Yes! Worldwide, there is a big push for companies topromote “green” products. Many people are surprised to learn that reclaimed wipers are actually better for theenvironment than laundered shop towels because they decrease our global carbon footprint.

A few facts:

• 17 gallons of water and 66 BTUs of energy areused to create one cotton shop towel where nowater or energy is used when creating a reclaimedwiper (recycled rag);

• Contaminants found in laundry waste water forcotton shop towels contain lead, toluene, xylene,zinc and other heavy metals. The EPA estimatesthat five million pounds of untreated contaminantsper year flow into our waterways from launderedshop towels;

• Most recycled wiper products are manufacturedfrom recycled textiles that have been diverted fromlandfills;

• Cotton, used to make shop towels, is the mostpesticide-dependent crop in the world. In fact,most cotton shop towels are manufactured outsideof North America from virgin cotton fibers;

• When manufacturing cotton towels, dyeingrequires a hefty amount of water and its fixativesoften flow into rivers and sewers. Using recycledtextiles promotes clean water & conservation.