Why you should consider an organic Christmas this year
Christmas is a time for giving, and what could be more organic and eco-friendly than giving gifts that don’t damage the environment?
This year, consider using reusable gift bags, boxes, and even material instead of wasteful wrapping paper. You can save yourself both time and money by reusing gift bags or boxes instead of wrapping paper. We’re sure you probably even have a stash of unused fabric and other materials that could be repurposed and upcycled as Christmas wrap. Not only will this help you stay eco-friendly, but it will also make your holiday preparations a lot less stressful!
What is wrapping paper made of?
Most wrapping paper is made from trees. It takes about 22 trees to make 1 ton of wrapping paper. At Christmas time we use extensive amounts of paper that quickly ends up in the rubbish. Collectively we use about 18 million trees just for wrapping paper! In addition, most wrapping paper is not recyclable because it is coated with plastic or foil. These are the types of plastics, called microplastics, that are clogging up our waterways and oceans. This means that all of that plastic-coated or foil wrapping paper ends up in landfills, not FOGO, where it will take centuries to decompose.
What are some eco-friendly alternatives to wrapping paper?
There are many eco-friendly alternatives to wrapping paper. You can reuse gift bags, or you can wrap your gifts in fabric, tea towels, fabric tote bags, newspaper, and brown paper. Who doesn’t like a brown paper parcel tied up with string? If you do choose to use wrapping paper, be sure to choose paper that is at least made from recycled materials. You can also get creative and make your own wrapping paper by using old maps, comics, or magazine pages and we even repurposed all those wonderful paintings gifted to us by our children one year. The grandparents loved it! Pinterest has some amazing ideas!
When you shop with us and tell us your purchase is a Christmas gift, we will wrap your gift in our own upcycled, recycled tote bag, for free!
What are some other ways to reduce your environmental impact this Christmas?
In addition to using eco-friendly wrapping paper, there are many other ways you can reduce your environmental impact this Christmas. You can buy local and organic food, choose LED lights instead of traditional incandescent bulbs, and use real trees instead of artificial ones. You can follow our lead and make your Christmas tree from sticks and sisal and decorate it with dried food; this makes it 100% organic and compostable. You can also make your own gifts or donate to charity instead of buying new things. Every little bit helps!
This Christmas, consider going green and using eco-friendly wrapping paper and adopting a couple of the tips we’ve shared today. You’ll save money, and time and feel wonderful that you’ve helped to make a difference!
