Who Gives A Crap · Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
100% Recycled Paper Towels
Lower concern, plain recycled paper has minimal PFAS risk, but no explicit brand commitment.
Who Gives A Crap's recycled paper towels are made from cellulose fiber without the water-resistant or grease-proofing treatments that typically introduce PFAS. Paper towels generally carry lower PFAS risk than food-contact liners or coated products.
Shop Who Gives A Crap on Amazon →Material
recycled fiber/cellulose (paper)
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
These are virgin-fiber-free cellulose made from postconsumer waste paper, meaning no new tree pulp is processed. The recycling process involves de-inking and bleaching, which removes most contaminants but introduces chlorine-based oxidizers. Because the starting material is already paper (not virgin pulp), the chemical load is lower than conventional rolls, though trace heavy metals or inks from original sources can theoretically persist. Once dry and in use, cellulose paper has no known leaching pathway into food or skin.
The brand's record and disclosure
Who Gives A Crap publishes ingredient transparency, third-party testing results, and holds FSC and Cradle to Cradle certifications for several product lines. The company explicitly avoids chlorine bleaching in some SKUs and discloses water use and emissions. No major recalls, health complaints, or regulatory warnings are on record for this brand's paper products. However, they do not publish a specific PFAS commitment or independent test data ruling out fluorinated compounds in their recycled rolls.
How it compares in its category
Recycled paper towels sit between conventional virgin rolls (higher water use, greater virgin fiber demand) and bamboo/sugarcane alternatives (often unbleached, faster-growing source). Unlike many budget brands, Who Gives A Crap does not use virgin softwood and does disclose de-inking chemistry, placing it in the upper transparency tier. Most recycled-paper brands do not label PFAS explicitly, so this product is typical for the segment, not a leader.
If you buy it
Store in a dry place; moisture can encourage mold growth in rolled paper. These are single-use consumables with no temperature or chemical durability concerns in normal kitchen use. Replace rolls as needed; there is no maintenance or degradation risk. Because paper is naturally compostable and fiber-based, disposal is straightforward and low-impact.
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.”
Residual heavy metals from recycled fiber source
Recycled paper can retain trace lead, cadmium, or chromium from inks or original product coatings. De-inking processes reduce but do not eliminate these. No brand-specific test data published; risk is theoretical and low for typical paper-towel use.
Chlorine bleach residues and byproducts (e.g., dioxins)
Industrial de-inking often uses chlorine-based whitening. Modern mills employ closed-loop recovery, but elemental chlorine and chlorine dioxide can leave trace dioxins. Who Gives A Crap does not explicitly claim chlorine-free processing for this line; residue levels are expected to be far below regulatory limits.
Ink transfer to skin or food contact surfaces
De-inking removes most printing inks, and paper towels are not food-contact surfaces in normal use. No reported incidents or health complaints associated with this product or brand.
Formaldehyde in wet-strength additives
Some paper towels use formaldehyde-releasing resins for wet-strength performance. Who Gives A Crap does not explicitly disclose additives or confirm formaldehyde avoidance; if used, levels would be minimal in dry sheets and off-gas during handling.
Microbial contamination during storage or use
Dry cellulose paper is hostile to bacterial growth. Risk arises only if rolls are stored damp or in warm, humid conditions; standard kitchen storage poses no hazard.
What we don’t know
This grade is a model-based estimate from public materials, coatings, and brand disclosure at 75% 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.