Compostable Napkins — 100% Organic Cotton Napkins
Posted by The Ichcha Team on 8th Dec 2025
Looking to buy compostable napkins?
Our napkins are made from 100% organic cotton, making them absolutely compostable. Block-printed with natural dyes, these compostable napkins are great for adding color to your everyday dining while staying eco-conscious.
What makes these cotton napkins even more fantastic is the fact that they are reusable. They are machine-washable, meaning you can reuse them for years without spending on frequent replacements. Unlike disposable paper napkins.
When your 100% cotton dinner napkins start wearing out, simply compost them in a compost bin. Perfect for a zero-waste lifestyle.
Organic Cotton Napkin Pink Dawn - $8.75
Blue Floral Print Napkin - $14.50
Yan Mustard Yellow Napkin - $12.50
Almost Solid White Napkins - $12.50
Red Cotton Dinner Napkin - $14.50Shop our collection of compostable cotton napkins.
Frequently Asked Questions on Compostable Napkins
What Napkins are Compostable?
Napkins made from biodegradable materials like uncoated paper, 100% cotton, linen, or hemp are naturally compostable. These are all natural fibers, and they break down through microbial activity and go back into the earth, leaving no waste behind.
Generally, any material that is biodegradable is compostable. Just ensure the napkin has no synthetic materials like chemical dyes or coatings.
Can I Compost a Napkin with Food and Oil Stains?
Yes, it's fine to compost an oil-stained napkin if the stain is minimal. For a napkin with heavy oil stains, keep it out of the compost bin as the oil can disrupt proper decomposition and attract pests into your home. So you're better off trashing a heavily stained napkin.
But that’s only true for compostable paper napkins.
If your compostable cloth napkin has serious oil stains, simply wash the napkin, then dry and compost it normally. This gives cloth napkins an edge over paper, not to mention their reusability and cost-effectiveness.
How Long Does It Take for Compostable Napkins to Compost?
Compostable napkins typically decompose within 1 to 12 months, depending on the material and composting method used. Paper napkins usually decompose within 6 months in your home compost pile. Organic cotton napkins can take from 6 to 12 months to fully biodegrade under those same conditions.
Yes, cotton napkins take longer to decompose. But you don't get to buy new ones frequently anyway. So, the fact that they take more time shouldn't ideally be a problem.
You don't have to compost them yourself, either. If you have no need for compost and your city has a compost collection program, simply drop your compostable napkins in a compost bin for the weekly pickup.
What Makes Something Compostable?
A material is compostable when it is made from 100% natural fibers that break down through microbial action without leaving toxins behind. The material can either be plant or animal-based.
It’s worth noting that a material can be compostable yet unsuitable for the compost bin. For example, paper and cotton napkins are generally considered compostable. But if the napkin contains synthetic dyes or shiny coating, these things leave toxins behind. So you can’t add that to your compost pile.
Are Napkins Biodegradable?
Whether or not a napkin is biodegradable depends on what the napkin is made of. If a napkin is made of 100% natural fibers like cotton, linen, or paper, it is generally biodegradable. Polyester napkins are not biodegradable because polyester is a plastic product.
Also, polyester blends are not fully biodegradable as the polyester part impedes the decomposition of the natural fibers.
Are Organic Cotton Napkins Biodegradable?
Yes, organic cotton napkins are biodegradable. In fact, organic cotton is one of the most sustainable fabrics used in the textile industry.
An organic cotton napkin typically takes around 6 to 12 months to fully decompose in a home compost pile. But you can actually quicken decomposition by cutting the fabric into shreds.
Best part?
When you use compostable napkins made from organic cotton, you get both a reusable napkin and a compostable product that helps you reduce your carbon footprint.
Plus, our organic cotton napkins are hand block-printed using plant dyes, making them incredibly eco-friendly and compostable.
Feel free to check out our organic cotton napkins.
Compostable Napkins: Paper Or Cloth?
While paper composts faster than cloth napkins, the latter is generally more sustainable in the long run. For starters, you can use compostable cloth napkins for years, helping you save money before they even get to your compost pile.
This reduces your environmental footprint by a large margin, as there's less pressure to produce more or ship them.
With compostable cloth napkins, you also never have to worry about food and oil stains ruining your compost pile, as you can wash the fabric before composting.
At the end of the day, it all depends on your needs and priorities. Need more compost quickly? Go for compostable paper napkins. Want to live more sustainably and reduce waste? 100% Organic cotton napkins are the best choice.
This blog compares paper vs cloth napkins in detail.
Shop Organic Cotton Compostable Napkins
Looking for where to get compostable napkins made from organic cotton? Check out Ichcha. Ichcha is a sustainable textile brand dedicated to providing you with hand-woven, eco-friendly table linens such as organic cotton napkins, tablecloths, and runners.
All our cloth napkins are made from organic cotton and block-printed by hand using plant dyes. Colorful patterns you'll love to flaunt to guests.
So what you get is a product that not only works great in your compost pile but also makes your everyday dinner even more special.