Our sanitary paper product standard establishes environmental, health, and social requirements for sanitary paper products for institutional and retail markets, including:
This standard addresses the key lifecycle hot spots including: product performance, fiber sources, restrictions on hazardous chemicals, and limits on water and energy use in manufacturing.
Latest version: Edition 7.0, July 30, 2025
Recent Changes: GS-1 underwent corrections and/or clarifications and was re-published on July 26, 2023. For details on the non-substantive changes made to this standard, please see the Standard Documents Library
Recent Revision: GS-1 underwent a major revision to modernize the standard’s health and environmental criteria. Products certified to the previous standard edition must comply with the updated criteria by January 31, 2027. Visit Edition 7.0 in our Library to see a complete record of the standard criteria development process.
Green Seal is a nonprofit organization with a mission to transform the economy for a healthier, greener world. Green Seal sets leadership standards that aim to reduce the environmental and health impacts throughout the lifecycle of products, services, and companies, to the extent technologically and economically feasible. The standards may be used for conformity assessment and public education.
Green Seal offers certification of products and services in conformance with its standards. For additional information on Green Seal and contact information, visit greenseal.org.
Edition. Edition 7.0 was issued on July 30, 2025, and replaces Edition 6.4 from August 25, 2021. Corrections and/or clarifications were last made to this standard on August 23, 2024. Information on changes made to this standard are available on Green Seal’s website.1Library of Standards Documents, www.greenseal.org/green-seal-standards/library#section1
General. The final issued standard was developed in an open and transparent process with stakeholder input that included producers, users, and general interests. The requirements in the standard are based on an assessment of the environmental, health, or social impacts associated with the products, services, or organizations covered in the scope of the standard. These requirements are subject to revision, and generally cover aspects above and beyond regulatory compliance. This standard neither modifies nor supersedes laws and regulations. Any conformity assessment to this standard requires compliance with all applicable laws and regulations for the manufacturing and marketing of the products.
Provisions for safety have not been included in this standard, since they are supervised by regulatory agencies. Adequate safeguards for personnel and property should be employed for all stages of production, and for all tests that involve safety considerations.
Products, services, or organizations that are substantially similar to those covered by this standard in terms of function and life cycle considerations may be evaluated against the intent of the requirements of this standard, accounting for relevant differences between the intended scope of the Standard and the actual product, service, or organization to be evaluated.
This standard may not anticipate a feature of the product that may significantly, and undesirably, increase its impact on the environment, health, or society. In such a situation, Green Seal will ordinarily amend a standard to account for the unanticipated environmental, health, or societal impacts.
Normative references (e.g., other standards) in this standard intend to refer to the most recent edition of the normative reference. Test methods may be required for product evaluation. Unless explicitly stated that a specified method is the only acceptable one, the intent of the standard is that an equivalent test method may be accepted at Green Seal’s sole discretion.
Certification to this standard shall be awarded only by Green Seal, or, with Green Seal’s explicit written permission, by a third-party certification program conducting on-site audits.
Disclaimer of Liability. Green Seal, as the developer of this standard, shall not incur any obligations or liability for any loss or damages, including, without limitation, indirect, consequential, special, or incidental damages, arising out of or in connection with the interpretation or adoption of, reliance upon, or any other use of this Standard by any party. Green Seal makes no express or implied warranty of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose, nor any other express or implied warranty with respect to this Standard.
LIST OF ACRONYMS AND ABREVIATIONS
BOD. Biochemical Oxygen Demand.
BTU. British Thermal Unit.
CD. Cross direction.
CDP. Carbon Disclosure Project.
CFR. Code of Federal Regulations.
DOC. Dissolved Organic Carbon.
ECF. Elemental Chlorine Free.
EPA. United States Environmental Protection Agency.
FSC. Forest Stewardship Council.
gf. Gram force.
GHG. Greenhouse Gas.
GHGRP. Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program.
GHS. Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals.
GRI. Global Reporting Initiative.
in. Inch.
ISO. International Organization for Standardization.
lb. Pound.
m3. Cubic meters.
MD. Machine direction.
MDIP. Market De-Inked Pulp.
MT. Metric ton.
N. Newton.
OECD. Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development.
PCF. Processed Chlorine Free.
ppm. Parts per million.
RSB. Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials.
SDS. Safety Data Sheet
SIC. Standard Industrial Classification.
TAPPI. Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry.
TCF. Totally Chlorine Free.
ThOD. Theoretical Oxygen Demand.
YieldPC. Post-Consumer Recycled Content Yield.
YieldT. Total Fiber Yield.
This standard establishes environmental, health, and social requirements for sanitary paper products including paper towels, general-purpose wipers, paper napkins, bathroom tissue, facial tissue, toilet seat covers, placemats, tray liners, table coverings, and other sanitary paper products. The standard covers products for institutional as well as retail markets. This standard does not include nonwoven sanitary products, general-purpose disposable and flushable wipes containing cleaning agents or fragrances, disposable diapers, or sanitary napkins and tampons. See Appendix 1 for an example list of products included in the standard.
