This article first appeared in our Consumer Revolution issue of My Green Pod Magazine, released on 19 Dec 2019. Click here to subscribe to our digital edition and get each issue delivered straight to your inbox
On Christmas day alone we use over 900 million metres of wrapping paper in the UK, which is enough paper to reach the moon.
Nothing beats giving a gift, but the paper it’s wrapped in can cause serious problems for the environment. 60% of it can’t be recycled; the plastic laminates, glitter, metal and other additives all end up in landfill and can take decades to decompose.
This is a huge problem for councils – in fact, the problem is so big that some are now banning wrapping paper from refuse, or imposing an additional levy to collect it during the festive season.
This is only a short-term fix: collectively, we all need to start demanding more conscious products.
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Paper can generally be recycled up to about five times, and 70% less energy is required to recycle and reuse paper than to create it from raw materials.
The impact is huge: each tonne of recycled paper saves 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic metres of landfill, 4,000kW of energy and 7,000 gallons of water.
Re-wrapped specialises in the production of environmentally friendly recycled wrapping paper and other products. In the last month the company has launched 24 new designs for Christmas plus another 50 birthday designs and 75 new greetings cards.
They’re all made from 100% post-consumer waste pulp that has not been bleached, and the designs are printed with environmentally friendly vegetable inks. As a result, all its products can be fully recycled.
As well as using 100% recycled materials, all Re-wrapped’s operations are powered by renewable energy and, as far as possible, the company uses recycled envelopes and packaging to ship its orders.
Re-wrapped also supports young UK designers and 5% of all its profits go back to support charities and non-profits, meaning that you can double up on gift-giving joy!
Click here to view the full range of ethical Christmas gift wrap from Re-wrapped.
Beautiful gift wrap made from 100% recycled post-consumer waste unbleached pulp, and printed with environmentally friendly vegetable-based inks.
Anya Hart Dyke is hitting shopping centres to encourage parents to consider giving their kids the gift of time.
Seacourt provides printed communications that have a positive impact on the environment.
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