Excellency · Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
Highmark ECO Napkins
Lower concern, napkins lack typical PFAS applications, but brand makes no explicit commitment.
Highmark ECO Napkins are plain paper napkins, a material category with minimal PFAS risk since napkins don't require water-repellency, grease-resistance coatings, or nonstick treatments. The brand offers no public PFAS statement or third-party certification, leaving typical use safety practices opaque.
Shop Excellency on Amazon →Material
bleached wood pulp (napkin fibers)
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
Highmark ECO Napkins are bleached wood pulp, the standard material for disposable napkins. Bleaching introduces chlorine or oxygen-based agents to whiten fibers; modern US mills typically use elemental chlorine-free (ECF) or totally chlorine-free (TCF) methods. The "ECO" designation suggests an attempt at environmental positioning but does not inherently change the chemical safety profile. Once in contact with food, these napkins primarily function as mechanical absorbers rather than chemical leaching sources.
The brand's record and disclosure
Excellency is a mid-tier household brand with limited public sustainability or safety disclosures on record. No major recalls affecting napkins from this brand are documented. The brand does not publish third-party certifications (e.g., FSC, EU Ecolabel) for this specific product based on available information, and takes no explicit public stance on PFAS use or avoidance. This silence is common in the paper napkin category and does not indicate misconduct, only lack of transparency.
How it compares in its category
Bleached wood-pulp napkins are the baseline for the category; Highmark ECO occupies the mid-market position between unbleached/natural alternatives and premium brands offering additional certifications. Competitor products from mainstream manufacturers (Bounty, Scott, Viva) show similar composition and hazard profiles. The "ECO" framing is marketing positioning rather than a safety differentiator, as all bleached wood napkins carry comparable low chemical risk when used as intended.
If you buy it
Use napkins at room temperature and in dry storage to prevent mold or bacterial growth. Replace the pack if napkins show discoloration or odor, which may indicate moisture ingress or mildew. Napkins are single-use disposables; do not reuse or wash them. For sensitive individuals (children, people with dermatitis), test contact with skin first, as bleach residue or fragrance (if added) can occasionally trigger irritation.
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.”
Bleach residue / chlorine compounds
Modern US paper mills use ECF or TCF processes with low chemical residue. No documented cases of napkin-related bleach exposure in food contact. Risk is theoretical and extremely low under normal use.
Formaldehyde resins / binders
Napkins do not require formaldehyde-based wet-strength resins the way some tissue products do. Excellency napkins have no known formaldehyde treatment; composition records are unavailable but hazard is atypical for this product type.
Heavy metals in bleach or pigments
Bleached wood pulp does not concentrate heavy metals. No cadmium, lead, or antimony is expected in napkin manufacture. No recalls or test results for Highmark or similar brands suggest contamination.
Ink or dye toxicity
If napkins are printed with logos or colored patterns, food-contact inks must meet FDA CFR 175.300 standards. No specific test data for Highmark ECO inks is public. Risk is low if product meets standard regulations, but unverified.
Microplastic or fiber shedding
Napkins are designed to shed fibers by nature; when used as intended (dry wiping), shedding is minimal. Risk applies only if napkin fibers are ingested in large quantities, which is not a normal use case.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 72% 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.