Words and phrases described in the standard that appear in italics have a corresponding definition located in Annex A.
2.1.1 Biodegradability. Any functional papermaking additives present above 100 parts per million (ppm) by weight in the finished product or known contaminants in functional papermaking additives used in the papermaking process, except for inorganic compounds, polymers, optical brighteners, and biocides, shall exhibit ready biodegradability in accordance with the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) definition, as follows. Biodegradability shall be measured according to any of the following methods: International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 7827, 9439, 10707, 10708, 9408, 14593; OECD Methods 301A – F; or OECD 310. Specifically, within a 28-day test, the ingredient shall meet one of the following criteria:
For functional papermaking additives or known contaminants in functional papermaking additives that do not exhibit ready biodegradability in these tests the manufacturer may demonstrate biodegradability in sewage treatment plants using the Coupled Units Test found in OECD 303A by demonstrating DOC removal > 90%.
An exception shall be made for functional papermaking additives or known contaminants in functional papermaking additives2Known contaminants in functional papermaking additives include chemical reaction byproducts, residual impurities, etc. that do not exhibit ready biodegradability, if the additive has low aquatic toxicity (acute LC50 ≥ 100 mg/L for algae, daphnia, or fish) and exhibits inherent biodegradability per ISO test methods 9887 or 9888 or OECD 302A-C.
Testing is not required for any functional papermaking additives or known contaminants in functional papermaking additives2Known contaminants in functional papermaking additives include chemical reaction byproducts, residual impurities, etc. for which sufficient information exists concerning its biodegradability, either in peer-reviewed literature or databases. In the absence of experimental data, quantitative structure-activity relationship data from EPA’s BioWin (EPISuite) models may be considered.
2.1.2 Carcinogens, Mutagens, and Reproductive Toxins. The product shall not contain any functional papermaking additives2Known contaminants in functional papermaking additives include chemical reaction byproducts, residual impurities, etc. or contaminants that are or contain carcinogens, mutagens, or reproductive toxins or that are known to produce or release carcinogens. An exception shall be made for titanium dioxide and carbon black used in colorants.
2.1.3 Chlorine Free. Products made from recycled content shall be Processed Chlorine Free (PCF). Products made from bamboo or agricultural residue shall be Totally Chlorine Free (TCF) or Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) or Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF).
Additionally, chlorine or chlorine derivatives (e.g., elemental chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite) shall not be used during the following steps of the papermaking process: re-pulping, screening, deinking, and washing.3There are no restrictions on the use of chlorine or its derivatives in the cleaning of production equipment.
Exemption: Chlorine and chlorine derivatives can be used during the re-pulping process if necessary to break down recovered material with wet-strength resins.
2.1.4 Colorants in Product. The product shall not contain any colorants as functional papermaking additives; an exception shall be made for products that would not contain colorants but for the addition of recycled content.
Further, the following types of converted products may be printed with colorants provided that these colorants contain a sum concentration of less than 100 ppm by weight (0.01%) of the heavy metals lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium: paper towels, general-purpose wipers, paper napkins, placemats, tray liners, and table coverings.
2.1.5 Optical Brighteners. Optical brighteners may be used as a functional papermaking additive at a dosage not to exceed 200 ppm (0.02%) by weight in the finished product. This level does not include any optical brighteners that may be present in the furnish through the use of recovered materials.
2.1.6 Water Disinfection. Chlorine derivatives and biocides may be used to disinfect the incoming fresh water supply and recycled process water. Product testing is not required, as long as the residual concentration of the chlorine derivatives and biocides used for disinfection is below the applicable maximum residual disinfectant levels in the National Primary Drinking Water Regulations found in 40 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Part 141 at any location where chlorine derivatives and biocides are added to the papermaking process. Biocides must be registered with the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) or the Pest Management Regulatory Agency.
2.1.7 Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS). The product shall not contain any functional papermaking additives2Known contaminants in functional papermaking additives include chemical reaction byproducts, residual impurities, etc. or known contaminants in functional papermaking additives that are or contain Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS).
2.1.8 Additional Prohibited Substances. The product shall not contain the following substances as functional papermaking additives or known contaminants in functional papermaking additives2Known contaminants in functional papermaking additives include chemical reaction byproducts, residual impurities, etc.:
The papermaking process shall not use the following substances:
2.2.1 Added Lotion. Added lotion may be used on sanitary paper products for product softening or other reasons. Such lotions shall not contain any fragrances or colorants and shall meet the requirements of Section 2.0 Safer Chemicals in the Green Seal Standard for Personal Care and Cosmetic Products, GS-50.4Other Personal Care and Cosmetic Products within the scope of GS-50, which were added to impart certain properties to the product, would have to meet the same conditions.
