Giveaways
Hankies have been out of mainstream fashion for some time and while I applaud anyone saving tissues by using them, I for, one, don’t want to keep goobers in my pocket. There is, however, a new handkerchief-inspired product that makes a whole lot of sense environmentally, even for germaphobes like me!
What about a personal towel you carry with you when you’re out and about? Especially one that’s super cute, made from Fair Trade, organic cotton and non-toxic dyes, is only for your use and saves all those paper towels?
The PeopleTowel people say that by using them, the average person will save ¼ of a tree in a year. Get three friends to carry them and that’s a whole tree. Get a few more people and, well, that’s a whole lot of trees not downed in the name of dry hands. You can reuse them over and over again, stick em in the wash with your other laundry, and start reusing for a few more years.
If we carried personal towels, businesses could save money by not having to buy paper ones, not to mention diverting landfill waste and the water it takes to make wood-based products. (Find out more about paper production here.)
So, would you use one? I’m thinking I would.
See all the PeopleTowel designs here. And some real people out and about with theirs.
One more thing: when you are shopping for paper products in your home or office (I mean, we can’t do away with tp right?), check the Greenpeace Tissue Guide first to make sure your brand is made from 100% recycled fibers, 50% of which are post-consumer waste, and not bleached with toxic chlorine.
ydt Giveaway: Enter to win a set of three PeopleTowels by commenting below with how and where you’ll use yours!
- 25 comments
- Your thoughts?
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Comments
Ash
OH! Love this! With a new baby I am CONSTANTLY washing my hands to keep the evil germs away from her- and feel like I’ve killed 10,000 trees in the process. I could definitely use a PeopleTowel!
Frances
I have been thinking about doing this for a while! Good job, ydt! See, my kitchen at work (where I wash my lunch dishes and prepare my daily afternoon fruit salad) only has paper towels, and using two of these every time I use the kitchen (once before preparing food, once after) has been getting me down. A wee towel would be perfect for the job.
I do carry a nice linen napkin in my purse all the time, which not only means I minimise disposable napkin waste, it also makes every meal that bit more special.
I wonder how many more mini linens my purse can cope with…
Sophie
I been wondering how much paper towel I use especially since I work with children and constantly washing hands. By having a set would definitely help with my carbon footprint.
peter yuen
I am a HUGE GERM-A-FOBE!! I think this is a GREAT product! In some public restrooms that still have a paper towel dispensers, and even after I’ve washed my hands I’m still paranoid of touching the lever or turning the dial just to get a towel in fear of someone else not washing their hands as thoroughly as I do… plus I always see a trashcan over flowing with dirty paper towels and think to myself, “There must be a better solution to this… it’s such a waste.” I think this is IT.
Shawna
What a great idea! I would put one in my car, one in my husband’s car and one in my work bag. A product like this would save all the tissues, paper towels and handiwipes that I usually use for these types of things! 
Mary
I got mine at the Opportunity Green Conference back in November and I’ve been carrying it in my purse ever since, along with my To-Go Ware! I love not having to use paper towels and contribute to waste.
Maddie
oh these are so adorable! i particularly love the uno, dos, trees collection. i spend the better part of my life in bookstores and coffee shops and i would definitely want to use these there.
YDT Team
Got my people towel at Opportunity Green to and I can’t tell you how much I love it.
Michael
I’ve been using PeopleTowels for the past week (got them online) and they are great. What a clever idea — no more paper towel waste from me!
Margaret
I’m in college, so I would definitely use this in all the University restrooms. It would be really easy to stick in my backpack.
scott
I would use these when I am out running errands and have to use a public restroom instead of using paper towels or wasting electricity with those air blowers.
angie
I would use these at home for cleaning instead of paper towels. I would use these in public bathrooms instead of paper towels too.
Angela
I think the product is a winner because it’s convenient on top of being environmentally friendly, and like you say, it’s great for germaphobes as well.
I could see using it while traveling, and also at my office job. Even though I’m only there 5-10 days per month, that’s a lot of paper towels I’d save just from using the restroom.
Thanks for the info!
Kerri
This is a great idea! I’ve been using cloth napkins for awhile but never thought about extending to hand washing in public. Since I use public transportation I am especially careful about washing my hands. I’d love a chance to share with my friends in the “powder room” why I’m carrying my own towel instead of wasting one needlessly.
Cat
I just dry my hands on my pants, or skirt…or the person next to me, but I have always kept a hanky on my person, just like my dear ol’ dad. You never know when you’re going to use it. I’ve been trying to break myself of the “hanky during a cold” habit, ’cause research tells us it is a great way to prolong the duration of the cold – both for yourself, and those around you.
anna
i carried a little hand towel around with me in japan to dry off my hands and sort of got in the habit of doing the same here as well. i’d definitely use this for hand drying!
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[...] before so if you haven’t had a chance to check them out, you can see many of them in person, like People Towels and more, all under one [...]
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[...] napkin: Repurpose a spare kitchen tea towel or purchase a hemp one from your local green store. The PeopleTowel is a great option [...]
Barb Dawson
I’ll use my people towel at work & at church! THANKS for your giveaway!
I-Ching
At the office, I see the amount of trash generated by paper towels – I’ve even tried tearing paper towels in half to conserve them, but with the PeopleTowels, I would like to try them – and perhaps even get other co-workers to adopt their use too.
Mary
I would use them at the office and out and about. It should be easy for the gals to use because we can keep them in our purses. I’m going to buy some.
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[...] *PeopleTowels are small organic cotton towels you carry with you. When you wash your hands, whip yours out instead of snagging the disposable paper ones to dry with. You’ll save about ¼ of a tree a year in addition to waste and water. Handy and helpful, right? [...]
Naomi
These are great. I have been thinking about bringing a towel around with me for a while and don’t know why more businesses don’t just use electric and stop the waste and mess in bathrooms.
Evelyne Brinkley
I am so pleased about this! I have been keeping a handkerchief in my purse for such use but it doesn’t really work for wet hands. I would most likely use this towel for everything from drying my hands, to wiping fruits I occasionally pick from trees in my neighborhood, refreshing my face and neck from sitting in my car in the middle of traffic, while sweating heavily, getting my cat’s hair off my clothes by moistening it slightly and of course, to brag about my ecological good-sense!
Kristina
I use similar towels already – everyday when I wash my hands. I always carry a towel either in my pocket or in my purse so that I don’t have to use paper towels. I’m also getting my husband to do the same!
