UDATE: July 28, 2009 - Here’s a Marcal small steps store locator (original post, follows…)
Marcal Paper Products is not really a newcomer to the eco movement; as the company states, they’ve been “saving trees since 1950.”
Last month they began to roll-out Small Steps, a new eco friendly line of bath tissue, paper towels, napkins and facial tissue; and they asked us if we’d like to check it out. We said, sure.
A quick note — I’ve made a concerted effort over the past few years to limit my use of paper products. On the occasions whereby I do use paper products, I use them sparingly and conservatively. We gave this new line a try, (all but the everyday paper napkins), and here’s what we think.
Planet-friendly perks: No trees were used in the making of these products. Made from one hundred percent recycled content; thirty percent minimum post-consumer content. The paper is white, but manufactured without chlorine bleach. Hypoallergenic, made without dyes or fragrance, and lint-free. Marcal estimates that if every household in the US replaced one traditional box of tissues with a box of 100 percent recycled tissues, we would save a million trees. (prices below are per my visit to Fairway Market, in nyc)
facial tissue – a fairly soft, 2-ply tissue. Good for normal use, neither the softest nor roughest tissue on the planet; however, I wouldn’t recommend it if you’re experiencing a constantly runny nose or severe cold. Attractive box, made of recycled paperboard. ($1.19/rectangular box, 144 2-ply tissues)
paper towels – we really like the size, (5.7inches wide), 2-ply. Absorbent, effective, easy to perforate. (6 roll package, $10.49)
bath tissue – sheets are super-thin, but surprisingly effective. Gentle to ok on skin. Septic safe. 1000 sheets/roll. (12 pack, $9.99)
dinner napkins - first-rate. Soft, strong, absorbent, 2-ply. Convenient “snapack” for easy opening, storage and dispensing. (100, 17 in x 15 in) is not available at Fairway; $2.64/pack, elsewhere.
We’ve tried the other eco brands out there, and we like Marcal’s line the most. Small Steps minimizes the eco guilt you may experience from using paper products; and if you’re concerned about paying a premium for green products, it doesn’t cost more than most of the non-green brands. If we all take small steps, we can make a big difference. more @ marcalsmallsteps.com (The Website’s Store Locator is being refined at the moment, and according to folks commenting on this post — it seems advertising is ahead of distribution. Go figure.)
UPDATE: May 25, 2009 – WHERE MARCAL SMALL STEPS IS AVAILABLE:
NATIONWIDE: SuperK Kmart. (And, supposedly Walgreen’s)
NORTHEAST: Shop-Rite
MARYLAND: Superfresh, Acme, Weis and Wegmans
ATLANTA: Kroger and Ingles
CARMEL, INDIANA: Kroger and Meijer
CHICAGO: Supervalue
CLEVELAND: Kroger and Meijer
DENVER: King Soopers
DETROIT: Kroger, Meijer and Kmart
GRAND RAPIDS: Kroger and Meijer
HARTFORD/NEW HAVEN: Stop ‘n Shop, Big Y and Shaw’s
LAS VEGAS: Smith’s and Food 4 Less
PHILADELPHIA: Acme, A&P, Giant, Supervalue
PHOENIX: Fry’s
RALEIGH: Kroger, Farm Fresh and Ingles
RICHMOND: Kroger and Ukrops
SACRAMENTO: Food 4 Less
SAN DIEGO: Ralph’s and Food 4 Less
TAMPA/ST PETERSBURG: Sweet Bay
TOPEKA: Dillon
RSS
I have to say I agree with the others when they say Marcal is trying to get free marketing by way of the consumer. I feel it only right that future customers who have the coupon for free stuff should be sent another coupon after they actually get the product into the stores. I feel it would take the bad association they have created with thier brand products now due to no products in stores near you.
I have cut the coupons from the newpaper for this product only to find that I can’t locate any stores that carry it. When I looked at your website, it stated that these products were sent nationwide to Walgreens. The Walgreens here in Faribault, MN doesn’t have them so I called Wallgreens customer service and they couldn’t find anything about them on their records. Please help as these coupons expire on 5/31/09
Hey Betty,
Looks like we were given erroneous information about Walgreen’s…I wish I could do more for you, but given that it’s a holiday weekend, I don’t think we’ll be getting much helpful info anytime soon.
which stores in CANADA sell small steps? I am in BC.
Marcal doesn’t currently list any Canadian stores as carrying the Small Steps line.
I am in indianapolis, indiana (by downtown) anyone else here or near found it??? please help thanks!!!!!!!!!
michelle_angel_88 at yahoo.com
This is all they have listed on their website for Indiana:
Jewel OSCO
Kroger
Meijer
I was able to use my free coupon at Super Fresh in Arnold Maryland. The coupon was good for either a free single roll of toilet tissue OR paper towels!
Our grocery has replaced the recycled tp they used to carry with Small Steps. I am concerned because post-consumer recycled paper is not listed. My old was at least 80% post consumer. I know it can be called “recycled” even if it just waste from the factory floor which if they claim it has been done since 1950s is probably what they are doing.
This type of recycling does not close the consumer recycling loop. WHAT IS THE POST CONSUMER CONTENT?
All of Marcal’s paper products are manufactured from 100% recycled fiber. Marcal processes approx. 200,000 tons of recyclables each year. This fiber is recovered from sources across the northeast. The post consumer content is not a focus for Marcal; their mission today and for the past 50 years has been to keep paper out of the waste stream and landfills and saving trees.
The product locater for anyone who needs to find our product is up and running. Please find it at http://www.marcalpaper.com/findstore.html!
couldn’t find nothing here in southeast texas
I just bought a 24-roll package of Small Steps toilet paper. The price was reasonable, but the rolls, pretty small. Before even having used it, my one frustration upon opening the package was to discover that the rolls were wrapped in 6 four-packs, then rewrapped to sell as a package of 24 –too much unnecessary packaging! One giant step forward, perhaps, but a big one backwards too.