Exchanging gifts is a joyful tradition that spreads cheer during the holiday season.
Thoughtfully and beautifully wrapped presents are part of the fun of gift giving. You can continue your efforts to do good after the gift exchange by being mindful of how you wrap and dispose of gift packaging so that more is reused and recycled and less heads to the landfill.
Gift wrap recycling and holiday packaging recovery
Wrapping paper, gift boxes, gift bags, and decorative embellishments are mainstays of gift wrap, and much can be recycled, as paper is one of the most recycled materials. According to the American Forest and Paper Association (AF&PA), about 125,000 tons of paper is recycled every day. In a blog last month, “How to Recycle Paper During the Holiday Season,” AF&PA pointed out that some holiday paper can be recycled and some cannot. Start by checking your local recycling guidelines to see what is accepted at the curbside and what is not. Some materials that cannot be collected curbside, like plastic bubble wrap, may be accepted at a local recycling center.
Gift wrap recycling
Although wrapping paper is considered paper, not all wrapping paper is equal. Wrapping paper that is metallic, very shiny, embellished with glitter or flocking is, in most cases, not recyclable, because it is mixed with plastic or other materials. Paper recycling experts recommend the following test to know if your gift wrap can go in the recycling bin. Crush a handful of wrapping paper in your hand. If it compresses into a paper ball, and stays that way, it is more likely to be all paper that can be recycled curbside. If it does not crush, or expands after being crumbled, it most likely contains plastic or other fibers that do not belong in the recycling bin. Remember, the tubes from rolls of gift wrap are recyclable.
Another option is to consider alternatives to wrapping paper. Wrap your gift in a piece of fabric that can be part of the gift, like a towel or scarf. You can also wrap creatively in brown paper you decorate yourself or a piece of newspaper the recipient would appreciate, like pages of the travel section.
Tissue paper is made of shortened fibers that may not always be recyclable. Often, tissue paper can be reused. Consider other creative options for cushioning your gifts, like a piece of fabric, shredded recyclable paper, or last year’s saved gift wrap. It can be crumbled to cushion a gift or shredded to make a colorful holiday confetti.
Gift box recycling
The same principle applies to gift boxes. Traditional brown cardboard boxes are recyclable, but gift boxes decorated with glitter or shiny elements may not be. To be on the safe side, you can purchase gift packaging that is specifically designed to be recyclable. Type “eco-friendly packaging” or “recyclable packaging” into your search engine to find websites that sell gift packaging you know you can put into your recycling bin at home.
Gift bags
Plain kraft bags can generally be recycled. While shiny bags with beads or glitter can not be recycled, they can be reused. It is a fun family tradition to see how many years a bag can stay in gift-giving circulation by just putting a new To/From sticker over the old one. An alternative to paper gift bags is reusable totes or baskets that become part of the gift.
Ribbons and bows
As pretty as they are, bright and shiny ribbons and bows are generally not recyclable. The ribbons are long and flexible which means they get jammed in recycling machinery at the recycling center. Instead of sending them straight to the trash, see if they can be reused for next year or for arts and crafts projects at home.
Shiny bows are usually made with some sort of plastic or fabric, so they should not be put in paper recycling, but they can usually be reused year after year. Options such as jute, hemp or cotton ribbon can be recycled or reused. Another idea is to consider decorating your package with dried flowers, pinecones or evergreen sprigs. Children may enjoy scavenging outside to find creative natural embellishments for presents.
There are many options to improve your holiday packaging recovery. Make it part of the fun and festivities to be creative in wrapping and packaging your gifts so that less holiday waste goes to the landfill. Happy holidays!
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