What are the differences between the roll type paper hand towel and the fold paper hand towel?
Paper hand towels are disposable sheets of paper that are used for drying hands after washing them. They are commonly found in public restrooms, offices, hotels, restaurants, and other places where hygiene and convenience are important. Paper hand towels can be classified into three types: roll, fold, and singlefold. Each type has its own characteristics, advantages, and disadvantages. In this article, we will compare and contrast the roll type paper hand towel and the fold paper hand towel in terms of fold, usage, cost, and sustainability. We will also answer the question of which type of paper hand towel is better for different situations and preferences.
Fold
The roll type paper hand towel is a continuous sheet of paper that is wound around a cardboard core. The paper is perforated at regular intervals to allow users to tear off the desired amount of paper. The roll type paper hand towel is usually dispensed from a wall-mounted device that has a cutting mechanism or a sensor.
The fold paper hand towel is a sheet of paper that is folded into two or more layers. The fold paper hand towel can be further divided into multifold, c-fold, and z-fold. The multifold paper hand towel has two or more folds that create a zigzag shape. The c-fold paper hand towel has one fold that creates a c-shape. The z-fold paper hand towel has two folds that create a z-shape. The fold paper hand towel is usually dispensed from a wall-mounted device that has a slot or a tray.
Usage
The roll type paper hand towel allows users to choose how much paper they want to use for drying their hands. However, this also means that users may use more paper than necessary or waste paper by tearing off too much or too little. According to a study by the European Tissue Symposium (ETS), the average number of towels used per hand dry with the roll type paper hand towel was 2.5.
The fold paper hand towel provides users with a predefined amount of paper for drying their hands. This means that users do not have to worry about tearing off the right amount of paper or wasting paper by tearing off too much or too little. However, this also means that users may not have enough paper to dry their hands completely or may have excess paper that they do not need. According to the same study by ETS, the average number of towels used per hand dry with the fold paper hand towel was 1.8.
Another factor that affects the usage of paper hand towels is how they are grabbed by users. The roll type paper hand towel requires users to touch the dispenser and the exposed part of the paper roll to tear off the paper. This may increase the risk of cross-contamination and spread of germs. The fold paper hand towel allows users to grab only one sheet of paper at a time without touching the dispenser or the other sheets of paper. This may reduce the risk of cross-contamination and spread of germs.
Cost
The cost of paper hand towels depends on several factors, such as the quality, quantity, size, weight, and brand of the paper. However, in general, the roll type paper hand towel tends to be cheaper than the fold paper hand towel per unit. This is because the roll type paper hand towel uses less packaging material and less space for storage and transportation.
However, the cost of paper hand towels also depends on how much paper is consumed and wasted per hand dry. As mentioned earlier, the roll type paper hand towel may lead to more overuse and waste of paper than the fold paper hand towel. This may increase the overall cost of using the roll type paper hand towel in the long run.
Sustainability
The sustainability of paper hand towels refers to how much they impact the environment in terms of their production, transportation, storage, and disposal. The sustainability of paper hand towels can be measured by indicators such as carbon footprint, water footprint, energy consumption, and waste generation.
The roll type paper hand towel may have a lower environmental impact than the fold paper hand towel in terms of production and transportation. This is because the roll type paper hand towel uses less raw material, less packaging material, and less space for storage and transportation. However, the roll type paper hand towel may have a higher environmental impact than the fold paper hand towel in terms of consumption and disposal. This is because the roll type paper hand towel may lead to more overuse and waste of paper than the fold paper hand towel. This may increase the carbon footprint, water footprint, energy consumption, and waste generation of using the roll type paper hand towel.
Conclusion
The roll type paper hand towel and the fold paper hand towel have different features, advantages, and disadvantages. The roll type paper hand towel may be cheaper, more flexible, and more sustainable in terms of production and transportation. However, the roll type paper hand towel may also lead to more overuse, waste, and contamination of paper and have a higher environmental impact in terms of consumption and disposal. The fold paper hand towel may be more convenient, more hygienic, and more sustainable in terms of consumption and disposal. However, the fold paper hand towel may also be more expensive, less flexible, and less sustainable in terms of production and transportation.
The answer to the question of which type of paper hand towel is better depends on the situation and preference of the user. Some factors that may influence the decision are the budget, the frequency of use, the availability of space, the level of hygiene, and the environmental awareness of the user. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for choosing the best paper hand towel option. However, some general recommendations are:
- If you want to save money and have enough space for storage and dispensing, you may prefer the roll type paper hand towel.
- If you want to reduce waste and contamination and have limited space for storage and dispensing, you may prefer the fold paper hand towel.
- If you want to balance cost and sustainability and have moderate space for storage and dispensing, you may prefer the singlefold paper hand towel.
