Benefits of Cloth Napkins

Disposable paper napkins are the norm in many restaurants, but the number of operations using cloth napkins is steadily growing. Long relegated to the fine dining world, the farm-to-table movement and increasing consumer interest in environmentally friendly practices has brought linen napkins to more-casual restaurants. While paper napkins certainly offer convenience, cloth napkins have a number of benefits that restaurateurs should consider when deciding between the two.

Going Green

One of the biggest benefits of changing from disposable to cloth napkins is the difference in the impact your restaurant has on the environment. While convenient, paper napkins create an ongoing stream of waste, from the additional shipping materials and packaging required for each box of napkins to the product itself. The average American uses three napkins per meal, a number that adds up quickly in any moderately sized restaurant. Although cloth napkins must be washed, eco-friendly washing machines, soaps, and laundry services are available to help minimize the impact of that cleaning. According to one study by PE International¹, one non-recycled paper napkin has an environmental impact more than three times higher than that of a cloth napkin, even when that napkin is not laundered in an efficient washing machine.

Customer Perception

Another factor that restaurateurs must keep in mind is customers' perceptions of the change from disposable to cloth napkins. Fortunately, because cloth napkins are often associated with high-end restaurants, most opinions about their use are positive.

According to a study done for linens manufacturer Milliken & Company², 82 percent of customers associate cloth napkins with improved restaurant appearance and ambience. An impressive 88 percent associate them with better service, and 75 percent associate them with higher food quality. Even in a casual eatery, adding linen napkins, sometimes called bistro napkins, can improve how customers perceive your business.

The simple change of switching to cloth napkins can have a dramatic impact on what customers expect from your restaurant, with 50 percent of diners surveyed saying they expect to pay more for a meal if the table is set with cloth napkins. Switching could open an opportunity to raise menu prices or to boost your customers' perceptions of the value they get spending their dining dollars at your establishment provides.

1. Comparative Life Cycle Assessment of Reusable vs. Disposable Textiles. Textile Rental Services Association. Accessed April 2018.
2. Study Suggests Consumers Prefer Cloth Napkins. FSR Magazine. Accessed April 2018.