Pair comparison
Hand dryer vs. paper towels
One hand drying
The dryer uses electricity, paper towels consume wood and water. The total impact depends on the dryer type and electricity source.
Dimension-by-dimension comparison
One hand drying — absolute values
Both items scaled to the same unit (one hand drying). Lower value = lower environmental impact.
| Dimension | Hand dryer | paper towels | Difference | Lower |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carbon Emissions | 0.007 kg CO₂e | 0.015 kg CO₂e | −0.008 | ← item 1 |
| Water Consumption | 0.003 liters | 0.1 liters | −0.097 | ← item 1 |
| Land Use | 0.0 m²·year | 0.001 m²·year | −0.001 | ← item 1 |
| Waste | 0.0 kg | 0.005 kg | −0.005 | ← item 1 |
| Toxicity | 0.0 µDALY | 0.02 µDALY | −0.02 | ← item 1 |
Visual comparison
Carbon Emissions
Hand dryer
0.007
paper towels
0.015
Water Consumption
Hand dryer
0.003
paper towels
0.1
Land Use
Hand dryer
0.0
paper towels
0.001
Waste
Hand dryer
0.0
paper towels
0.005
Toxicity
Hand dryer
0.0
paper towels
0.02
Where do the numbers come from?
Click an item to see the detailed calculation, sources, and confidence rating.