Is the "cotton soft towel" you use every day really made of cotton?

In recent years, soft tissues have gained popularity among consumers for their convenience, soft texture, and hygienic cleanliness. However, among the wide variety of soft tissues available on the market, what are the differences between "cotton soft tissues" and "cotton soft tissues"? How do different raw materials affect performance? What should be considered when selecting soft tissues?

Test batch of soft towel products, where the fiber content of the batch does not meet the standards. Soft towels primarily refer to dry wiping products made from non-woven fabrics, including cotton soft towels and face towels, which are all classified as soft towel products. Due to differences in raw materials or positioning, the names of these products vary. Fiber content is a specific representation of the material composition in soft towel products and is one of the main bases for consumers to understand their performance when selecting soft towel products.

The Jiangsu Consumer Rights Protection Commission recently organized tests on batches of soft tissue products, and through the tests, it was found that among the batches of products, there were batches whose fiber names and content did not meet the standard requirements. Specifically, some batches of soft tissue products were labeled as % plant fibers, high-quality plant fibers, etc., but the actual measured components were mostly chemical fibers, not natural plant fibers. Additionally, some batches of products were actually measured to be chemical fibers but were labeled by merchants as "plant cotton" and "cotton plant fibers" respectively. Experts explained that there is no such term as "plant cotton" or "cotton plant fibers" in the standardized terminology; these are merely marketing tactics used by merchants to attract consumers.

Fiber Content Non-Compliant Batch Sample Information Table: Batch Samples Suspected of Exaggerated and False Advertising: Zhao Xin, Director of the Supervision Department of the Jiangsu Consumer Rights Protection Committee, introduced that textile fibers can be divided into natural fibers and chemical fibers. Natural fibers include cotton, linen, wool, and silk, while chemical fibers can be classified into man-made fibers and synthetic fibers. Common chemical fibers include lyocell, modal, polyester, and nylon.

The "Cotton" Soft Tissue almost contains no cotton, and the batch samples are suspected of exaggerating and false advertising. Zhao Xin stated that there are "cotton soft tissues" and "cotton soft tissues" in the market. Although there is only one word difference, the fibers used in the products are vastly different. "Cotton soft tissues" are made from natural cotton fibers through spunlacing and other non-woven fabric processes, belonging to plant fibers. They are soft, delicate, highly absorbent, resilient, and resistant to deformation, making them more natural and safe. "Cotton soft tissues" mainly consist of chemical fibers such as polyester and viscose. Soft tissues containing chemical fibers, although feeling soft to the touch, can still feel rough when washing the face, have weak cleaning ability, low water absorption, and may contain chemical residues.

From the perspective of raw material prices, cotton is higher than viscose staple fiber and polyester fiber. Yan Yan, a senior engineer at the Nanjing Institute of Product Quality Supervision and Inspection, stated that among the batch samples, there were batches labeled as "cotton" facial tissues on the packaging, but upon testing, it was found that some batches contained almost no cotton fibers, which may involve exaggerated and false advertising.

The batch sample does not meet the standard in terms of inner package quantity. Product packaging labels are like the "identity card" of the product. The "Metrological Inspection Rules for the Net Content of Quantitative Packaged Goods" specifies detailed requirements and norms for the inner package quantity of quantitative packaged goods: the actual content of a single quantitative packaged product should match the net content on its packaging. However, in the batch of soft towels inspected, there are batches that do not meet the requirements, specifically: both the measured weight and the number of pieces are lower than the labeled quantities.

How to Choose Soft Tissue Products? Faced with the vast array of soft tissue products on the market, how should consumers make reasonable choices? The Jiangsu Consumer Protection Commission has compiled a consumer guide. Zhao Xin introduced that for soft tissue products, China has introduced the national recommended product standard for "Soft Tissues." When purchasing, consumers can prioritize products that are labeled as adopting this standard on their packaging; for consumers with specific material requirements, it is important to check the ingredient labeling on the product packaging when buying, paying attention to distinguish between "cotton" soft tissues and "cotton" soft tissues. Additionally, it is necessary to review the product inspection reports provided by the merchant, ensuring that the fiber composition, execution standards, and additives are clearly labeled. Furthermore, it is also important to pay attention to whether the product contains preservatives, and it is not recommended for sensitive skin or infants to use soft tissues that contain alcohol or other ingredients. Moreover, soft tissue products also have expiration dates, so it is advisable for consumers to buy as needed and avoid hoarding. When purchasing, prioritize products with good packaging sealability and those that come in individual packaging.