This is an update to an article originally published in December 2022. Have a question for Mom Detective? Submit it here.
ANNA B. IN ILLINOIS ASKS: Is wrapping paper okay for the environment? I look at leftover piles from every holiday and birthday celebration and wonder if it’s all truly recyclable. What are some earth-friendly alternatives?
MOM DETECTIVE ANSWERS:
I really love a beautifully wrapped gift. When I was a teenager, I staffed the wrapping station of a store and got really good at it. I am talking crisp corners, no air pockets, seamlessly tied bows and curls, minimal tape. My scissor skills are still sharp!
I also love watching people unwrap a little something just for them. While kids rip through the wrap without a care, I’ve noticed most adults take their time. Even for the smallest, silliest item, there’s a little magic there. Clearly, I’m not alone. In the U.S., gift wrap hovers close to a $10 billion enterprise annually.
So it pains me to be the Grinch about wrapping paper. But back when I was working at the wrapping station, I didn’t know just how much waste and chemicals go into wrapping. It was reported that 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper is made in the US each year and half of it (that’s 2.3 million pounds!) ends up in landfill. No matter how you calculate it, that’s a lot of paper going to the trash. It has made me rethink my paper choices.
Maybe wrapping paper would be justifiable if it were all recyclable—but it is not. Some wrappings are made from entirely nonrecyclable materials, including plastics. And like all other paper waste, wrapping paper can get contaminated with things that shouldn’t be recycled, like harmful BPA and other chemicals that get introduced through the recycling process. Contamination during the recycling process can come from plastic ribbons, glitter, and other paper with metallic or shiny finishes. This can result in scores of truly recyclable paper needlessly getting sent to the landfill.
So what can we do to keep the magic without the waste? Turns out we can do a lot.
- The basics on safer gift wrap are simple: Reuse whatever you can, including bags, boxes, and bows.
- Get creative with recycled materials, giving second life to newsprint or magazine paper.
- Use reusable cotton bags.
- When it comes to new gift wrap, look for paper labeled as recyclable and biodegradable.
- Buy plain paper gift wrap, kraft paper, or tissue paper (it can still have designs on it, just no coating).
- Avoid metallic, glitter, or plastic wrapping materials.
- Opt for vegetable or natural dyes and organic papers where possible.
- Use natural twine, paper, and cloth ribbons instead of tape and plastic ribbons.
After presents are unwrapped, set aside reusable wrapping for future celebrations. Recycle plain paper gift wraps and boxes. Toss plastic twine, metallic papers, and ribbons that can’t be re-used or may contaminate the recycling process. You can find more tips on how to recycle gift wrap here and also here. And watch this short video for more tips on how to avoid plastic waste during the holiday season.
Taking these steps may seem like a drop in the bucket given the billions of pounds of trash we produce annually, but everything we do to cut down on waste and reject toxic materials supports a more sustainable economy. And the reduced waste helps the planet and our health.
Tell Congress: Support the Break Free From Plastic Pollution Act