Sustainable Gift Wrapping Tips for an Evergreen Holiday
United States consumers spent $12.7 billion on gift wrap in 2017, and it’s estimated that 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper ends up in the nation’s landfills. For something that looks pretty for a short time and then gets ripped up, gift wrap has a big impact.
The Life Cycle of Gift Wrap
Wrapping paper is made from softwood pulp (such as pine and spruce) that gets logged, processed, bleached, and pressed into sheets. It is often combined with plastic liner and ink which make it difficult or impossible to recycle, so this paper is often used once and then sent to the landfill.
So, what are some alternatives, and how can you support Arizona businesses who have reduced their own waste around the holidays and educate the public about ways to do the same?
Unique and Green Gift Wrapping Tips
Keep holiday cards you receive this year and upcycle them next year by cutting them up into gift tags.
Avoid non-biodegradable glitter. Glitter is usually made from tiny pieces of plastic that end up all around your home and can hurt wildlife once it is thrown away or washed down the drain.
Pair brown paper wrapping with sprigs of evergreen from your Christmas tree or other botanical elements to spice it up.
Use old maps, festive paper grocery bags, newspapers, saved shipping materials, or old magazines to wrap gifts. Many of these materials are compostable or recyclable and allow you to employ your creative side - you can even make a collage or have your kids draw on the paper for a fun effect.
Make the packaging part of the gift itself! A vintage scarf or linen cloth wrapped and tied around a smaller gift adds style and value for the person receiving it.
This holiday season, get creative with reusable wrapping ideas and keep the joy without the environmental burden. And remember, if you do come across traditional wrapping paper, check with your recycling provider to make sure it can go in the blue bin - if it’s not recyclable, it can mean the entire bin of items will be sent to the landfill.
Some additional ideas to reduce waste this season include bringing reusable containers to stock up on groceries for holiday meals at Food Conspiracy Co-op in Tucson or composting your holiday organic waste through Recycled City in the Phoenix area.
Sustainable Businesses to Support and their Holiday Tips
Pop Cycle
Our world of production, consumption, and disposal is in urgent need of change. Pop Cycle was born out of the desire to divert items from the landfill, to encourage creative reuse, to educate and assist in breaking the cycle of single-use disposability. They’ve learned that it is within the community where we find ways to break wasteful and destructive habits, and to discover and center products that embody this ethos. A major component of Pop Cycle’s community building efforts is placing an emphasis on environmentally conscious thinking and turning it into action. It’s not about individual efforts; rather, it’s about sharing practices, materials, and offering support to those around us. Visit Pop Cycle’s online store here.
Cero
Cero is a woman-owned and operated zero waste shop in Tucson, Arizona offering vegan, sustainable products for home, personal care, and on the go. Their sustainable gifting tips include: inviting friends and family to make a donation to an organization you support as their gift to you instead of buying a product, giving edible gifts in upcycled, decorated container (like hot chocolate mix in a jam jar), wrapping gifts in a useable bonus gift like a special handkerchief, tote, or box, reusing paper from around the home for wrapping, and starting a container of already-used wrapping and gift bags to save for future gifting.
The last day to shop at Cero in-store this year is Wednesday, December 22nd. Additionally, Cero is on holiday break from December 23rd through January 5th, 2022. Their online shop will remain open but fulfillment will be paused for that period. You can reference Cero’s holiday offerings here.