2.2.2 Animal Testing. To avoid new animal testing, previous test results will be accepted as evidence of meeting a criterion. When existing data are not available, the preferred methods for new testing include methods that replace, reduce, or refine animal use, particularly those recommended by the Interagency Coordinating Committee on the Validation of Alternative Methods or the European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods, unless indicated otherwise. In addition, other nonanimal (in-vitro) test results, modeling data, data from structural analogs, and other lines of evidence may be accepted, provided that the methods are peer-reviewed and applicable. Specific in vitro or modeling methods may be noted in the standard, but additional options may be accepted by the certification program. Further, a mixture need not be tested if existing information demonstrates that each of the applicable components complies with the criterion.
The product shall comply with either Section 3.1.1 or Section 3.1.2.
3.1.1 100% Recycled Content. The product shall be made from 100% recycled content, subject to the applicable requirements in Section 3.2.
For recycled content produced by integrated mills where whitewater and/or wastewater recovery may cause contamination of the incoming recovered material furnish (stock), reclaimed mixed fibers containing virgin material may be acceptable as long as it can be shown, through mass balance calculations, that the amount of virgin fiber in the reclaimed mixed fibers is less than 0.5% of the incoming recovered material furnish (stock).
Products that meet 3.1.1 are eligible for the 100% Recycled Content designation as outlined in Green Seal’s Trademark Use Guidelines.5www.greenseal.org/trademark-use-guidelines
3.1.2 Alternative Fibers. The fiber source shall meet one of the following:
a) The product shall be made from 100% bamboo.
b) The product shall be made from 100% agricultural residue.
c) The product shall be made from any combination of recycled content, bamboo, and/or agricultural residue.
When using agricultural residue, the manufacturer shall document the original source of the material and provide fiber analysis testing (Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry [TAPPI] T 401 om-20 Fiber analysis of paper and paperboard). The agricultural residue shall originate from a crop certified to the Rainforest Alliance Sustainable Agriculture Standard, Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Standard for Advanced Products, or other approved third-party certification program.
When using bamboo, the manufacturer shall document the original source of the material and provide fiber analysis testing (TAPPI T 401 om-20 Fiber analysis of paper and paperboard). The bamboo shall originate from a source certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC 100% Bamboo), Roundtable for Sustainable Biomaterials (RSB) Standard for Advanced Products, or other approved third-party certification program.
Products made from 100% recycled content shall meet the following requirements:
| Product Type | Minimum Post-Consumer Recycled Content Requirement (% in product) |
| Paper Towels and General-Purpose Wipers | 40% |
| Paper Napkins | 30% |
| Bathroom Tissue | 20% |
| Facial Tissue | 10% |
| Toilet Seat Covers | 25% |
| Placemats/Tray liners | 50% |
| Table Coverings | 40% |
The percentage of post-consumer recycled content shall be calculated and certified based on the fiber weight of the paper. The calculation of recycled content based on fiber weight shall be performed using the following formula for post-consumer recycled content:
Post-consumer Recycled Content x YieldPC
Total Fiber x YieldT
Yield will depend on the product manufactured, the raw material, the level of contaminants and the cleaning and deinking technology employed. The percentage yield shall be calculated by dividing the total material output by the total material input.6If a particular manufacturer’s operating procedures do not provide for accurate yield measurements, the following shall be used as default values:
Default Total fiber yield (YieldT): 75%
Default Post-Consumer recycled content yield (YieldPC): 75% The percentage of recycled content, bamboo, or agricultural residue and post-consumer recycled content shall be calculated based on a weighted average of the materials used for a period of time not to exceed the previous three months.
Reserved.
Documentation must be provided that the production of the product meets the following social responsibility requirements:
4.1.1 Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining. Workers shall have the right to join or form trade unions of their own choosing and their right to bargain collectively shall be recognized and respected.
4.1.2 Freedom of Labor. There shall not be forced or bonded labor or use of child labor.
4.1.3 Freedom from Discrimination. There shall not be discrimination in terms of race, color, sex, religion, age, disability, gender, marital status, sexual orientation, union membership, political opinion, national extraction or social origin such that it affects the opportunity or treatment in employment, and there shall be no support or tolerance of corporal punishment, physical or verbal coercion, sexual or other harassment, intimidation or exploitation.
4.1.4 Occupational Health and Safety. A safe and hygienic workplace environment shall be provided with access to potable water. Adequate steps shall be taken to minimize the hazards of the workplace and workers shall receive health and safety training to prevent accidents and injury.
4.1.5 Conditions of Employment. Workers shall work under fair conditions of employment. Wages, working hours and overtime shall meet at a minimum the national legal or industry benchmark standard and regular employment shall be provided.
The manufacturing facility shall exhibit good manufacturing practices as verified through an on-site audit or through a valid certification such as ISO 9001.7Additional examples of valid certifications can be found at https://greenseal.org/wp-content/uploads/Acceptable-Certification-Standards-for-Green-Seal-Audit-Compliance-2025.pdf
The manufacturing facility shall have in place or develop an effective Environmental Management System (EMS) to report on and meet the requirements for the endpoints in Section 4.3.1 (Water and Energy Use) and 4.3.2 (Greenhouse Gas Emissions). The manufacturing facility shall provide either documentation demonstrating the system contains the following elements or a valid certification such as ISO 14001:
For manufacturers that do not currently have an EMS in place, the manufacturer shall continue to demonstrate progress toward developing the EMS during formal monitoring events until the EMS is fully in place.
