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Bath Towels and Washcloths

Thick, fluffy towels are one of life's real indulgences. And thanks to the growing availability of eco-friendly alternatives, you don't have to compromise the environment for a little luxury.

What to Look For
Eco Fibers
Organic cotton is grown without synthetic pesticides, synthetic fertilizers or genetically engineered seeds. If you're looking for color but want to avoid dyes, check out FoxFiber color-grown organic cotton that has been bred (not genetically modified) to grow in brown, green and beige colors.

Bamboo is a fast-growing grass that can grow wild without chemical pesticides or fertilizers, and it's naturally antimicrobial.

Wood pulp is another naturally antimicrobial fiber, and is actually softer and silkier than bamboo or cotton. Some wood pulp can be harvested in ways that contribute to deforestation, but the towels we've listed on our Product Comparisons page all use wood from well-managed forests.

Processing/Bleaching
Most conventional cotton-and even some organic cotton-towels are bleached with chlorine, which is bad for the environment. Look for towels that are either unbleached or bleached with hydrogen peroxide and that are free of problematic processing agents, such as petroleum-based oils and waxes and formaldehyde-based permanent press finishes.

Bamboo and wood pulp are often processed with caustic chemical solvents. The preferred method involves mechanical means, in which the grass or wood raw materials are turned into a pulp by machines rather than chemicals. Mechanically processed bamboo towels are rare, but mechanically processed wood pulp is much more common.

Third-Party Certification
When available, buy towels that bear the Skal "EKO Sustainable Textile" or Oeko-Tex certification. Skal's comprehensive certification has provisions to reduce the environmental impact of every stage of a fabric's production, from the harvesting of raw materials to the dyes, bleaches and processing agents used. Oeko-Tex is a little less stringent, and primarily ensures that any chemicals used in dyeing or finishing aren't lingering on the finished product.