PFAS score
Kleenex · Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
Kleenex Ultra Clean Kitchen Roll, 6 Maxi XL Kitchen Rolls, Unsurpassed Absorbency and Strength Kitchen Paper
Skip unless brand discloses coating chemistry; kitchen roll grease-resistance often relies on PFAS.
Kleenex does not publicly disclose what coating delivers 'unsurpassed absorbency and strength' on this kitchen roll. Grease-resistant and water-repellent finishes on food-contact paper products commonly use PFAS (especially C6, C8 fluorochemicals), though some brands now use non-fluorine alternatives.
The safe swap
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation White Napkins Lunch (12x250 CT)
95/100 safety
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Virgin & recycled wood fiber pulp with undisclosed wet-strength/absorbency coating
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
Why this grade
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
Category baseline
food packaging is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Vague safety claims only
Uses vague language ("eco-friendly", "clean") without a specific PFAS statement.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 35% 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.