4.3.1 Manufacturing and Converting Requirements – Water and Energy Use. Manufacturers shall meet the following freshwater and energy use criteria, for combined processes including pulping, re-pulping, deinking, papermaking, product converting, and waste treatment (on-site or offsite facilities).
If a manufacturer only does converting, then the energy and water use for the other processes (pulping, re-pulping, deinking, papermaking, and waste treatment) shall be supplied by the manufacturer of the parent roll.
If a manufacturer purchases market de-inked pulp (MDIP), then the supplier of the MDIP will be required to provide the energy and water use data associated with production of the MDIP. This supplier data regarding energy and water use in production of MDIP shall meet the criteria in this section separately and in addition to the data from the paper manufacturer itself.
The data shall represent either the total annual resource used divided by the total annual production of paper,8Total production represents the gross production of paper from the machines, and not sales of paper. or the total annual resource used to produce all grades of certified paper divided by the total annual production of all grades of certified paper divided by the total annual production of all grades of certified paper divided by the total annual production of all grades of certified paper.9Total production represents the gross production of certified paper from the machines, and not sales of certified paper. This implies that the estimation and allocation methods are acceptable.
| Fresh Water Use (gallons/ton of final product) (a) | Total Energy Use (millions BTUs/ ton of final product) (b) |
| 19,250 | 17.0 |
4.3.2 Greenhouse Gas Emissions The manufacturing facility shall report on and show improvement against its greenhouse gas emissions as part of the requirements for its EMS in Section 4.3. The manufacturer shall report during formal monitoring events using an acceptable reporting scheme such as the Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Protocol, the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP), ISO 14064-1:2018, the EPA Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program (GHGRP), or another approved by Green Seal.
5.1.1 Primary and Secondary Packaging. Primary and Secondary packaging shall meet the following requirements based on the packaging material type:
5.1.2 Colorants in Packaging. Primary and secondary packaging may be printed using colorants provided that these colorants contain a sum concentration of less than 100 ppm by weight of lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium.
5.2.1 Resin Identification Code. If plastic, the packaging shall be marked with the appropriate Resin Identification Code.
5.3.1 Heavy Metal Restrictions. The heavy metals lead, mercury, cadmium, and hexavalent chromium shall not be intentionally introduced in primary and secondary packaging. Further, the sum of the concentration levels of these metals shall not exceed 100 ppm by weight (0.01%); an exception is allowed for packaging that would not exceed this maximum level but for the addition of recycled content.
5.3.2 Other Restrictions. Phthalates, bisphenol A, and chlorinated packaging material are prohibited from being intentionally introduced to plastic primary or secondary packaging; an exception is allowed for packaging that would not have added phthalates, bisphenol A, or chlorinated packaging material but for the addition of recycled content.
Product performance requirements shall be consistently measured on either the unconverted (parent roll) or converted product depending on facility procedures. Testing shall be conducted under controlled and reproducible laboratory conditions. In addition to the measured performance requirements, the product shall be made in accordance with reasonable industry practice.
As an exception, products may exceed the upper ranges for tensile strength or stretch, provided the manufacturer demonstrates that the product meets market expectations for usability.
6.1.1 Tensile Strength (Dry and Wet). Product characteristics shall be measured for tensile strength in the machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) using the methods described in Section 6.1.1.1.
