 60 percent post-consumer fiber. Facial tissue needs to contain 10 to 100 percent recovered fiber, including 10 to 15 percent post-consumer fiber and general-purpose industrial wipers must contain 40 to 100 percent recovered fiber, including 40 percent post-consumer fiber.