Bounty · Paper Napkins & Paper Towels
Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins
Higher concern. Grease-resistant napkins often use PFAS without disclosure.
Bounty quilted napkins are coated for grease and water resistance, a common vector for PFAS in food paper products. Bounty discloses nothing about coating type.
The better-graded swap
Seventh Generation
Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Napkins 1-Ply
70/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Good.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
virgin wood pulp, quilted structure with water/grease resistance coating (type unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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What Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins is made of, ingredients and materials
Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins are virgin wood pulp with a quilted emboss for absorbency and a water/grease-resistant coating applied to the surface. The coating type is not publicly disclosed by the brand but is typical in the category, where PFAS-based compounds (like PFOA or similar fluorochemicals) are commonly used to repel liquids without changing the paper's feel. Virgin pulp avoids recycled-content contaminants but offers no safety advantage over the coating itself.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Waterproof / stain-resistant treatment
Water-repellent coating treatments have historically used PFAS.
PFAS
Quilted grease-resistant napkins in this category routinely use PFAS-based fluorochemicals. Bounty's non-disclosure and lack of third-party verification make this assessment probable rather than confirmed for this specific batch.
Source, ATSDR ↗Coating migration to food and skin
Direct contact between the coated surface and hot, oily foods or wet hands may allow transfer of coating residues. Risk is lower at room temperature and with dry or cool foods.
What’s reassuring
Ink or dyes in printed designs
Bounty napkins typically use food-contact compliant inks for branding, and no hazard of heavy-metal contamination or azo-dye issues in this product exists in public records.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Virgin pulp napkins do not typically require formaldehyde binders. No evidence of such use in Bounty napkins.
Source, ATSDR ↗Microplastic shedding
Paper napkins do not shed microplastics. The coating may degrade mechanically over time, but this is not classified as microplastic pollution.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Procter & Gamble (Bounty's parent) does not publicly commit to PFAS phase-out or disclose coating chemistry for this product line. The company has faced criticism from environmental groups for continued use of fluorochemicals in absorbent products without transparent labeling. No formal recalls or health warnings exist for Bounty napkins specifically, but the silence on formulation is notable given industry awareness of PFAS health concerns.
How it compares in its category
Most single-ply quilted napkins (Bounty, Scott, Store brands) use water/grease coatings that likely contain PFAS or similar repellents; this is category-standard. Uncoated paper napkins or those with certifications stating PFAS-free by third parties (rare in mainstream retail) would have lower concern for PFAS but are less absorbent and grease-resistant. Bounty's market dominance means its coating practices set rather than lag industry norms.
If you buy it
Reserve these for cold foods, drinks, and dry grease (napkins, spills). Avoid prolonged contact with hot oily foods, as heat may accelerate migration of coating components into food or onto skin. Store in a cool, dry place to prevent coating degradation. Consider switching to uncoated paper napkins for everyday use and reserve water-resistant napkins for specific high-liquid tasks.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Bounty has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Bounty 1-Ply Quilted Napkins?
- 100% recycled paper
- Trace metals and contaminants from recycled feedstock
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- Virgin wood pulp, 1-ply, no waterproofing layer
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Starting grade for this product type
- Virgin wood pulp, 1-ply paper
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bleach residues and chlorinated byproducts
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
More paper napkins & paper towels grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.