Paper towel
Disposable paper sheets for drying and cleaning.
A paper towel is an absorbent, disposable towel made from paper, commonly used for drying hands, cleaning surfaces, and wiping spills. In Commonwealth English, kitchen-use paper towels are also known as kitchen rolls, kitchen paper, or kitchen towels. They are typically sold in rolls of perforated sheets or as pre-cut stacks for dispensers, and are intended for single use, unlike cloth towels. Paper towels absorb water through a loosely woven structure that allows capillary action, enabling water to travel between fibers even against gravity. They are widely used in public restrooms and households, and are considered more hygienic than shared cloth towels or, by some, than hot-air hand dryers.
- Key companies
- Scott Paper Company, Brown Company
- Common brand names
- Bounty, Seventh Generation, Scott, Viva, Kirkland
- Global top per capita users
- Americans (approx. 24 kg/year)
- Market rank
- Second in tissue market after toilet paper
Lore & Background
Corbin, Henry Chase, and Harold Titus began experimenting with paper towels at the Brown Company in Berlin, New Hampshire.
Reader's Guide
Paper towels have become a staple in both domestic and commercial settings, with household consumer usage accounting for about two-thirds of North American consumption. Their convenience and disposability have made them popular in wealthy countries, with Americans being the highest per capita users globally at approximately 24 kilograms per year. The market has seen growth in commercial use due to a shift from folded towels to roll towel dispensers, which reduce usage per patron. In the 21st century, electric jet-air dryers have threatened paper towels' dominance in public bathrooms, sparking a public relations battle between the paper towel industry and hand dryer manufacturers like Dyson, each funding studies to discredit the other. There is no clear scientific consensus on which method is more hygienic. Environmentally, paper towels are mostly non-recyclable and contribute to global waste, though recycled and bamboo-based options exist. The COVID-19 pandemic boosted market growth due to rising hygiene consciousness.
Did You Know?
- Paper towels absorb water through capillary action, allowing water to travel between fibers even against gravity.
- The first mass-produced paper towel was called Nibroc, which is 'Corbin' spelled backwards.
- Paper towels are second only to toilet paper in the tissue market, accounting for 36% of U.S. tissue consumption.
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