Cloth napkins are more durable. Cloth napkins are not a one-time-use and toss item. They cover way beyond one spill and can even last beyond one meal.Even used to the maximum capacity, cloth napkins end up in the hamper, not trash, which means cloth napkins can be used and washed and reused until they shrivel apart, and even then they can become heavy duty rags. Less trash = better for the environment.