6.1.1.1 Tensile strength using TAPPI T 581/456. Product characteristics shall meet the following requirements when tested according to TAPPI T 581 om-22 Dry Tensile Properties of Paper Towel and Tissue Products (using constant rate of elongation apparatus) or ISO 12625-4:2022 (Tissue paper and tissue products – Part 4: Determination of tensile strength, stretch at maximum force, and tensile energy absorption) for dry tensile strength and TAPPI T 456 om-22 Tensile breaking strength of water-saturated paper and paperboard or ISO 12625-5:2024 (Tissue Paper and Tissue Products – Part 5: Determination of Wet Tensile Strength) for wet tensile strength, as measured in gram force/inch (gf/in, English units):
Product | Dry Tensile Strength(a) | Wet Tensile Strength(b) | ||
| MD | CD | MD | CD | |
| (gf/in) | (gf/in) | (gf/in) | (gf/in) | |
| Institutional paper towels – hard wound | 1000 – 3100 | 600 – 2000 | 250 – 850 | 100 – 700 |
| Institutional paper towels – center pull | 400 – 1500 | 100 – 800 | 100 – 500 | 50 – 200 |
| Institutional paper towels – folded | 800 – 2700 | 200 – 1300 | 230 – 600 | 90 – 400 |
| Institutional paper towels – kitchen roll | 400 – 1300 | 100 – 650 | 100 – 350 | 50 – 200 |
| General-purpose wipers | 800 – 2700 | 200 – 1300 | 230 – 600 | 90 – 400 |
| Retail paper towels – folded | 800 – 2700 | 200 – 1300 | 230 – 600 | 90 – 400 |
| Retail paper towels – kitchen roll | 400 – 1200 | 100 – 640 | 100 – 300 | 50 – 170 |
| Paper napkins | 350 – 1500 | 125 – 600 | — | — |
| Bathroom tissue | 140 – 900 | 50 – 450 | — | — |
| Facial tissue | 250 – 750 | 80 – 250 | 15 – 80 | 8 – 40 |
| Toilet seat covers | 800 – 2250 | 200 – 1100 | — | — |
| Placemats/Tray liners | — | — | — | — |
| Table coverings | — | — | — | — |
6.1.2 Stretch. Product characteristics shall meet the following requirements when tested according to TAPPI T 581 om-22 Dry Tensile Properties of Paper Towels and Tissue Products (using constant rate of elongation apparatus) or ISO 12625-4:2022 Tissue Paper and Tissue Products – Part 4: Determination of Tensile Strength, Stretch at Maximum Force, and Tensile Energy Absorption for stretch, as measured in % stretch:
| Product | Stretch |
| (%) | |
| Paper towels- institutional | 2 – 22 |
| Paper towels – retail | 2 – 22 |
| General-purpose wipers | 2 – 22 |
| Paper napkins | 2 – 34 |
| Bathroom tissue | 2 – 24 |
| Facial tissue | 2 – 24 |
| Toilet seat covers | — |
| Placemats/Tray liners | 1 – 10 |
| Table coverings | — |
6.1.3 Water Absorbency. Product characteristics shall meet the following requirements when tested according to TAPPI T 432 cm-21 Water Absorbency of Bibulous Papers for water absorbency, as measured in seconds of water absorbency:
| Product | Water Absorbency |
| Paper towels- institutional | 0 – 160 |
| Paper towels – retail | 0 – 160 |
| General-purpose wipers | 0 – 160 |
| Paper napkins | 0 – 180 |
| Bathroom tissue | — |
| Facial tissue | — |
| Toilet seat covers | — |
| Placemats/Tray liners | — |
| Table coverings | — |
Alternative test methods may be allowed for sanitary paper products or for categories not specified in this standard. A manufacturer must provide documented rationale for use of the method. The method must be an objective, scientifically-validated method, conducted under controlled and reproducible laboratory conditions. The results of the testing must meet performance ranges that are considered reasonable industry practice.
6.3.1 Product Specifications. Products must contain the following minimum material specifications, (i.e., minimum product per roll/package). Note that the conversion basis, consisting of the number of sheets and the sheet size, is provided so that a manufacturer can convert between the product in square feet and sheets per roll.(a) Any combination of sheet size and number of sheets is acceptable, as long as the minimum product per roll/package is met:
Product | Single Ply Specification(b) | Multi Ply Specification(b) | ||
| Minimum product per roll/package | Conversion Basis | Minimum product per roll/package | Conversion Basis | |
| INSTITUTIONAL PRODUCTS | ||||
| Bathroom Tissue | 62 ft2/roll | 600–3.75” x 4” sheets | 31 ft2/roll | 300 –3.75” x 4”sheets |
| Facial Tissue –Flat Box | — | — | 41 ft2/box | 100 – 7.5” x 8”sheets |
| Facial Tissue – Cube/ Dispenser Boxes | — | — | 35 ft2/box | 80 – 8” x 8” sheets |
| Paper Towels –Hard wound or Center Pull | 125 ft2/roll | 200 feet–7.5-inch-wide roll | 62 ft2/roll | 100 feet –7.5-inch-wide roll |
| Paper Towels –Folded | 84 ft2/package | 150–9” x 9” sheets | 42 ft2/package | 75 – 9” x 9”sheets |
| Paper Towels – Kitchen Rolls (full sheet or select-a- size) | 67 ft2/roll | 160–11” x5.5” sheets | 35 ft2/roll | 85 – 11” x 5.5”sheets |
| Paper Towels –General Purpose Wipers | 125 ft2/box | 200–9” x 10” sheets | 62 ft2/box | 100–9” x 10” sheets |
Product | Single Ply Specification(b) | Multi Ply Specification(b) | ||
| Minimum product per roll/package | Conversion Basis | Minimum product per roll/package | Conversion Basis | |
| Paper Napkins – Folded (used with or without a dispenser) | 330 ft2/package | 200–14” x 17” sheets | 165 ft2/package | 100–14” x 17”sheets |
| Paper Napkins – Small Dispensing | 62 ft2/package | 200–5” x 9” sheets | 31 ft2/package | 100–5” x 9” sheets |
| Paper Napkins –Beverage | 69 ft2/package | 100–10” x 10” sheets | 34 ft2/package | 50–10” x 10” sheets |
