What Makes Wrapping Paper Eco-Friendly?
When’s the last time you really thought about the wrapping paper that you were buying, in terms of its impact on the environment? It turns out that most commercial wrapping paper products aren’t as eco-friendly as you may have thought. This can be surprising, given the fact that it’s, well, paper. But the reality is that most modern wrapping paper is produced using synthetic materials that ultimately do cumulative harm to the environment in more ways than one.
Why Use Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper?
At Waterleaf Paper, we pride ourselves on producing environmentally friendly wrapping paper products. So, what exactly is eco-friendly wrapping paper, and what makes the wrapping paper at Waterleaf Paper so unique?
#1: It’s Recyclable
You’d be surprised by just how much wrapping paper isn’t actually recyclable. Traditional wrapping paper is made from wood pulp, which is, by itself, recyclable, as it’s a 100% paper product. But many commercial brands these days use synthetic materials like polyethylene and laminates to produce their wrapping paper, or they treat the paper with wax to give it more body and sheen. The glossiness that makes certain papers look more appealing is the reason why it’s not recyclable, because once it’s been mixed with plastic or wax, it can no longer be reused. Same goes for wrapping paper that has non-paper finishes like glitter, metallics and so on.
Recyclable wrapping paper is a strictly 100% paper-based product, and that allows it to be reused in a number of sustainable ways.
#2: Sustainably Sourced
One of the most overlooked factors when considering environmental friendliness is the sustainability of the source materials. For instance, a paper-based wrapping paper can be recyclable, but the paper itself may be sourced from an unsustainable location, such as a part of the world that has seen heavy deforesting practices that negatively change the ecosystem. The rapid removal of trees in certain locations of the world can have a domino effect on the air that we breathe, which is why it’s critical to create wrapping paper and other paper goods from areas of the world where the paper source naturally replenishes and sustains itself.
Beyond that, sourcing paper materials from far-away locations requires travel, almost exclusively by air. That alone can have detrimental cumulative effects, as air travel is a large source of carbon emissions that threaten our planet. Therefore, sourcing wrapping materials as locally as possible is the way to go.
#3: Producing It Has Minimal Impact on the Environment
A manufacturing facility that produces wrapping paper needs to strive to be as environmentally conscious as possible. This means having practices in place that cause no harm to the environment. This can look like minimizing waste as much as possible with highly efficient practices, and also doing as much manufacturing in one centralized location as possible to prevent excessive transportation which increases a company’s carbon footprint. Even better, a company can compost their waste so that it can be repurposed in a way that benefits soil biodiversity for a more sustainable planet.
#4: Biodegradable
“Biodegradable” is a term used to refer to a material that can be broken down by microorganisms like bacteria and fungi, to decompose naturally and leave no lingering waste. Raw paper is biodegradable with water, breaking down easily without producing any waste, and actually improving the soil by adding carbon, an essential nutrient that plants rely on.
Biodegradable wrapping paper is wrapping paper that fits this criteria. Natural, wood pulp-based wrapping paper is inherently biodegradable, and can therefore improve soil conditions to make soil more sustainable for plant life.
#5: Make Compost
Another means through which you can dispose of your wrapping paper is by making compost out of them. Arrange the various parts of the recycled materials of which it is made into layers and get it buried. An active compost bin is ready for use after some time.
#6: Gift Them
You can also choose to gift them out to friends and relatives. They can use the wrapping paper to give presents and gifts to other people as well. However, make sure that the wrapping paper you are giving out as a gift to your friends is in good shape and attractive.
Choose the Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper at Waterleaf Paper
As long as humans continue to celebrate Christmas, birthdays, and other social events, the use of wrapping paper cannot be ignored. Because of this, it is important that you know what to do with them once they are not used again.
To promote the safety and health of your environment, choose to get it recycled. It can easily decompose in the soil; hence, you can make compost using it. Make sure it is properly disposed of.
At Waterleaf Paper, we want to provide our customers with beautiful wrapping paper products that don’t have any negative impact on the environment. Choose our wrapping paper because it’s recyclable, biodegradable and made with ethically, sustainably sourced materials, so that you can feel good about wrapping gifts year ‘round.
