Seventh Generation · Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
Essendant SEV13739PK 2-Ply Whitened Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Kitchen Towel Rolls - 8 Rolls of 156 Each
Lower concern. Paper-based kitchen towels rarely require PFAS treatments.
This recycled paper kitchen towel carries minimal PFAS risk. The brand does not disclose PFAS avoidance, but this product category typically avoids fluorinated coatings.
We flunk more products than we pass. This one earned its grade. How we grade
Material
100% recycled paper, 2-ply
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
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.
Microbial growth if stored wet
Paper towels are hygroscopic and provide substrate for bacterial or mold growth if stored in high humidity or direct water exposure. This is a use and storage issue, not a manufacturing hazard, and is managed by keeping product dry.
What’s reassuring
Base material not linked to PFAS
The main material recorded for this product is not one associated with PFAS.
Optical brightening agents (OBAs) in whitened recycled paper
Whitening of recycled paper uses OBAs such as stilbene derivatives, which are not classified as hazardous at kitchen-towel exposure. No migration into food or skin contact has been documented as a consumer concern for this product class.
Ink and dye residues from recycled fiber
Recycled paper may retain traces of printing inks from source material. Seventh Generation processes recycled fiber through standard de-inking steps; no reports of heavy metal or contaminant migration from this brand's kitchen towels exist in public records.
Formaldehyde / VOCs
No formaldehyde-releasing binders or resins are used in standard kitchen-towel manufacturing; the 2-ply bond is typically achieved via mechanical compression or food-grade wet-strength agents. No formaldehyde off-gassing has been reported for Seventh Generation paper towels.
Source, ATSDR ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
This product is 100% recycled paper in a 2-ply construction, meaning two layers of post-consumer waste paper bonded together. Recycled paper kitchen towels do not require water-resistant or grease-resistant chemical coatings to function in typical kitchen use; absorbency is inherent to the paper structure. The 'whitened' descriptor indicates optical brightening agents (OBAs) were used during processing to improve appearance, a common practice in recycled paper that does not pose established consumer hazard at kitchen-towel exposure levels.
The brand's record and disclosure
Seventh Generation is a brand with a long public commitment to ingredient transparency and third-party certification across its product lines. The company does not make explicit public statements about PFAS avoidance in paper products, but recycled paper kitchen towels are not a category where PFAS treatments are standard industry practice. No recalls, safety warnings, or contamination events have been documented for this specific SKU or similar Seventh Generation paper towel products.
How it compares in its category
Recycled-content paper kitchen towels occupy a lower-risk position than virgin-fiber or chemically coated grease-resistant papers because they avoid proprietary barrier treatments that may introduce unknown additives. This product's 2-ply recycled construction is typical of mainstream eco-label kitchen towels and does not differ materially in composition from other major recycled-paper brands. The whitening process used here is standard across the category and poses no known hazard distinct from conventional kitchen-towel use.
If you buy it
Store rolls in a dry place to prevent mold growth; recycled paper is hygroscopic and can degrade if exposed to prolonged moisture. Use for routine kitchen cleanup, spill absorption, and drying; the product is not intended for heavy-duty degreasing or high-temperature contact with cookware surfaces. Replace rolls when structural integrity declines (tearing, disintegration) or if mold or odors develop, typically within weeks of opening in normal kitchen conditions. No special precautions are required beyond standard food-contact paper product handling.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 78% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Seventh Generation has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Better-graded alternatives in Grease-Resistant Deli & Butcher Paper
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached paper, uncoated
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
IDL Packaging
White Butcher Paper 18" x 12000" Natural Butcher Paper Roll for Meat and Fish
bleached kraft paper, no specified coating
Ink or printing residue (if printed side contacts food)
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth during storage
Limited concern
Brand PFAS statement on record, which we have not verified.
⚠Starting grade for this product type
If You Care
Parchment Baking Sheets
unbleached parchment paper, silicone coating
Silicone coating degradation under heat stress
Limited concern
Mold or microbial growth if stored damp
Limited concern
Brand no-added-PFAS claim and a 2021 lab result with no fluorine detected.
✓Lab test found no PFAS
More grease-resistant deli & butcher paper 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.