Christmas is the time of year that brings families together. Unfortunately, Christmas can also bring a lot of waste. The synthetic chemicals and dyes used to produce most wrapping paper make it unsuitable for recycling, composting and burning. Approximately 227,000 miles of wrapping paper is thrown away each year! Fortunately, there are many easy and creative ways of ditching the wrapping paper and reducing that unnecessary waste.
Recycled Packing Material
When you order items online, they often arrive shipped in kraft paper. Keep this to turn into rustic wrapping paper! Since unbleached kraft paper is biodegradable, recyclable, and compostable, you can reuse the paper then recycle or compost it afterward. Create your own personalised wrapping paper by decorating kraft paper with stamps and markers.
Reusable Gift Bags
Gift bags are the easiest way to skip the wrapping paper. There’s no reason you can’t keep the tissue paper and reuse that as well.
Fabric Wraps
Do you have any scarves, or pieces of scrap fabric lying around? Looking to support a small business online? Upcycle or invest into reusable fabric gift wrap.
Newspaper
If you still receive newspapers or newsprint flyers, use a couple of sheets to wrap your presents. Newsprint is easily recyclable.
Eco-Friendlier Wrapping Paper
Finally, if you must use wrapping paper, choose non-metallic post-consumer recycled wrap. Post-consumer waste paper means it’s made from paper reclaimed from home or office recycling and closes the recycling loop. Avoiding metallic or foil finishes means it can be recycled again when you’re done.
Here at The Secret Garden Distillery, we continue to focus on our sustainability statement. Our business revolves around the health of the earth, we are a Gin Distillery but at our core we are a Garden, one that is truly rooted in nature.
What other ways have you found to reduce wrapping paper this Christmas?
