Paper towel and tissue product attributes

Paper towel and tissue records are full of numbers that do not compare well. A case can be described by rolls, packs, sheets or linear feet, and sheet counts mean little when sheet sizes differ. Roll towels are specified by width, length and core, folded towels by sheet size and sheets per pack, and bath tissue by sheet count, ply and roll format. A single template has to hold all of these without forcing one format's fields onto another.

Dispenser fit is the attribute that matters most in practice. Many controlled-use dispensers only accept rolls with a matching core, plug or width, and a towel that does not fit is a return, however good the price. Suppliers often keep fitment in a separate cross-reference chart, so it never reaches the item record.

Environmental data is requested in bids and is easy to get wrong. Total recovered fiber and post-consumer fiber are different percentages, and certifications such as Green Seal GS-1, ECOLOGO or FSC each have their own scope and expiry. The record should store each percentage and each certificate separately, with the certificate reference and the date it was checked.

The paper towels & tissue attribute template

18 candidate fields in 5 groups, ordered the way a record gets built: identify the item, capture its specifications, then record fit and the evidence behind any claim. 12 are marked Core: without them the item cannot be identified or filtered. Example values show the expected format only; they do not describe a real SKU.

Identity

Which exact item, variant and pack this record describes.

Check before use: Preserve leading zeros and punctuation, validate against the manufacturer record, and check the GTIN check digit and packaging level before linking.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Case Pack Configuration case_pack_configuration	Text	Core	6 rolls per case (4,800 ft)
Manufacturer Part Number manufacturer_part_number	Identifier	Core	HW-800-N
Case GTIN-14 case_gtin_14	Identifier	Core	10012345600705

Technical specifications

Measured or rated values that must travel with their unit and test conditions.

Check before use: Store the number and unit separately. Convert only when the source unit and test conditions are known.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Roll Width roll_width	Number · in	Core	7.875
Roll Length roll_length	Number · ft	Core	800
Sheet Size (W x L) sheet_size_w_x_l	Text · in	Core	9.2 x 9.4 in (folded formats; not applicable to rolls)
Core Diameter core_diameter	Number · in	Core	2
Roll Diameter roll_diameter	Number · in	Buyer decision	7.75

Selection attributes

The type, material and option choices buyers filter and compare on.

Check before use: Map supplier wording to a governed vocabulary only after checking the source text and which variant it applies to.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Product Format product_format	Controlled list	Core	Hardwound roll towel
Ply ply	Number	Core	1
Sheets per Roll / Pack sheets_per_roll_pack	Number	Core	250 per pack (multifold); rolls use length
Color / Shade color_shade	Controlled list	Core	Natural
Fiber Furnish fiber_furnish	Controlled list	Buyer decision	100% recycled fiber
Web-Forming Process web_forming_process	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Conventional dry crepe (CDC)
Post-Consumer Recycled Content post_consumer_recycled_content	Number · %	Channel / evidence	40

Fit & compatibility

What the item mounts to, mates with, replaces or works alongside.

Check before use: Keep model and series qualifiers. A similar-looking part is not a verified fit until a source says so.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Dispenser System Compatibility dispenser_system_compatibility	Controlled list	Buyer decision	Brand-specific controlled roll dispenser (proprietary core)

Evidence & compliance

Listings, standards, classifications and origin claims that need a document behind them.

Check before use: Link the manufacturer document or label with its edition or date. Never copy a certification from a neighboring SKU.

Attribute	Type	Priority	Example format
Country of Origin country_of_origin	Controlled list	Core	United States
Certifications & Chain-of-Custody certifications_chain_of_custody	Text	Channel / evidence	Green Seal GS-1; FSC Recycled

Normalize supplier values

The same value arrives in many spellings. Map each raw string to one governed value, and keep the raw text beside it so a reviewer can see what the supplier actually wrote.

Often missing from supplier files

These fields are commonly absent from price lists and basic feeds, even though the information usually exists in a datasheet, label or installation manual. Treat an empty value as a request for evidence, not as permission to fill it from a similar model.

• Dispenser System Compatibility
• Wet Strength
• Linear Feet per Case
• Post-Consumer vs Total Recovered Fiber %
• Certificate Reference and Expiry Date

Questions the record must answer

Buyers and counter-sales reps choosing paper towels & tissue ask questions like these. Each one needs a specific field, sourced for the exact variant.

• Will this roll fit the controlled dispensers already in our restrooms?
• How many linear feet per case is this compared with our current towel?
• Does it meet our state contract's post-consumer recycled content minimum?
• Is this tissue one-ply or two-ply, and how many sheets per roll?

From supplier file to record

1. Resolve identity first. Link the supplier SKU, manufacturer part number and packaging identifiers without merging distinct variants or pack sizes.
2. Extract with the source attached. Pull values from rows, tables and datasheets, keeping the raw text, unit and page or row reference.
3. Map to your classification. Assign the ETIM, ECLASS, UNSPSC or internal class your company licenses, and keep the supplier's original terms.
4. Review, sync and watch. Hold conflicts and safety-related values for a category expert, write approved values to ERP or PIM, and recheck when the supplier sends a new file.

For the full method, see how to build a category attribute template and the category catalog gap audit.

FAQ