Wrapping paper is interesting-
Think about it, we spend all this time to carefully and neatly wrap even the most obscurely shaped presents, only for them to be ripped to shreds and thrown out within minutes. The whole concept is commendable, "beautifully presenting a gift" and its probably rooted somewhere in history and across cultures, however it creates a significant amount of waste- much of which turns out to be sinfully un-recyclable. The US is estimated to produce 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper every year, half of which - approximately 2.3 million pounds - that winds up in landfills because it can't be recycled.
Non-recyclable wrapping paper flys pretty under the radar given the "paper" in the name. But more often than not, the un-recyclable part comes because they aren't actually 100 percent paper. Generally if the paper has any adornments, such as glitter, a layer of foil, or other metallic decorations, then it cannot be recycled. And the same goes for other decorations like ribbons and bows - although they can be reused many times, they can't be recycled. But wait, we can't forget about our favorite material in the whole wide world! If the wrapping paper is coated with a thin layer of plastic or laminated in any way, then it also can’t be recycled!
I think Santa needs to start investing in the circular economy before his ESG report comes out this year!
So before you stroll on into Hallmark, or go on some mid-30 year old influencer's amazon-affiliate link looking for "trendy wrapping paper", consider that much like a trend - your presentation is likely going to be forgettable (not to mention unsustainable). But this issue really highlights the two perspectives where significant change can be made.
The first one being - producers should be responsible and held accountable for the end-of-life and disposal of their products.
The second being, we as consumers can make an impact simply by not choosing unsustainable options.
We've seen early signs of legislative action being taken on the first perspective, especially in European countries at least, but the latter is entirely up to us. And as the new year approaches, I hope we all consider the beloved time with family and friends, shared in the environment that we often take for granted. Let your actions speak louder than the carolers this year, and wrap sustainably my friends.
Below is one of the presents I wrapped using Trader Joe's shopping bags - 100% recyclable thank you very much. Here are some creative options for your wrapping needs this Christmas -
- Deconstructed paper bags as wrapping paper - Recyclable
- 100% paper wrapping paper with no non-paper adornments - Recyclable
- Cloth as wrapping paper - Reusable
- Durable gift-bags - Reusable
