The UK throw away an estimated 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year at Christmas in the UK, according to waste management company BIFFA. That’s enough to wrap around the Earth… more than eight times says the BBC.
So it is worth considering swapping wrapping paper for alternatives, such as fabric wrapping. However, if you are going to use wrapping paper, choose one that can be recycled.
Can wrapping paper be recycled?
Due to the makeup of wrapping paper and the amount of sticky tape and embellishments that cause problems at recycling plants, recycling wrapping paper is tricky. So do the scrunch test, Greener Ealing will accept only accept paper based wrapping paper, and rejects foil and or glitter wrapping paper. To check if it will be accepted, scrunch up the paper and if it doesn’t spring back it is non-foil and can be recycled, as long as there is no glitter on the paper. For full details go to Recycle Now
When buying wrapping paper consider upcycling by wrapping with:
- Brown paper as it’s already made from recycled paper and now comes printed with decorations on
- Newspapers
- Magazines
- Maps
- Gift bags
Wrapping Paper Alternatives
Ealing Repair cafe love reusable fabric wrapping, using reusable square fabric for furoshiki wrapping or make your own reusable fabric bags. The wrapping becomes a present in itself. Reusable wrapping is not just for Christmas but can be for birthdays and other celebrations, being reused at each occasion.
Furoshiki is the Japanese art of wrapping and works really well with square scarfs, napkins that can be picked up in vintage or charity shops. You can also cut squares out of scrap fabric. There’s a few options on how you can fold them
Reusable fabric bags are also a great alternative. You can make easy fabric drawstring bags or buy fabric bags from makers on Etsy.
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