Is Your Wrapping Paper Naughty or Nice?

‘Tis the season for making lists (and checking them twice). As you scribble down your shopping lists this year, I want to urge everyone to be thoughtful about how you choose to wrap your gifts, and to consider how those choices impact our environment and the health of our planet.

When I was daydreaming about jumping into the world of professional gift-giving, I was apprehensive about contributing to an industry that is all-too-often associated with excess and waste. During the joyous Holiday season, about 227,000 miles of wrapping paper is tossed into the garbage. That’s enough to wrap around the world nine times!  As a result, one of the first steps I took when building Bow and Bestow was to become a California Certified Green Business. One of my priorities as a “green” company is to carefully source and consciously curate eco-friendly wrapping paper for my small business. As a result, Bow and Bestow only uses wrapping paper that is environmentally friendly: made from recycled materials or other “treeless” sources, printed on FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certified paper, or fully recyclable. I even prioritize using biodegradable tape when I wrap.

As much as I’m a sucker for all things that shine and sparkle, the harsh truth is that the vast majority of wrapping paper on the market is not recyclable and winds up contributing to the estimated 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper that winds up in landfills each year. If the wrapping paper you use is embellished with glitter, metallics, velvety flocking, textures, OR if it is shiny or laminated: it’s not recyclable. Many assume these types of plastic-based papers can go in the recycling bin, and they inevitably become what the folks down at the recycling plant call “recycling contamination.” Tossing your bedazzled or shimmery papers into the recycling bin can ruin an entire load of recycling - Bah humbug!

Not sure if the wrapping paper you have at home fits the environmentally-friendly bill? A good test is to crumple the paper into a tight ball. If the ball stays crumpled up, it is likely paper-based and recyclable. Bow and Bestow takes the guesswork out of it all by choosing wrapping paper options that are safe for the environment and acceptable for those blue recycling bins. Additionally, the paper I select is gorgeous and pleasing to even the pickiest of Santa’s Elves. While brown Kraft paper wrapped with colorful twine has always been a classic look that I adore, I also enjoy discovering companies that are manufacturing papers that are bright, elegant and playful. While these papers might be a bit more expensive than the glitzy options you can find while strolling the aisles at Target, I strongly feel that it is worth investing in quality paper that is not contributing to our landfills.

Here are some of my favorite eco-friendly wrapping paper sources:

Paper Source carries a line of “Stone Paper” that is made up of 75% limestone - a byproduct of mining that would otherwise be discarded. It feels luxurious and smooth to the touch.

Wrappily paper is printed on recycled newsprint with soy-based inks on newspaper presses. This printing style saves energy AND the paper is reversible and fully recyclable. I absolutely love these Warhol Santas.

If you love a great color-coordinated wrapping paper set, Bella Kraft has a large collection of everyday and holiday wrapping paper sets. This retro collection would go really well with my Mid-Century Modern dream home.

I salivate over this paper produced by The Design Craft. (Well, not really, but you know what I mean.) This small business prints their vibrant wrapping paper on in-house presses on recycled paper that is sustainably sourced.

Revel & Co has a spectacular Holiday collection. Their flat wrapping paper sheet sets are printed on FSI certified paper using vegetable-based inks. The nutcrackers are my very favorite!

So this season, please join me in making wise decisions while choosing how you dress your presents. Leave the sparkles and embellishments for the ornaments on the tree.

Looking to cross off gift wrapping from your To-Do list this Holiday season? Bow and Bestow is available to fulfill all of your gift wrapping needs. Give us a call or send an email.