
What the product listing won't tell you
Know before you buy
Caboo is the only lab-verified PFAS-free option in this set, but rolls are shorter than most eco alternatives and priced at a premium. Formaldehyde hasn't been disclosed.
You want the strongest independent PFAS-free verification available — no other product in this set matches it
Caboo
Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels
Caboo
Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels
$34.99
We may earn a commission. It doesn't affect our scores.
You're buying paper towels for food contact, food prep, or use around infants and want the most verified option
The bamboo+sugarcane combination's clean test results matter more to you than roll length or price
You need confirmed formaldehyde-free — choose Grove Co. or Betterway instead
The per-sheet cost is outside your budget — Seventh Generation Recycled offers the most sheets per roll at the lowest eco price, with the caveat that recycled fiber carries PFAS risk
Specs the product listing doesn't explain
What your food and family come into contact with every use
What determines how well this performs its core job
Ease of use, maintenance, and longevity
See exactly what's in this paper towel
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3 criteria - open any layer to see exactly what we found
“Has an independent lab actually tested this for harmful chemicals?”
The scoring rationale is locked
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Criteria
Safety standards and ingredients related to Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels
Elemental chlorine-free, or ECF, is a bleaching method that avoids chlorine gas but uses chlorine dioxide to whiten pulp or cotton. It produces far less dioxin than old chlorine bleaching, but slightly more than totally chlorine-free (TCF) processing.
Totally chlorine-free, or TCF, is a bleaching method that whitens cotton or pulp without any chlorine, usually with oxygen or hydrogen peroxide. Because chlorine bleaching can create dioxin, TCF is the cleanest whitening process and the one to look for on tampons and pads.
Every term is independently researched and sourced.
Full Safety DictionaryVerified retailer - current pricing
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See how this product stacks up against alternatives

In this Paper Towel showdown, Caboo takes the lead with a score of 8.0/10 vs Grove Collaborative's 7.1/10. Caboo excels in overall performance, though Grove Collaborative may still be right for specific use cases.

In this Paper Towel showdown, Caboo takes the lead with a score of 8.0/10 vs Betterway's 7.1/10. Caboo excels in overall performance, though Betterway may still be right for specific use cases.

In this Paper Towel showdown, Caboo takes the lead with a score of 8.0/10 vs Who Gives A Crap's 5.7/10. Caboo excels in overall performance, though Who Gives A Crap may still be right for specific use cases.

In this Paper Towel showdown, Caboo takes the lead with a score of 8.0/10 vs Seventh Generation's 4.4/10. Caboo excels in overall performance, though Seventh Generation may still be right for specific use cases.

In this Paper Towel showdown, Caboo takes the lead with a score of 8.0/10 vs Reel Paper's 4.2/10. Caboo excels in overall performance, though Reel Paper may still be right for specific use cases.

In this Paper Towel showdown, Caboo takes the lead with a score of 8.0/10 vs Seventh Generation's 4.0/10. Caboo excels in overall performance, though Seventh Generation may still be right for specific use cases.
The Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels was graded against the same paper towel-specific rubric we apply to every product in this category — no brand-by-brand exceptions, no sponsored placements, no affiliate-weighted scores. The verdict above came from three pillars: safety (materials, certifications, recall history, chemical exposure pathways), efficacy (independent testing data, verified performance specs, real-world usage durability), and usability (ergonomics, cleaning, noise, parts availability over time). Every point deduction has a citation behind it. Every claim links back to a primary source. Nothing is hidden behind opaque badges.
What separates this from a typical paper towel review elsewhere on the web: we don't accept sponsorships, paid placements, or rev-share-weighted rankings. The brand of the Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towelscannot pay to move up the list. The score is logic-driven (a weighted formula across safety, efficacy, and usability), not opinion-driven, so an editor's personal preference cannot override the evidence. When two products in this category are within a point of each other, the right tie-breaker is whichever pillar matters most to your household — not whichever one ranks first.
A high safety score on the Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towelsdoesn't automatically mean “buy this.” A paper towelthat's genuinely safe but loses points on efficacy may still be the wrong fit if performance is what you actually need. Conversely, a paper towelthat's usability-strong but safety-flagged probably isn't the right call for a child with a known sensitivity. The score is the start of the decision, not the end.
R3 is not a medical, legal, or financial advisor. This review is general consumer-safety reporting, not personalized health guidance. If a safety concern on this page intersects with a specific allergy, sensitivity, or medical condition in your household, talk to your pediatrician or a board-certified specialist — they can weigh the evidence against your family's situation in a way no review can. We'll update this page when credible new evidence changes the picture (a recall, a new lab certification, a meaningful product redesign); the last-updated date in the byline is the source of truth on how current this analysis is.
#1 of 8 paper towels reviewed
Did the Caboo Tree Free Bamboo & Sugarcane Paper Towels pass our safety screen?
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“Does it clean up everyday messes just as well?”
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Criteria
“Will we have to replace these rolls way more often?”
The scoring rationale is locked
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Criteria