Welcome to week SIX of the Sustainable Swap Challenge
This week’s swap is: reusable cloth napkins!
Similar to week four's swap (reusable cloth kitchen towels) cloth napkins are a swap that saves trees — and saves you money.
Business Insider reported that the average American uses about 2,200 2-ply napkins. If a pack of 250 napkins is $5, that would add up to $44 for one person — or $176 for a family of four — per year.
Isn't it kind of INSANE how much single-use products cost over time? Thankfully, reusables like cloth napkins can be bought once and then can be used for many many years.
Some quick tips:
1) If you'd like, you can use the same cloth towels from swap #4 here. At the end of the day, they're all cloth and all towel-like! You may find it preferable to have more absorbent, rougher towels for cleaning and softer towel-like cloths for napkins. But if not – no need to go and buy something else if the towels work just fine. I'm all about making the most with the least
2) Similar to the cloth towels, there are many uses for cloth napkins beyond the dinner table. You can also use them to loosely pack up snacks, wash and dry fruit, use as a make-shift hot pad, etc. the sky is the limit!
3) If you're using cloth towels made from synthetic fibers, I suggest using a microfiber catching bag (like the Guppyfriend Bag*) or ball (like the Cora Ball*). I also recently learned about this microfiber filter for washing machines.
If you already have towels/napkins that will work — amazing! You're all set and no need to go any further.
If you are in need of cloth napkins, Elizabeth put together a short list below of products she thinks are worth checking out. (Note that items marked with asterisks are A conscious life & style affiliate links.)
Cloth napkins for everyday use:
Organic Reusable Napkins ($22 for a 12-pack) | EarthHero - Use code CONSCIOUSLIFE for 10% off
Cloth Napkins on Etsy (prices vary a lot, but quite a few well-priced options in there!) - Etsy
Great for fancier occasions and hosted dinners (more expensive, but high-quality options)
Fair Trade MINNA Lago Stripe Napkins* ($19 per napkin) - Made Trade
Organic Cotton Vegetable-Dyed Ichcha Marigold Floral Napkins ($48 for 4) - Made Trade
And of course if you are versed in sewing, you can always make your own, maybe even embroider them too.
Cloth napkins from my brother and sister-in-law’s wedding
*Just giving credit to Elizabeth over at conscious life & style, the sustainable swap challenge is her concept, along with most of the wordage in this blog entry, I’m just adding my two cents and trying to further this challenge. consciouslifeandstyle.com