Airlaid
MATERIALA nonwoven made by bonding short cellulose fibres with air instead of water. Gives a linen-like, cloth feel while remaining disposable — the premium choice for weddings and upscale events.
Paper Napkin & Foodservice Tissue Glossary
35+ terms every buyer, importer and procurement manager should know before sourcing paper napkins, airlaid napkins or private-label tissue from China. Plain-English definitions, with links to our tools and buying guides.
Ply
CONSTRUCTIONThe number of tissue layers in one napkin. 1-ply = single layer (thin, cheapest); 2-ply = standard for restaurants; 3-ply = premium, thick, fine-dining. More plies = more absorbency and higher cost.
GSM
WEIGHTGrams per square metre — the paper's basis weight. A 2-ply dinner napkin is typically ~33–40 GSM per ply; premium 3-ply airlaid can exceed 55–65 GSM. Higher GSM = thicker, more absorbent, more premium.
Virgin Pulp
FIBRENew, never-used wood pulp (usually bleached or unbleached softwood/hardwood). Delivers the whitest, strongest, lint-free sheet — preferred for foodservice and lint-free restaurant napkins.
Recycled Pulp
FIBREFibre recovered from post-consumer or post-industrial paper. Lower cost and greener positioning, though slightly less white and strong than virgin. Pair with FSC-recycled claims for ESG buyers.
Embossed / Debossed
FINISHA raised (embossed) or pressed (debossed) pattern rolled into the sheet. Improves grip, absorbency and perceived quality, and is the base for printed designs and logos.
Lint-Free
PERFORMANCEA napkin engineered to shed minimal fibres when wet — critical for restaurants, glassware polishing and laboratories. Achieved with virgin pulp, high wet-strength and tight bonding.
Beverage / Cocktail Napkin
SIZEThe smallest format, ~4×4 in (10×10 cm) folded, ~8×8 in (20×20 cm) open. Used under drinks, at bars and for canapés.
Cocktail Napkin
SIZESee Beverage / Cocktail Napkin — the small 4×4 in (10×10 cm) folded format for drinks service.
Luncheon Napkin
SIZEMid-size ~6.5×6.5 in (16×16 cm) folded, used for casual dining, cafés and breakrooms.
Dinner Napkin
SIZEThe standard table napkin, ~8×8 in (20×20 cm) folded / 16×16 in (40×40 cm) open. The workhorse for restaurants and events.
Guest Towel / Guest Napkin
SIZEA premium, often 3-ply or airlaid napkin ~4.5×8 in (11×20 cm) folded, placed in restrooms and at weddings.
¼ Fold (Quarter Fold)
FOLDFolded twice into four layers (e.g. 8×8 in → 4×4 in). The classic dinner napkin fold, presented open on the plate.
⅛ Fold (Eighth Fold)
FOLDFolded three times into eight layers — the standard for beverage and cocktail napkins.
Dispenser Fold (Interfold / C-Fold)
FOLDNapkins interfolded so one pulls the next from a dispenser — used in restrooms and quick-service counters for one-at-a-time dispensing.
Centerpull
FOLDA roll or stack dispensed from the centre, common in industrial and kitchen wipe settings for one-hand tear-off.
Compostable
ECOBreaks down into compost under defined conditions. Look for BPI (US) or EN 13432 / TÜV (EU) certification — not just a marketing word. Industrial composting is usually required.
Biodegradable
ECOCapable of being broken down by microbes over time. A broader, weaker claim than "compostable" — specify the environment and timeframe to avoid greenwashing risk.
FSC® (Forest Stewardship Council)
CERTCertifies fibre from responsibly managed forests. FSC napkins meet sustainability sourcing requirements for EU, UK and North American retailers and tenders.
PFAS-Free
SAFETYMade without "forever chemicals" formerly used for grease resistance. Meets tightening EU and US rules (e.g. Maine, Washington) and buyer demands for non-toxic disposables.
Food Safe / Food Contact
SAFETYCompliant with food-contact regulations (e.g. US FDA 21 CFR, EU 10/2011, German LFGB). Confirms no harmful migration of substances into food.
LFGB
CERTGermany's Food and Feed Code — a stricter food-contact safety standard than the general EU baseline, often requested by German buyers.
EU 10/2011
REGThe European regulation for plastic and derived materials in contact with food — the framework for food-safe napkins and printed inks sold into the EU.
FDA Compliant
REGMeets U.S. FDA food-contact requirements (21 CFR). Expected for napkins, especially printed and foodservice grades, sold in the United States.
BPI / EN 13432
CERTBPI (US) and EN 13432 / TÜV (EU) are the recognised compostability certifications proving industrial compostability of disposables.
ISO 9001
CERTThe international quality-management standard. An ISO 9001 factory signals consistent processes, traceability and fewer defects — reassuring for importers.
BSCI
CERTBusiness Social Compliance Initiative — a social-audit standard for labour and workplace conditions, often required by European retailers.
OEM / ODM / Private Label
BUSINESSOEM = manufacture to your spec; ODM = use the factory's design under your brand; Private Label = sell the factory's product under your brand. All let you launch a napkin brand without a factory.
MOQ (Minimum Order Quantity)
BUSINESSThe smallest production run a factory accepts. Custom printed / private-label napkins commonly start at 5,000 pieces per design; stock programs may allow smaller or faster runs.
Lead Time
BUSINESSThe time from order confirmation to ready-to-ship. Stock napkins may ship in days; custom printed runs typically need 2–4 weeks plus transit.
Case Pack / Master Case
PACKThe outer carton quantity (e.g. 12×100 napkins = 1,200 per case). Used for palletisation, shipping quotes and warehouse planning.
SKU
PACKStock-Keeping Unit — a unique code for one product variant (size, ply, colour, pack). Essential for catalogue, inventory and marketplace listings.
Substrate
MATERIALThe base material of the napkin — virgin tissue, recycled tissue, airlaid, or a blend. Drives cost, feel, print quality and eco claims.
Wet Strength
PERFORMANCEResistance to falling apart when wet. Higher wet strength = less lint and shredding — key for foodservice, glassware and cleaning uses.
Brightness / Whiteness
APPEARANCEHow white the sheet is. Virgin pulp is brightest; recycled is softer/cream. Dye and print can shift the base colour for branded napkins.
Quire / Pack / Sleeve
PACKA small retail unit of napkins (e.g. 20, 50 or 100 per pack), often wrapped in a polybag or sleeve. Distinct from the master case used for shipping.
Napkin Band / Wrap
PACKA paper or printed band wrapping a folded napkin stack — a common branding and presentation element for wedding and restaurant napkins.
Dispenser Napkin
FORMATInterfolded napkins sized for counter or restroom dispensers, dispensed one at a time to cut waste.
Eco-Label
ECOA third-party environmental mark (e.g. EU Ecolabel, Blue Angel, Nordic Swan) signalling verified sustainability — stronger than a self-declared "green" claim.
Need the right napkin — not just the definition?
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