| Paper Napkins–Luncheon | 117 ft2/package | 100–13” x 13” sheets | 58 ft2/package | 50–13” x 13” sheets |
| Paper Napkins – Dinner/Guest Towel | 97 ft2/package | 50–16.75” x 16.75”sheets | 48 ft2/package | 25–16.75” x 16.75”sheets |
| RETAIL PRODUCTS | ||||
| Bathroom Tissue | 36 ft2/roll | 350–3.75” x 4” sheets | 18 ft2/roll | 175–3.75” x 4”sheets |
| Facial Tissue –Flat Box | — | — | 41 ft2/box | 100–7.5” x 8” sheets |
| Facial Tissue – Cube/ Dispenser Boxes | — | — | 35 ft2/box | 80–8” x 8” sheets |
| Paper Towels – Folded | 35 ft2/roll | 60–9.1” x 9.25”sheets | 17.5 ft2/roll | 30–9.1” x 9.25”sheets |
| Paper Towels – Kitchen Rolls (full sheet or select-a- size) | 67 ft2/roll | 160–11” x 5.5” sheets | 35 ft2/roll | 85–11” x 5.5” sheets |
| Paper Napkins –Beverage | 62 ft2/package | 100–9.5” x 9.5”sheets | 31 ft2/package | 50–9.5” x 9.5”sheets |
| Paper Napkins –Luncheon | 91 ft2/package | 100–11” x 12” sheets | 45 ft2/package | 50–11” x 12” sheets |
| Paper Napkins – Dinner/Guest Towel | 88 ft2/package | 50–15” x 17” sheets | 44 ft2/package | 25–15” x 17” sheets |
| MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS | ||||
| Toilet Seat Covers | — | — | — | — |
| Placemats, tray liners, and Other Table Coverings | — | — | — | — |
Alternatively, different sizes that generate better package or shipping efficiency may be permitted provided that the manufacturer submits specifications to demonstrate that they have improved the packaging and shipping efficiency.
6.4 Product Label
6.4.1 Disposal. The manufacturer’s label shall include a statement encouraging recycling of appropriate primary and secondary packaging.
7.1 Trademark Use. Use of the Green Seal® Certification Mark or the Green Seal name, e.g., on the product, product label, packaging, secondary documents, or promotional materials, must be in accordance with Green Seal’s Trademark Use Guidelines.7www.greenseal.org/trademark-use-guidelines
7.2 Misleading Claims. Green Seal trademarks shall not be used in conjunction with any modifying terms, phrases, or graphic images that might mislead consumers as to the extent or nature of the certification.
ANNEX A – DEFINITIONS (Normative)
Note that the defined terms are italicized throughout the standard.
Added Lotion. Material applied to the finished surface of the paper or tissue to provide softness to the touch. Techniques to add lotion include dipping or spraying. A softener or debonder added to the furnish as a functional papermaking additive is not considered an added lotion.
Agricultural Residue. Process waste material remaining from harvesting nonwood plants used to produce food or fiber, which would otherwise be incinerated or disposed of in situ or in a landfill. Material that would normally be used as compost/fertilizer in situ is excluded.
Bathroom Tissue. A class of soft paper products used to maintain personal hygiene, designed to disperse in septic tanks. Products typically come in rolls.
Biocide. A chemical used to kill biological organisms.
By-Product. A secondary or incidental product deriving from a manufacturing process.
Carcinogen. A chemical listed as a known, probable, reasonably anticipated, or possible human carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (Groups 1, 2A, and 2B), National Toxicology Program (Groups 1 and 2), EPA IRIS weight-of-evidence classifications A, B1, B2, C, carcinogenic, known/likely human carcinogen, likely to be carcinogenic to humans, and suggestive evidence of carcinogenicity or carcinogen potential), by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (as carcinogens under 29 CFR 1910.1003(a)(1)), or under the Globally Harmonized System for Classification and Labeling of Chemicals (GHS) Hazard Categories 1 (H350, may cause cancer) and 2 (H351, suspected of causing cancer).
Child Labor. Work that deprives children of their childhood, their potential and their dignity, and that is harmful to physical and mental development. To avoid child labor the International Labour Organization provides the following instruments: Minimum Age Convention (e.g., a minimum age not less than 15 for standard work and 18 for hazardous work) and the Worst Forms of Child Labour Convention.
Colorant. Inks, dyes, or pigments which are capable of imparting color when added in the paper-making process or to the finished product.
Contaminant. A substance in a functional papermaking additive that was not intentionally added but is known to be present above 100 ppm by weight, in the finished product.
Converted Product. Manufactured paper that has been further processed and converted into a finished product that is saleable.
Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF). Bleaching process for virgin-content papers, including those made from agricultural residue or bamboo, that exclusively substitutes chlorine dioxide for elemental chlorine and hypochlorite.1040 CFR part 403.3: https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-40/chapter-I/subchapter-N/part-430/subject-group-
ECFRa125908ec48b03f/section-430.01
Energy Use. The total energy used to manufacture sanitary paper products, including the net energy consumption during re-pulping of recovered material, bamboo, or agricultural residue pulping, throughout the papermaking process, during waste treatment, and during converting and/or packaging. Net energy consumption is considered energy purchased and generated less sales. It does not include transportation.
