Why are paper towels bad?
The paper towels that most people use are made from virgin tree pulp.  That means that trees are cut down and harvested for a product that will be used ONCE.  There are environmental issues all along that manufacturing process from the fuel used in the trucks and equipment to the releasing of dioxin from the bleaching process.  There is waste created from packaging including but not limited to the plastic that is wrapped around each and every roll.  And this process is repeated over and over again to feed our desire for having a paper towel handy.   And at the end of this whole cycle, the used paper towel ends up in the garbage!

What about recycled paper towels?
They are a better alternative then regular paper towels but you can't get around the manufacturing process so those greater issues (transportation, packaging, etc) are still a factor.  Not to even mention that they are considerably higher in price which makes them not desirable to many consumers.

There are environmental issues with creating unpaper towels, too, right?
Yes, there are.  That is a true statement.  But there are some big differences.....unpaper towels can be used for years so you cut out multiple iterations of getting disposable products manufactured and to your door.  And by choosing an unbleached fabric, you make an even better choice.