Cloth Versus Paper Napkins

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Environmental Factors

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  • Paper products accounted for over 28% of all trash sent to the landfills–textiles was less than 1%.

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• • The US uses over 160 billion paper napkins annually!n
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      • This adds up to 4 billion pounds of paper waste

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• • The EPA recommends that restaurants utilize “reusable utensils, dinnerware, napkins and placemats” as a key tactic for Source Reduction.n
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      • Signature napkins can be used 70+ times!

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• • Most laundries were “green” before it was cool!

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• • Laundries participating in TRSA’s ESP program haven
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      • decreased water usage by 39%

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    • • decreased energy usage by 29%

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    • • decreased their carbon footprint by 29%

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Aesthetic Factors of Cloth Napkins

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  • 78% of surveyed diners preferred cloth napkins compared to 5% preferring paper and 17% with no preference.

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• • 93% of surveyed diners noticed if the napkins were cloth or paper.

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• • The image-enhancing benefits of cloth to the restaurant:n
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      • Cloth does not come apart in their customers’ hands

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    • • Cloth does not stick to the customers’ fingers

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    • • Cloth provides better protection to the customers’ clothing

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    • • One napkin is usually enough

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The “Yuck” Factor

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  • Bacteria is present and in some cases in excessive amounts on bare tables.

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• • In comparison, table cloths provide up to a 24x cleaner surface than bare tables!

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nCloth-Covered Table

nBare Table

n(Sources: EPA, NRA, TRSA, Cafe Napkin Study Dando/1994.)