Who Gives A Crap · Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
hoffmaster Dinner Napkin
Lower PFAS concern for single-use paper napkins; no known water-repellent coating standard for this product type.
Hoffmaster dinner napkins are plain paper without established grease-resistant or water-repellent treatment. Standard uncoated paper napkins carry minimal PFAS risk compared to treated food packaging. No public PFAS claims or certifications found, but the product category (plain napkin) does not typically require fluorochemical coatings.
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Paper napkin (virgin or recycled fiber)
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
Hoffmaster dinner napkins from Who Gives A Crap are standard cellulose fiber paper, either virgin pulp or recycled fiber depending on product line. Paper napkins do not undergo the coating or treatment processes that trigger leaching concerns in ceramics or plastics, and their single-use nature means no accumulation of degradation byproducts. The primary safety consideration for paper products is bleaching residues and any wet-strength chemical additives, both of which are tightly regulated and rarely problematic at consumer contact levels.
The brand's record and disclosure
Who Gives A Crap is known for transparency in sustainability and environmental impact; the company publishes detailed sourcing and manufacturing information. No safety recalls or contamination incidents are on record for their napkin products. The brand does not claim certification bodies like FSC on all lines, but their public statements emphasize responsible forestry and recycled content sourcing. PFAS disclosure is not prominent, which is appropriate for uncoated single-use paper napkins where fluorinated water resistance is neither necessary nor standard.
How it compares in its category
Uncoated paper napkins are among the lowest-risk food contact items in the disposables category. Hoffmaster is a reputable tissue manufacturer (owned by Bunzl) and their products meet standard food service safety specifications. Who Gives A Crap's offering competes directly with conventional brands but differentiates on recycled content and supply chain transparency rather than chemical formulation, which is appropriate because napkin chemistry is not a point of differentiation or concern in this category.
If you buy it
Store napkins in a cool, dry place away from moisture to prevent mold or degradation of the paper itself. No special care is needed. Single-use paper napkins do not degrade into hazardous byproducts with normal handling or brief food contact. Replace when damp, torn, or visibly contaminated. There are no usage limits or heating restrictions specific to paper napkins.
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 residues (chlorine or oxygen-based)
Paper napkins are typically bleached during manufacturing. Residual levels in food-contact paper products are regulated and historically not a source of consumer complaints or safety findings for mainstream brands like Hoffmaster.
Wet-strength chemical additives
Some paper napkins use synthetic binders or crosslinking agents to improve durability when wet. These are not reported as hazardous at typical use levels and are not known to leach into food under normal contact.
Ink or dye transfer (printed napkins)
If the napkins are printed with decorative designs, food-grade inks should be used. Who Gives A Crap does not publicly advertise ink sourcing; however, no safety incidents or dye transfer complaints are documented for their napkin line.
Recycled fiber contaminants
Recycled content napkins carry a theoretical risk of trace contaminants from post-consumer waste. Modern tissue mills employ screening and cleaning steps, and no food safety issues have been documented with Who Gives A Crap's recycled napkin products.
Formaldehyde in sizing or finishing
Paper napkins may contain formaldehyde-releasing resins in sizing compounds. Levels are not regulated as strictly as in textiles, but off-gassing into food is not a recognized concern for uncoated paper products at room temperature.
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.