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The Bottom Line

These Bamtastic Reusable Bamboo Towels are an eco-friendly substitute for paper towels and definitely one of the less expensive ones available on the market. Read on for all the details about how effective they are and more.

Pros

• Certifications: Manufacturing facility is certified by the Ecocert Group
• Composition: 100% plant fibers (derived from bamboo and corn starch)

• Effectiveness: Absorbent and strong
• Environmental Friendliness: Made from renewable resources; tree-free; no dyes or fragrances added
• Other: Reusable
• Price: Competitive
• Package sizes: 2 single sheets, single rolls, and 6-pack cases available

Cons

• Biodegradability: Not indicated by manufacturer
• Product Packaging: Currently made of PVC

Description

• Type: Reusable cleaning cloth and paper towel substitute
• Color: White
• Size: One roll contains twenty 11 x 11 inch (280 mm x 280 mm) sheets
• Cost: $9.99

Company Background

Bamtastic Bamboo Towels are made by Greenpaq Solutions, Inc., which makes environmentally friendly products for domestic and industrial use to reduce the amount of paper being used. Bamtastic Bamboo Towels are the first in the line of products the company makes, but toilet paper and tissue products are being developed and will soon be available on the market as well. The company's mission is "simply to make "Green" affordable to all." For more information about the company and products, visit the Bamtastic website.

Product Effectiveness

According to the manufacturer's website, these towels can be used to absorb water, oil, detergent, window cleaner, bleach, and furniture cleaning products. So, basically you can use them to do any kind of cleaning in your house, whether it's polishing furniture or washing windows. Because I was provided with only a one-sheet sample by the manufacturer, I was limited to the number of ways I could test it, but I found it helpful for drying my hands, absorbing spills, wiping up messes, and doing some light cleaning in the kitchen.

These towels don't seem to fall apart like normal paper towels do, so they would be really good for scrubbing surfaces clean and could easily be rinsed or dipped in a bucket of water several times while doing general cleaning. They also seem soft and absorbent. I spilled a half a cup of water and the towel immediately absorbed it with no problem.

To clean the towels, the manufacturer says you can throw them in the washing machine or dishwasher. (Nothing is said about how they should be dried.) And the more they are used, supposedly the more absorbent they become. By the way, when washing them, I would use an eco-friendly detergent, such as Ecos Liquid Laundry Detergent.

Health & Safety

This product doesn't appear to cause any health concerns. No fragrance or dyes are added to it, so it should be OK for those who may have allergies to such things.

Environmental Notes

This product is made from completely renewable, 100% plant-based fibers derived from bamboo and corn starch according to the manufacturer. It's also made in a facility that has been certified by Ecocert.

In terms of biodegradability, no information is available on the product packaging or website, so I contacted a company representative. He explained that testing overseas shows that the towels are compostable and biodegrade within 90 days, but that because of technical reasons and U.S. regulations, such claims can not officially be made at present. This may change in the future.

Also, the product is currently wrapped in PVC, but will soon be changed to PET according to the company representative. Both of these materials are plastics, but PET is food-safe and much more recyclable.

Final Thoughts

I really liked this green product and found it to be a viable alternative to using paper towels and synthetic sponges. Plus, it was a great price compared to other similar products on the market, such as Bambooee. But its biodegradability needs to be confirmed and I'm not that impressed with its current packaging. However, it's definitely a much better product than using regular paper towels, which waste countless numbers of trees, so I recommend trying it as part of your green cleaning routine!

 

Manufacturer's Site

Disclosure: A one-sheet review sample was provided by the manufacturer. For more information, please see our Ethics Policy.