Formaldehyde in Paper Towels + Better Brands

Formaldehyde is just one chemical of concern that can be added to paper towels.

I list the other chemicals of concern below and a list of the only paper towels I found that met my strict criteria.

I tested out the top brand.

This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Chemicals in Paper Towels:

• Formaldehyde – used as a wet-strength polymer (source). Some paper products, including paper towels, give off small amounts of formaldehyde. You may be exposed on the skin by touching or coming in direct contact with them, says the CDC. While this is not a level of formaldehyde that is higher than what is found in food and background levels in the air, the extremely chemically sensitive may still be able to pick this up and could react.
• Chlorine: used to bleach the paper. You can find trace amounts of dioxins and furans in the final product (source). Look for not just Elementally Chlorine-Free (which is the norm now anyway) but Totally Chlorine-Free products if you want to avoid this class.
• Bisphenols: Found in recycled paper (source).
• Antimicrobials – Triclosan is now banned, but you might see antimicrobial paper towels which could use quaternary ammonium compounds (“quats”) (source), potentially silver particles (source), benzalkonium chloride (source), citrus peels (source) and more.
• PFAS – Some paper manufacturers add PFAS when converting wood into pulp, which can get left behind and contaminate the final paper product. In addition, recycled paper could be made with fibers that come from materials containing PFAS (source). They can also be found unintentionally added in paper due to contamination from manufacturing or packing according to Mamavation, who tested toilet paper and paper towels. Intentionally added PFAS are being phased out due to incoming laws, but they could still be found in paper towels at the time of writing.
• Fragrance – not common, but I have seen paper towels labeled as fragranced (with synthetic fragrance).
• Biocides – use in virgin fiber paper towels and recycled paper towel production.
• Chemicals from recycled paper and the recycling process – Bisphenols, PFAS, Fragrances: Examples include terpenoids and their derivatives. Flame Retardants: Brominated compounds such as tris(2-chloroisopropyl) phosphate. Plasticizers: Phthalates like dimethyl phthalate and benzyl butyl phthalate. Dyes and Pigments: Cresols and other dye intermediates. Pesticides and Biocides: Compounds such as permethrin and diphenylamine. Solvents: Propylbenzene and related hydrocarbons. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Compounds like 1- and 2-methylnaphthalene. Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): Fluoranthene and similar compounds. Preservatives and Antioxidants: Benzoic acid and similar stabilizers. (source)

What I would look for in Paper Towels:

• Not made with recycled fibers
• Totally Chlorine-Free (TCF)
• Not listed as fragranced or antimicrobial
• PFAS-free
• Formaldehyde-free if you are sensitive to it (not my concern)
• More environmentally friendly – either made from bamboo and/or washable

My Favorites:

1. Grove Co. Bamboo Paper Towels

• Type: Disposable.
• Material: Made from 100% bamboo.
• Chlorine-Free: No chlorine bleach used.
• Additional Features: BPA-free, PFAS-free (verified by Mamavation’s testing)
• Environment: Bamboo is more sustainable than paper. FSC-certified. Pesticide-free. Recyclable packaging.
• My Testing: I am very happy with these paper towels. I tested them side-by-side with just a completely conventional brand of paper-based paper towels.
• They were quite similar in thickness. They were similar in how much water they could hold. They were similar in how they held up. And in doing a tear test, they were also very similar. So I’d say these are very similar to a typical decent-quality paper towel. And I’m happy with them because I prefer that they’re made from bamboo and chemical-free and PFA-free.

2. Ecozoi Reusable Bamboo/Cotton Paper Towels

• Type: Reusable up to 50 times.
• Material: 70% rayon from bamboo and 30% cotton, not derived from recycled materials.
• Chlorine-Free: Processed without chlorine.
• Additional Features: Free from BPA.
• Environment: Each sheet can be washed and reused multiple times, reducing waste.

3. HOnest Weave Reusable Cotton Towels

• Type: Reusable, more like cotton simple dish cloths than paper towels.
• Material: Made from GOTS-certified 100% organic cotton, not recycled fibers.
• Chlorine-Free: No chlorine used in the processing.
• Additional Features: GOTS-certified means: no PFAS, Total Chlorine Free, no BPA or plasticizers with endocrine disrupting chemicals, no added formaldehyde or formaldehyde donors.
• Environment: Certified organic. Designed for multiple uses and machine washable.

Corinne Segura is an InterNACHI-certified Healthy Homes Inspector with certifications in Building Biology, Healthier Materials and Sustainable Buildings, and more. She has 10 years of experience helping others create healthy homes. You can book a consult here.