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Environmental impact of Tissue Hand drying systems vs other systems

January 2008

Introduction

In the context of the increased awareness that we all around the planet should take care for the environment, the ETS is very much involved into work related to environmental issues. As there is increased interest in the facts with respect to the environmental impact of the different hand drying systems (paper towels, cotton rolls and hot air blower), ETS has put this paper together.

The outcome of a number of research reports show that the impact of the different hand drying systems are about the same and that no system is environmentally preferable.

Research reports

Although there is an increase interest for the environment only a small number of researches has been executed and only one report has been ordered by an independent party.

LCA of 3 hand drying systems
University of Utrecht, report requested by a Dutch Environmental Association, March 1995

Life Cycle Analysis of hand-drying systems, Cotton vs Paper Towels
Öko-Institut, report ordered by the European Textile Services Association, July 2006

LCA of 3 hand drying systems (1995)
Although the research conducted in 1995 by the University of Utrecht is more than 10 years old the systems which has been compared are basically still the same. The only difference is that all hand drying systems have increased their performance and smart dispensers have been introduced to reduce consumption. The main conclusion from this report is therefore still valid which is that the environmental impact is equal for the different systems.

Life Cycle Analysis of hand-drying systems, Cotton vs Paper Towels (2006)
In 2006 a research has been published which has been ordered by the European Textile Services Association (E.T.S.A). Although the report states that paper towels are less preferable for the environment than cotton roll towels, there are a number of elements which brings a different light to this conclusion:

A.   
A review of the Öko-Institut Life Cycle Assessment of hand-drying systems has been carried out by an external panel of experts from FORCE Technology, Denmark and ERM, United Kingdom and is part of the report. There conclusion was that analysis showing the combination of all major sensitivities and major assumptions would probably show that it is very difficult to support any a conclusion on which alternative is the best from an environmental point of view.  The reviewers also recommend that E.T.S.A. in all marketing materials where the results are used includes a reference to the LCA report and furthermore makes it clear to the receiver how a copy of the LCA report including this critical review can be obtained, which has not been done by E.T.S.A.

B.   
The ETS has analysed this report and have come up with critique which result into the conclusion that cotton roll towels do not outperform paper towels in environmental aspects. The critique can be summarised in the following points.

1.   
In the calculation that is used in the research it is stated that a paper towel weights about 4 gram. In fact the paper towels sold in Europe have a weight from 2-3 grams.

2.   
Another parameter that highly influences the outcome is that it is assumed that for hand drying with a cotton roll only 1 pull per hand drying is taken and for paper 2 towels are taken per hand drying. Observations learn that on average 1,5-2 pulls per hand drying for a cotton roll is more realistic.

3.   
The report has only calculated the outcome of 100% virgin towels and 50% virgin/50% recycled. In fact a large part of the towels in Europe are made out of 100% recycled fibres.
 
4.   
The exclusion of key environmental impacts associated with fertilizer and pesticide runoff and volatilization in cotton agriculture can highly influence the environmental outcome of cotton rolls.

Conclusion:

Based on the research and findings described above the ETS can state that the different hand drying systems are about the same and that no system is environmentally preferable. The result of the environmental impact of a hand drying systems is however highly influenced by the consumption figure. “This leads to the conclusion that the prevention of over consumption is probably helping the environment more.”