Facial Tissue. A class of soft, absorbent, disposable paper products suitable for use on the face. Products may come in flat, cube, or dispenser type boxes. Flat and dispenser boxes are typically rectangular in shape and wider than they are tall. Cube boxes are typically an upright package with a square base and an elongated height.
Finishing Broke. Discarded paper resulting from any finishing (converting) operation, including, but not limited to, winding, slitting, cutting, sorting, counting, cartoning, palletizing, and wrapping.
Fragrance. A constituent, often (but not limited to) a multi-component constituent, used in a product for the purpose of imparting a scent to the product.
Fresh Water Use. The total amount of steam, process, and cooling water used in the manufacture of sanitary paper products, including water used during re-pulping of recovered material or pulping of bamboo agricultural residue, throughout the papermaking process; and during converting (if applicable). Fresh water does not include whitewater or other recycled water streams.
Functional Papermaking Additives. Functional papermaking additives are those that are added to the paper machine furnish primarily for retention within or on the product, such as fillers, sizing agents, retention aids, wet- and dry-strength resins, colorants/dyes, and optical brighteners. Other materials added to the process through the water to facilitate the papermaking process, during drying, or in wastewater treatment, are not considered functional papermaking additives, including, but not limited to, cooling tower or boiler chemicals, paper machine cleaners, surfactants, detergents, defoamers, dispersants, foaming agents, collectors, dryer coating or release aids, and flocculants.
Furnish. The mixture of recovered material fiber, bamboo, or agricultural residue fiber and other chemicals that is blended in a water suspension, or slurry, from which paper products are made. Also referred to as stock.
General-Purpose Wipers. A class of absorbent disposable paper products suitable for use as industrial or retail wipers and containing no cleaning agents (e.g., surfactants) or fragrances.
Institutional. A category of products manufactured for use at institutional facilities, such as schools, hospitals, hotels, or offices, sold to professional purchasing staff and not to consumers.
Integrated Mill. A facility with either a pulp mill or the capability to re-pulp virgin or recovered fiber and a paper mill on the same site.
Intentionally Introduced. The use of substances for their desired or deliberate presence in the primary package for the purpose of providing a specific characteristic or quality. It does not refer to the use of substances as processing aids or the use of an intermediate that imparts certain chemical or physical changes during manufacturing, as long as the substance or intermediate is present in the primary package at concentrations below 100 ppm.
Mill Broke. Paper discarded from any point in the manufacturing process, which is subsequently re-pulped and reprocessed. “Wet broke” is typically generated from the wire or presses, while “dry broke” emanates from the dryers, reel, and winder.
Mutagen. Substances designated as known to induce heritable mutations, regarded as if they induce heritable mutations in the germ cells of humans, and thus meet the criteria for categories 1 and 2 (H340 and H341) under the GHS.
Nonwood Fiber. Fiber from plants that can be used in the manufacture of sanitary paper products, including: bamboo, hemp, flax, wheat straw, cotton, kenaf, sugar cane, bagasse, or other plants that are botanically not considered trees.
Nonwoven Sanitary Products. A product category that incorporates nonwoven fabrics in the manufacturing process. A product is considered nonwoven when the fibers (synthetic or pulp) used in fabrication are bonded together instead of woven, using either an adhesive or a chemical reaction. Nonwoven products include, but are not limited to, disposable diapers, feminine hygiene products, or premoistened tissues.
Optical Brightener. Additives designed to enhance the appearance of colors and whiteness in materials by absorbing ultraviolet radiation and emitting blue radiation. These compounds are also known as fluorescent whitening agents.
Ozone-Depleting Compound. Any compound with an ozone-depletion potential greater than 0.01 (chlorofluorocarbon 11=1) according to the EPA list of Class I and Class II Ozone-Depleting Substances; or any substances or mixtures falling into category 1 (H420), hazardous to the ozone layer, under the GHS.
Papermaking Process. The process of using fiber, water and additives to make paper, including, but not limited to, pulping, re-pulping, cleaning, screening, deinking, washing, bleaching, and papermaking.
Paper Napkins. A class of absorbent, disposable paper products that is typically folded and is suitable for wiping hands and mouth, including, but not limited to: retail beverage, luncheon, dinner, and guest towel napkins; institutional folded napkins used with or without a dispenser; small institutional dispenser napkins; and institutional beverage, luncheon, dinner, and guest towel napkins.
Paper Towels. A class of absorbent, disposable paper products suitable for use in drying hands, wiping windows, cleaning equipment, or cleaning up spills, including, but not limited to: retail, perforated roll towels; retail, folded towels; institutional, hardwound roll towels; institutional, folded towels, and institutional, perforated roll towels.
Parent Roll. The full-width roll produced from a paper machine, prior to any further finishing or converting.
Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances. A class of fluorinated organic chemicals containing at least one fully fluorinated carbon atom.
Placemats. A protective layer made from paper for a portion of a table or other surface. Tray liners are considered the same as placemats for the purposes of this standard.
