Cotton vs Viscose Disposable Towels: Which is Right for Your Hotel?

Updated for 2025 Sourcing Guide

When sourcing disposable towels for your hotel, the choice between cotton and viscose (rayon) materials can significantly impact guest satisfaction, operational costs, and your property's sustainability profile. This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know to make the right decision for your hospitality business.

1. Understanding the Materials

What is Cotton?

Cotton is a natural fiber harvested from the cotton plant (Gossypium). In disposable towel manufacturing, cotton fibers are processed into spunlace nonwoven fabrics through a hydroentanglement process, creating soft, absorbent material that maintains many characteristics of traditional cotton textiles.

• 100% natural plant-based fiber
• Excellent moisture absorption (can absorb up to 27x its weight)
• Naturally hypoallergenic and gentle on skin
• Biodegradable and eco-friendly
• Premium feel that guests associate with quality

What is Viscose (Rayon)?

Viscose, also known as rayon, is a semi-synthetic fiber derived from wood pulp (typically bamboo, eucalyptus, or beech trees). The cellulose is chemically processed to create fibers that share some properties with natural materials while offering distinct advantages in disposable towel applications.

• Semi-synthetic fiber from renewable plant sources
• Smooth, silky texture similar to silk
• Good moisture absorption with quick-drying properties
• More cost-effective than pure cotton

2. Head-to-Head Comparison: Cotton vs. Viscose

Here is the detailed breakdown to help you verify the quality:

3. Detailed Analysis by Use Case

Face Towels / Cleansing Wipes -> 🏆 Winner: Cotton
For facial applications, cotton's superior absorbency and hypoallergenic properties make it the clear winner. Guests with sensitive skin will appreciate the natural, gentle touch.

Bath Towels / Body Towels -> 🏆 Winner: Cotton or Blend
For body drying, pure cotton offers the best performance. However, a Cotton-Viscose Blend (typically 70% cotton / 30% viscose) can provide an excellent balance, maintaining wet strength while reducing costs by 15-25%.

Hand Towels / Guest Room Amenities -> 🏆 Winner: Viscose
For high-turnover applications, viscose offers excellent value. Its quick-drying properties and lower cost make it ideal for efficiency.

4. Cost Analysis for Hotel Operators

Understanding the true cost involves more than just the per-unit price. Here is the market average data (2025):

Pro Tip: For hotels using 50,000+ towels monthly, negotiate annual contracts for an additional 5-10% savings.

5. Sustainability Considerations

• Cotton: Fully biodegradable and natural. Look for BCI (Better Cotton Initiative) certified products to ensure sustainable farming.
• Viscose: Made from renewable wood pulp and generally biodegradable. Ensure your supplier uses closed-loop processing (like Lyocell) to minimize chemical impact.

6. Partner with a Trusted Manufacturer

At Little Cotton Industry, we've been manufacturing disposable cotton products since 2018, serving hotels across Japan, Korea, and the Middle East. Our 28,000㎡ facility and 50+ production lines ensure we can handle any volume.