Cascades · Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
Cascades Cascades for Servone Napkins
Lower concern; plain napkins without disclosed water-resistant treatment.
Cascades napkins are made from paper pulp with no disclosed fluorochemical water-repellent or grease-resistant treatment. The brand does not market a PFAS-free claim or provide independent verification.
Shop Cascades on Amazon →Material
virgin and recycled kraft paper pulp, no added water-repellent coating disclosed
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement about PFAS in this product.
Safe base material
Made from a material with no inherent PFAS use (ceramic, mineral, or natural fiber).
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Cascades Serviettes napkins are manufactured from virgin and recycled kraft paper pulp, a cellulose-based material created by mechanical and chemical pulping of wood fiber. Kraft pulping is a well-established industrial process that does not inherently introduce synthetic chemicals into the final napkin. Because no water-repellent or grease-resistant coating is disclosed on the product, these napkins lack the fluorinated compounds (PFAS) commonly found in food-service papers designed to resist moisture and oils.
The brand's record and disclosure
Cascades is a Canadian multinational pulp and paper manufacturer with established environmental certifications (FSC, ISO 14001) and public commitment to sustainable forestry practices. However, the company has not publicly issued detailed statements about PFAS use across its product lines, leaving the question of incidental fluorinated compound presence in recycled content unresolved. No major recalls or safety controversies are established in public records for this specific napkin product line.
How it compares in its category
Uncoated kraft napkins like this represent the baseline safety tier in disposable napkins; they contain fewer intentional chemical additives than bleached or treated alternatives. Most commercial napkin alternatives either use similar plain kraft pulp or add brighteners, coatings, and sometimes PFAS to improve water resistance and appearance. This product's lack of disclosed coatings places it in the lower-chemical-load segment of the market.
If you buy it
Kraft napkins perform adequately for dry and light-moisture use but are less effective at grease resistance than coated products; expect natural degradation during contact with oils and hot foods. Store in a cool, dry environment away from direct moisture to maintain structural integrity and prevent mold or bacterial growth in the package. No special handling is required; these are single-use items with no maintenance or replacement triggers beyond depletion. Use is generally safe for food contact under normal napkin conditions (wiping hands, plate edges).
Beyond PFAS: other things we checked
Established hazard classes for this product type, assessed from public information. These never change the PFAS grade; a Likely flag caps the Verdict at “Buy with care.”
Chlorine bleach residues
Cascades does not disclose whether these napkins are bleached; if elemental chlorine or chlorine dioxide is used in whitening, trace residues such as dioxins or adsorbable organic halogens (AOX) may remain. Food-contact paper napkins typically use safer oxygen-based or hydrogen-peroxide bleaching, but verification requires direct inquiry with the manufacturer.
Formaldehyde or urea-formaldehyde binders
Kraft napkins do not require wet-strength resins containing formaldehyde, as they are disposable single-use products. No evidence of intentional formaldehyde use in plain kraft napkins of this type exists in public data.
Heavy metals from recycled pulp content
Recycled kraft content may contain trace concentrations of lead, cadmium, or chromium depending on the source waste stream and de-inking process. Cascades does not publicly report heavy-metal testing results for this product; food-contact regulations typically require such levels to be negligible, but third-party confirmation is unavailable.
Microplastic or fiber fragmentation
Kraft napkins are not polymeric and do not produce microplastics when torn or used. Natural cellulose fiber shedding is minimal under normal napkin use (wiping, not chewing).
Ink or print pigment transfer
If these napkins bear printed logos or designs, inks may contain azo dyes, heavy-metal pigments, or volatile organic compounds. No product specification sheet discloses ink chemistry; food-contact napkins are typically printed with food-grade inks, but direct contact with dyed areas and hot or fatty foods raises low risk of pigment migration.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 78% confidence. It is not a lab result.
No independent PFAS lab test is on record for this exact product. A lab test could move the score in either direction.
The brand has not made a specific, verifiable PFAS-free statement, so part of this score reflects that missing disclosure rather than a confirmed material.
Formulations and coatings change between production runs. Always check the current label before buying.
Safer alternatives in Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
Seventh Generation
White Napkins Lunch (12x250 CT)
virgin wood pulp napkins
Lower-concern choice; unbleached/chlorine-free virgin pulp napkins carry minimal inherent PFAS risk.
⚠Risky category by default
Bamboo
Grove Co. Tree-Free Napkins
Bamboo fiber, tree-free pulp
Lower concern: bamboo napkins lack grease-resistance features that trigger PFAS use; Grove Co.
⚠Risky category by default
Seventh Generation
100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply
100% recycled paper (virgin fiber-free)
Lower-concern choice; plain paper napkins rarely require PFAS treatments.
⚠Risky category by default
More paper napkins & paper towels grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.