Post-Consumer Recycled Content. Material that would otherwise be disposed of as solid waste, having completed its intended end-use by the consumer. Post-consumer recycled content does not include materials or by-products generated from, and commonly reused within, an original manufacturing and fabrication process.11Referred to in ISO 14021 as “post-consumer material.” For the purposes of this standard, “post-consumer recycled content as it is the industry-accepted term.
Pre-Consumer Recycled Content. Material diverted from a waste stream during the manufacturing process, excluding material such as rework, regrind, or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reused within the same process that generated it.
Primary Packaging. Material physically containing and coming into physical contact with the product, including, but not limited to: paper and paperboard material such as roll cores, brown papers, wrappers, bands, and folding cartons; and plastic materials such as film wrappers and roll core inserts.
Processed Chlorine Free (PCF). Paper products made from recovered materials that may have been, in their original manufacturing process, bleached using chlorine or chlorine-derivatives (e.g., elemental chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite), but were not re-bleached with chlorine or chlorine-derivatives.
Product Performance. Measurable outcome(s) resulting from a product’s functional characteristics that satisfy health, safety, or user needs.
Recovered Material. Either material recovered from or otherwise diverted from the solid waste stream, that is generated after the completion of the paper manufacturing process; or fiber and broke recovery that contains 100% recovered material and is integral to the manufacturing process from which it was generated.
Recyclable. The package or product can be collected in a substantial majority of communities, separated or recovered from the solid waste stream and used again, or reused in the manufacture or assembly of another product package through an established recycling program.
Recycled Content. Material that has been reprocessed from recovered material by means of a manufacturing process and made into a final product or into a component for incorporation into a product.12Referred to in ISO 14021 as “recycled material.” For the purposes of this standard, “recycled content” is used, as it is the industry-accepted term.
Recycled content may include:
Recycled content does not include:
Reproductive Toxin. A chemical listed as a reproductive toxin (including developmental, female, and male reproductive toxins) by the State of California under the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 (California Code of Regulations, Title 22, Division 2, Subdivision 1, Chapter 3, Sections 1200, et. Seq., also known as Proposition 65), substances designated as category 1 (H360), known or presumed reproductive toxicant, or category 2 (H361), suspected human reproductive toxicant, under the GHS, or a substance designated as having adverse effects on or via lactation (H362), under the GHS.
Retail. A category of products typically manufactured for use in residential homes and sold to consumers.
Sanitary Paper Products. Products covered by the Standard Industrial Code (SIC) 2676. Products including facial and bathroom tissues, toilet seat covers, paper towels and general-purpose wipes, paper napkins, paper placemats and table coverings. Products that are technically in this category by SIC code, but not covered by this standard, include nonwoven sanitary products, general-purpose disposable and flushable wipes containing cleaning agents or fragrances, disposable diapers, sanitary napkins, and tampons.
Secondary Packaging. Packaging used to contain primary package/s and typically used for merchandizing or labeling. This does not include the primary package or additional shipping packaging.
Solid Waste. Waste materials which are not salable and are discarded. Sanitary waste (e.g., restrooms, etc.) and materials that are recycled are excluded.
Source-Reduced Package. A package or packaging item that has at least 20% less material by weight for a given product unit (e.g., paper towel roll, box of tissue) compared to the packaging for a given product unit (of the same size), commonly used for that product.
Source Reduction. Altering the design, manufacture, or use of sanitary paper products to reduce the amount that would be disposed of in a landfill.
Table Coverings. A lightweight, protective layer made from paper intended to cover an entire table or other surface.
Take-Back Program. A program sponsored by the original product manufacturer that has been demonstrated to receive at least 50% of sold containers for recycling, composting, or reuse.
Third-Party Certification Program. A program without any financial interest or stake in the sales of the product or service being certified or other conflict of interest. The basis for certification must be a publicly-available standard that was developed with stakeholder input. Certification to the standard must be completed by an independent party (i.e., not the product company), include site inspections, where applicable, and have a monitoring program to verify ongoing compliance.
Toilet Seat Covers. A class of soft, thin paper product used to cover toilet seats for personal hygiene protection, designed to disperse in septic tanks.
Totally Chlorine Free (TCF). Virgin-content papers, including those made from agricultural residue, that have not been bleached using chlorine or chlorine-derivatives (e.g., elemental chlorine, chlorine dioxide, sodium hypochlorite, sodium chlorite).
Virgin Fiber/Material. Primary fiber/material (i.e., material that is not recycled content or agricultural residue) originating from forests or plantations.
Wastewater. Wastewater effluent from the manufacturing of the product, that is not salable and is treated and disposed at an onsite or offsite wastewater treatment facility.
Whitewater. Whitewater is a general term for any furnish (stock) filtrate or process water that contains fiber fines. On a paper machine, whitewater is produced during the forming and dewatering of the paper sheet.
APPENDIX 1 – SCOPE (Informative)
Examples of products included in or excluded from the scope of GS-1:
