Towels
How do I wash my PackTowl® towel?
We recommend that you wash your PackTowl before first use. All PackTowl towels are machine washable. Wash in cold water with like colors. Do not use bleach or iron. Do not use fabric softener. Air dry or tumble dry on low. Dry thoroughly before storing for long periods of time.
Why do I need to wash my PackTowl towel before first use?
Due to manufacturing processes, materials, and dyes used, it is possible that a small amount of dye might bleed from a PackTowl towel. This is why we recommend that you wash your PackTowl towel with like colors before first using it.
My PackTowl Original towel shrank slightly when I first washed it. Is it defective?
Your Original towel is not defective. Because we use viscose fabric in our Original towels, it is natural that they will shrink slightly in the first wash. Washing the PackTowl Original will improve its water absorbency and softness.
How do I compost my PackTowl Original towel?
A PackTowl Original towel can be composted, though because the fabric requires specific conditions to decompose as part of a composting process, we recommend composting it with an industrial composting service (note: the hang loop and snap are not compostable—remove before composting; do not attempt to compost an Original towel in a back yard compost).
What does “odor control” mean?
With our Personal and Luxe towels, we use Polygiene®odor control treatment to combat the development of odors caused by microbes such as bacteria, fungus, and mildew. Polygiene is based on silver salt (silver chloride) produced from recycled silver, and has a low environmental impact in comparison to other odor-controlling treatments. Because the treatment is integrated into the fabric, it won’t wash out. More information about Polygiene can be found on their website.
What is microfiber fabric?
Microfiber fabric is made from a very fine synthetic yarn (smaller than the diameter of a strand of silk). Instead of having the typical round shape of natural fibers, these very fine synthetic yarns are shaped to have more overall surface area than round natural fibers, which increases their ability to attract and retain water molecules—this is what allows microfiber fabric to “absorb” moisture much more effectively than cotton, as well as dry quicker. It also helps make it very soft.
Prop 65
What is California Proposition 65?
Proposition 65 is the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act passed by voters in the State of California in 1986. The act was created to inform people about possible exposure to chemicals known by the State of California to cause cancer, birth defects and/or other reproductive harm.
What are the requirements of Proposition 65?
Proposition 65 requires that the Governor of California maintain and publish a list of harmful chemicals. The list is updated annually and includes chemicals that can be found in solvents, drugs, dyes, food additives, by-products of certain processes, pesticides, and tobacco products.
A chemical is listed if it has been classified as a reproductive toxicant or carcinogen by an "authoritative" organization on the subject. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, the National Toxicology Program, and the International Agency for Research on Cancer are considered authoritative for carcinogens. For reproductive toxicants, the authorities are the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, and International Agency for Research on Cancer. Chemicals will also be listed if they are required to be labeled or identified as a carcinogen or as a reproductive toxicant by an agency of the state or federal government.
Why has PackTowl placed a Proposition 65 label on its products?
Any company with ten or more employees operating or selling products within the State of California must comply with the requirements of Proposition 65. To comply, businesses are: (1) prohibited from knowingly discharging listed chemicals into sources of drinking water; and (2) required to provide a "clear and reasonable" warning before knowingly and intentionally exposing anyone to a listed chemical.
A Proposition 65 warning means that the business has evaluated the exposure and has concluded that it exceeds the "no significant risk level,” or that the business is providing a warning based on the presence of a “listed” chemical without actually evaluating the exposure.
PackTowl is providing a warning based on our knowledge about the presence of one or more listed chemicals without attempting to evaluate the level of exposure. While using a PackTowl product, the exposure to a “listed” chemical may be well within the “no significant risk” range, but out of caution, we have placed the Proposition 65 warning labels on our products.
Are consumers using a PackTowl product with a Proposition 65 warning at risk?
The California government states: “The fact that a product bears a Proposition 65 warning does not mean by itself that the product is unsafe.” The government also explained, “You could think of Proposition 65 more as a ‘right to know’ law than a pure product safety law.”
A Proposition 65 warning means that the product contains one or more listed chemicals. By law, a warning is required unless the business proves that the exposure to the chemical poses "no significant risk." The "no significant risk" level for carcinogens is defined as the level which is calculated to result in not more than one excess case of cancer in 100,000 individuals exposed over a 70-year lifetime. Therefore, if you are exposed to the chemical in question at this level every day for 70 years, theoretically, it will increase your chances of getting cancer by no more than 1 case in 100,000 individuals so exposed.
The "no significant risk" level for reproductive toxicants is defined as the level of exposure which, even if multiplied by 1,000, will not produce birth defects or other reproductive harm. Therefore, the level of exposure is below the "no observable effect level," divided by 1,000. (The "no observable effect level" is the highest dose level which has not been associated with observable reproductive harm in humans or test animals.)
For further information about California’s Proposition 65, please visit http://oehha.ca.gov/prop65/background/p65plain.html