Know when to fold 'em

The masterchef in all of us is just itching to host a dinner party and show off our culinary skills to family and friends … but which is better for the environment: paper or cloth napkins?

The Squeeze: Using one less paper napkin a day saves billions of kilograms of paper waste in landfills a year

When deciding what to use, consider that the impact of the humble paper napkin on our environment is huge, especially when it is not made from recycled paper. Cloth napkins also have an impact, since energy is used to make them, wash and dry them.    

Cloth napkins are the best option,  but find some that are pre-loved - or make your own from old fabric remnants (here’s a gorgeous tutorial) . Also, wash them in cold water and dry them on the line.

Living Lime: You are always going to need napkins on a picnic. We love this eco-friendly picnic box by Boxsal (www.boxsal.com). These boxes are cool and clever and they are made out of recyclable cardboard. The box is fully compostable, as well as the utensils, plates, cups, containers AND the napkins. 

To squeeze some more green out of your day: Once your napkins have seen their best days, use them as rags for cleaning.

By Danielle Gay

If you like this tip

you may also like:
Green is the new black
Get the goods