In an era where it’s (slowly) dawning on us all that single-use items are not sustainable, let’s consider the more environmentally friendly alternative to the everyday disposable tissue. Enter exhibit A: a delicately embroidered handkerchief made from Oeko Tex accredited European pure linen.

Uh-oh, you say, she’s going on about linen again - but seriously, this fabric has some pretty impressive credentials. Grown without the need for irrigation or pesticides, flax is one of the oldest of all human crops and one of the most sustainable fibres to grow. Flax fibre can be woven into a fine or dense weave linen fabric, takes vegetable-based dyes well without the need for heavy setting chemicals (unlike synthetic fibres) and produces one of the most tactile of all fabrics. Run your fingers through good, organic European linen and try not to close your eyes in delight at just how good it feels.

So when I got to thinking about the dreadful wastage of resources in disposable tissues, and decided to source some washable fabric hankies instead (to supplement the 2 Scottish-made fine cotton hankies my grandmother gave me decades ago), it wasn’t hard to turn to Etsy to discover a much more eco-friendly alternative than tissues. I was looking for something more sustainable than the conventional cotton hankies available in the cheap chain stores. (Who knows how they are made, or who makes them.) I was hunting for something made ethically, from a sustainable source.

There are several sources on Etsy for linen hankies which are not only hand made from Oeko-Tex certified linen, but are also available with your choice of embroidered initials. (Particularly relevant in my case, as my gorgeous linen socks are forever getting “borrowed” by my son, who does all the laundry so has first dibs. I figured it would be harder to look innocent with somebody’s else’s initials on display in his pocket!)

These are treasures to be enjoyed every single day - items that are truly a luxury, hand made from quality materials, and such a pleasure to use. Something which is hand made from sustainable materials - so much better than single use disposable tissues. Something which can make a difference, yet something that is so simple it makes me wonder why on earth did we ever get sucked into the notion of throwaway tissues?

Sometimes it can seem hard to find the more sustainable option than the way we have been living for decades, but when the eco-friendly option is as beautiful and as affordable as this, it really is a step towards better, more sustainable living that is so simple to do.

HINT: enter ‘oeko tex linen handkerchief’ on Etsy’s search bar, to find options.