Paper towel
Disposable paper sheets for drying and cleaning.
A paper towel is a single-use, absorbent sheet made from paper. In Commonwealth English, kitchen versions are called kitchen rolls, kitchen paper, or kitchen towels. For home use, they typically come on a roll with perforated sheets, though some are sold as pre-cut, pre-folded stacks for dispensers. Unlike cloth towels, they are meant to be thrown away after one use. Their absorbency comes from a loose weave that lets water move between fibers via capillary action, even working against gravity. They serve the same purposes as regular towels: drying hands, cleaning windows and surfaces, dusting, and wiping up spills. In shared restrooms like those in schools or malls, paper towel dispensers are common because they are often seen as more hygienic than hot-air dryers or shared cloth towels.
The Scott Paper Company in Philadelphia introduced the first toilet paper on a roll in 1890, then launched Sani-Towels in 1931 and advertised them as essential for hygiene, starting the paper towel industry. In 1919, William E. Corbin and Harold Titus began experimenting with paper towels at the Brown Company in Berlin, New Hampshire. By 1922, Corbin had perfected the product and started mass production at the Brown Company's mill, calling it Nibroc (Corbin spelled backward). In 1931, Scott Paper introduced paper towel rolls for kitchens. Paper towels are widely used for drying hands in public bathrooms, but in the 21st century, electric jet-air dryers have challenged their dominance. There is no clear scientific consensus on which method is more hygienic, but the paper towel industry and hand dryer makers like Dyson have funded studies and ads to discredit each other, fueling a public relations battle driven by mutual animosity.
Paper towels are made from virgin or recycled paper pulp from wood or fiber crops. They may be bleached to lighten color and sometimes decorated with images like flowers or characters. Resin size is added for wet strength. They are sold as stacks or continuous rolls, in domestic and institutional classes. Common brands include Bounty, Seventh Generation, Scott, Viva, and Kirkland.
In North America, tissue products like paper towels are split into consumer and commercial markets. Household use accounts for about two-thirds of consumption, with commercial use making up the rest.
- First developed
- 1931
- First mass-produced
- 1922
- Key early companies
- Scott Paper Company, Brown Company
- Common brand names
- Bounty, Seventh Generation, Scott, Viva, Kirkland
- Global top per capita users
- Americans
- Market rank
- second in tissue market after toilet paper
Lore & Background
In 1890, the Philadelphia-based Scott Paper Company introduced the first toilet paper on a roll. They started the paper towel industry when they began selling Sani-Towels in 1931 and used advertising to convince the public that paper towels were essential for personal hygiene. In 1919, William E. Corbin and Harold Titus began experimenting with paper towels in the Research and Development building of the Brown Company in Berlin, New Hampshire. By 1922, Corbin perfected their product and began mass-producing it at the Brown Company's mill. This product was called Nibroc Paper Towels (Corbin spelled backward). In 1931, the Scott Paper Company introduced their paper towel rolls for kitchens.
Reader's Guide
Paper towels are a global product with rising production and consumption. Being second in tissue consumption only to toilet paper (36% vs. 45% in the U.S.), the proliferation of paper towels, which are mostly non-recyclable, has globally adverse effects on the environment. However, paper towels made from recycled paper do exist, and are sold at many outlets. Some are manufactured from bamboo, which grows faster than trees. Electric hand dryers are an alternative to using paper towels for hand drying, and cleaning up spills. Electric hand dryers may also spread bacteria to hands and clothing. In the 21st century, electric jet-air dryers have threatened their dominance. While there is no clear scientific consensus over which method is more hygienic, the paper towel industry and hand dryer manufacturers such as Dyson have each attempted to discredit each other by funding studies which spur sensationalist headlines and running advertisements. The public relations battle has also been fueled by animosity between both sides. Growing hygiene consciousness during the COVID-19 pandemic led to a boost in paper towel market growth.
Did You Know?
- Paper towels absorb water via the capillary effect, allowing water to travel between fibers even against gravity.
- The first paper towel product was called Sani-Towels, introduced by the Scott Paper Company in 1907.
- Nibroc paper towels were named by spelling the inventor's last name (Corbin) backwards.
- Americans consume approximately 24 kilograms (53 lb) of paper towels per capita yearly, 50% higher than in Europe.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Paper towel?
Paper towel is a single-use, absorbent sheet made from paper, first mass-produced in 1922 and further developed in 1931 by early players like the Scott Paper Company and the Brown Company. It typically appears on a perforated roll or as pre-folded stacks for dispensers.
What are Paper towel's powers and role?
Its loosely woven fibers let water travel between strands through capillary action, even pulling liquid upward against gravity. This makes it effective at drying hands, wiping windows and surfaces, and dusting—essentially doing the same jobs as a cloth towel but without needing laundering.
Why is Paper towel important in the broader hygiene landscape?
It holds the second-largest position in the tissue market, trailing only toilet paper. Americans lead the world in per-capita consumption, underscoring how central the product has become to everyday household routines.
What are Paper towel's common aliases and brand names?
In Commonwealth English, kitchen versions are referred to as kitchen rolls, kitchen paper, or kitchen towels. Well-known brand names include Bounty, Seventh Generation, Scott, Viva, and Kirkland.
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