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.”

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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)

ml2.jpgpaper 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