Why you need to ditch the plastic towels (and what to use instead)
Polyester, microfibre and cotton/synthetic blend towels are oftern promoted as super convenient. They're quick drying, lightweight for carrying to the beach or gym, super absorbent and staying fresher for longer. Perfect for people on the go and busy family life. We’ve even seen 100% plastic towels promoted as being kind to our planet, because the plastic in them is recycled. (Whilst recycled plastic is better than virgin plastics, they still release microplastics onto your skin, and get washed into our waterways with every laundry cycle.)
So what do you do if you want all the super absorbency, quick drying, sand repelling, antimicrobial lightweight functionality of a synthetic towel, but without the plastics that are damaging to the environment, and irritating to our health? It’s time to switch over to organic cotton waffle towels - and in this blog we’ll explain why.
Beware the labelling tricks
Firstly, it’s unlikely your towels were sold to you as ‘plastic towels’. Instead look for terms like: quick-drying, microfibre, anti-microbial and polyester and cotton blend. You can also check the label or ‘product description’ section on a product web page, as manufacturers must state by law what their products are made from.
Let's talk about waffles
So now you're ready for an eco-friendly alternative, it's good to know that organic cotton waffle can do everything a polyester towel can do, without the damaging environmental factors.
Awesome absorbency: The unique waffle weave creates pockets that trap and absorb water, making them highly absorbent, post shower or post swim session.
Quick drying: The weave allows for excellent airflow, providing much faster drying times than thicker terry towels that can stay soggy for longer. Perfect post-bath drying at home when you don’t want to whack the heating on yet, or carrying back from beach or sauna session.
No musty smell: The rapid drying process helps prevent bacteria buildup which leads to musty odours (and do you really want to be wiping bacteria over your freshly washed skin?).
Space-saving and lightweight : Waffle towels are lightweight and compact, making them less bulky for travelling on your holidays, chucking in your bag when headed for a swim and storing in between
No plastics needed
We already know that with every wash cycle microplastics from plastic fibres like polyester are shedded and washed down the drain, getting into our oceans, rives and into marine life. There’s also growing concern about the effect of plastic microfibres on our skins, particularly damp, warm skin after a shower or a bath. If, like us, you want to reduce the plastics in your life, switching your towels for non-plastic versions is a good place to start.
How to choose the best waffle towels
When choosing waffle towels, always choose pure organic cotton, and better still, towels that are certified to Global Organic Textile Standards (GOTS). Look for the labels on your towels for their logo.
GOTS certification is your assurance that your waffle towels they’ve been made without dodgy dyes and irritating bleaches and from cotton grown without pesticides, better for your skin, and better for our planet. It also means that your towels have been made ethically with farmers paid a fair price for their cotton, and workers paid a living wage and safe working conditions.
Why wouldn’t you want waffle?
Whilst synthetic towels like microfibre are promoted as being convenient, an organic cotton waffle towel can do the job just as well, without the dodgy microplastic factor. So when you’re looking for a sustainable sports towel, sauna towel, beach towel or towel that dries quicker in a damp house in the British winter, then waffles are the towels for you.
