The Best Non-Toxic Paper Napkins & Paper Towels of 2026

We scored 15 paper napkins & paper towels for PFAS forever chemicals and other hazards, then ranked them safest first. The top pick is Seventh Generation Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply at 85/100. Every score below links to the full breakdown of what earned it.

How to read these scores. PFAS Authority is a scoring system, not a laboratory. We do not test products ourselves. Each grade is a model-based assessment built from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, brand disclosures, recalls and third-party lab results where they exist. Read the full rubric to see exactly what adds and removes points.
53% of the 15 paper napkins & paper towels we scored fail our PFAS and toxin screen.
PFAS Authority, September 2026. Free to cite with a link. See the full dataset.

The safest PFAS-free paper napkins & paper towels we have scored

  1. 1
    Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply

    Seventh Generation

    100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply

    100% recycled paper (virgin fiber-free)

    PFAS Grade85Excellent
    Overall Grade81Excellent
    🎨

    Ink and dye migration from recycled fiber

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern choice. Plain paper napkins rarely require PFAS treatment.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  2. 2
    Bounty Quilted Napkins, 1-Ply, White, 100 Count

    Bounty

    Quilted Napkins, 1-Ply, White, 100 Count

    Virgin wood pulp, 1-ply, no waterproofing layer

    PFAS Grade70Good
    Overall Grade70Good
    Good

    Lower concern. Single-ply napkins unlikely to need PFAS coatings.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  3. 3
    100% Recycled Paper Napkins

    Seventh Generation

    100% Recycled Paper Napkins

    100% recycled paper

    PFAS Grade70Good
    Overall Grade62Good
    ⚠️

    Trace metals and contaminants from recycled feedstock

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Microbial growth (mold, mildew) in storage

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern choice. Recycled paper napkins typically avoid PFAS treatment.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  4. 4
    Scott MegaCartridge Napkins

    Scott

    MegaCartridge Napkins

    virgin wood pulp, uncoated

    PFAS Grade70Good
    Overall Grade66Good
    ⚠️

    Ink migration from printing (if printed)

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower concern. Uncoated napkins have minimal PFAS risk.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  5. 5
    Scott Full-Fold Dispenser Napkins 1-Ply

    Scott

    Full-Fold Dispenser Napkins 1-Ply

    Virgin wood pulp, 1-ply paper

    PFAS Grade70Good
    Overall Grade62Good
    ⚠️

    Bleach residues and chlorinated byproducts

    Limited concern

    70
    💨

    Formaldehyde / VOCs

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower PFAS concern. Unbleached or FSC options preferred if available.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  6. 6
    Scott Tall-Fold Dispenser Napkins 1-Ply 7 x

    Scott

    Tall-Fold Dispenser Napkins 1-Ply 7 x

    Virgin fiber tissue (cellulose)

    PFAS Grade70Good
    Overall Grade70Good
    Good

    Lower concern. Plain tissue napkins rarely require PFAS treatment.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy
  7. 7
    SCOTT Mega Cartridge Napkins,PK875: 6 PK

    Scott

    Mega Cartridge Napkins,PK875: 6 PK

    virgin fiber paper napkin, uncoated

    PFAS Grade70Good
    Overall Grade62Good
    ⚠️

    Chlorine residues (bleaching byproducts)

    Limited concern

    70
    ⚠️

    Bacterial or mold growth in storage

    Limited concern

    70

    Lower-concern standard napkins.

    ⚠Risky category by default

    Why this gradeBuy

Every paper napkins & paper towels that passes, side by side

Sorted by score. Higher is safer. Scored against 2 hazards that apply to this category.

#Paper Napkins & Paper TowelsScoreRatingMade of
1Seventh Generation Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply85Excellent100% recycled paper (virgin fiber-free)
2Bounty Bounty Quilted Napkins, 1-Ply, White, 100 Count70GoodVirgin wood pulp, 1-ply, no waterproofing layer
3Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Napkins70Good100% recycled paper
4Scott Scott MegaCartridge Napkins70Goodvirgin wood pulp, uncoated
5Scott Scott Full-Fold Dispenser Napkins 1-Ply70GoodVirgin wood pulp, 1-ply paper
6Scott Scott Tall-Fold Dispenser Napkins 1-Ply 7 x70GoodVirgin fiber tissue (cellulose)
7Scott SCOTT Mega Cartridge Napkins,PK875: 6 PK70Goodvirgin fiber paper napkin, uncoated

The paper napkins & paper towels we would skip

Lowest scoring in this category, worst first.

Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins

Bounty

1-Ply Quilted Napkins

virgin wood pulp, quilted structure with water/grease resistance coating (type unspecified)

PFAS Grade25Poor
Overall Grade3Bad
♾️

PFAS

High concern

20
🍳

Coating migration to food and skin

Limited concern

70

Higher concern. Grease-resistant napkins often use PFAS without disclosure.

⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

Why this gradeSafer picks →
Bounty Paper Napkins, 2-ply napkin - White, 200 Count

Bounty

Paper Napkins, 2-ply napkin - White, 200 Count

Wood pulp with grease-resistant coating (unspecified fluorochemistry)

PFAS Grade25Poor
Overall Grade3Bad
♾️

PFAS

High concern

20
⏳

Coating degradation and particulate migration

Limited concern

70

Skip until brand discloses coating chemistry.

⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

Why this gradeSafer picks →
Bounty Quilted Napkins

Bounty

Quilted Napkins

Cellulose (wood pulp) with grease-resistant treatment

PFAS Grade25Poor
Overall Grade17Bad
🍳

Grease-resistant coating composition (fluorinated or non-fluorinated unknown)

Limited concern

70
🫧

Coating degradation and microparticle release

Limited concern

70

Higher PFAS concern from grease-resistant coating.

⚠Waterproof or stain-proof treatment

Why this gradeSafer picks →

What we check on paper napkins & paper towels

  • Formaldehyde / VOCs. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. ATSDR
  • Flame retardants. Chemicals added to foam and electronics, some persistent and bioaccumulative. EPA

Full point-by-point rubric on the methodology page.

The paper napkins & paper towels brands that will not say

3 of the brands here publish nothing about PFAS at all. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is why none of them score well on disclosure.

Bounty, Scott, Seventh Generation.

Common questions about PFAS-free paper napkins & paper towels

Is paper napkins & paper towels PFAS free?

Mostly not. Of the 15 paper napkins & paper towels we have scored, 53% fail our PFAS and toxin screen, which leaves 7 that pass. The highest scoring is Seventh Generation Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply at 85 out of 100. The lowest is Bounty Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins at 25.

What is the safest paper napkins & paper towels you have scored?

Seventh Generation Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply, at 85 out of 100, which we band as Excellent. It is 100% recycled paper (virgin fiber-free). The runner up is Bounty Bounty Quilted Napkins, 1-Ply, White, 100 Count at 70.

Which paper napkins & paper towels should I avoid?

The three lowest scoring we hold are Bounty Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins at 25, Bounty Bounty Paper Napkins, 2-ply napkin - White, 200 Count at 25, Bounty Bounty Quilted Napkins at 25. The problem with the first is that higher concern. Grease-resistant napkins often use PFAS without disclosure.

How can you tell if paper napkins & paper towels contain PFAS?

In this category we check for formaldehyde / vocs, flame retardants. Off-gassing chemicals from some finishes, textiles, and pressed wood. Language like stain resistant, water repellent or easy release usually means fluorinated chemistry even when PFAS is never printed on the box.

Which paper napkins & paper towels brands will not say whether they use PFAS?

3 of the brands we scored in this category publish nothing about PFAS at all, including Bounty, Scott, Seventh Generation. Silence is not evidence of harm, but it is the reason those brands cannot score well on disclosure.

Do you lab test paper napkins & paper towels?

No. We score from published ingredient lists, materials, certifications, disclosures and third party lab results where they exist. Where a product has been independently tested we use that result and say so.

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Does a particular brand of paper napkins & paper towels have PFAS?

Want to filter the whole category yourself? Browse all 15 paper napkins & paper towels.