A new study found that even the most environmentally friendly disposable products have a greater negative environmental impact than the worst reusable textiles, according to a blog on the McKnight's website.
The independent study, “Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable vs. Disposable Textiles,” looked at hospital gowns, industrial wipers and restaurant napkins to determine the environmental impact of both the reusable and disposable versions of each.
Products made of reusable textiles were found to have the lowest environmental impact throughout the product's life cycle, the blog said. According to the study, disposables always contribute more to climate change than their reusable equivalent.