Every year, under the tree, we find gifts artfully wrapped in shimmery foil. Let's be honest: we all love getting beautifully wrapped boxes with lush bows. And what a pleasure the process of unpacking itself gives - you never know what is hiding behind a festive wrapper. However, it should be borne in mind that paper and foil are often not recyclable, and therefore contribute to climate change.
This year we had a lot of time and opportunity to think about ourselves and about the environment around us, to realize the need for a more respectful attitude to nature. The thought of holiday packaging, which is thrown out in kilograms every year, can spoil the feeling of the holiday a little. Try this year to find time to create holiday packaging that will allow you to start the New Year in a more sustainable way. So that you do not have to deny yourself beautiful packages under the tree, we have prepared for you four options for wrapping New Year's gifts like jar boxes.
Gift boxes are a great idea for waste-free packaging. If the wrapping paper is thrown away immediately after unpacking, the cardboard boxes can be reused for storage, for example.
Gifts wrapped in scarves and fabrics always deserve special attention. This sustainable packaging method comes from Japanese culture and is called furoshiki. This sleek, eco-friendly way of packaging requires folding a square handkerchief to tie it around the gift. The fabric used in the packaging can also be part of the gift. Packaging like this is a great way to support a zero-waste and garbage-free philosophy.
Let's not deny - we love receiving gifts wrapped in colorful, glossy paper. However, glittering coated paper is not sustainable as it often contains non-recyclable plastics and films. As a result, we get mountains of paper, which we just have to throw out. For a more sustainable alternative, you can use fully recyclable brown Kraft paper instead of traditional wrapping paper. A festive mood can be created using a beautiful (reusable) ribbon, pine needles and Christmas tree decorations. You can also get creative and personalize this packaging by writing a New Year's wish on paper.
If you cannot do without wrapping paper with stars or patterns, we recommend using recycled paper with the German Blue Angel certification for environmental friendliness. Products marked "Der Blaue Engel" are guaranteed to be made from recycled materials with the lowest water and energy consumption.
True, brown paper or gray cardboard does not look too fancy. You can add festive accents with decorative elements borrowed from nature. On your next walk, pay attention to what nature offers in winter - spruce branches or bright berries - for example, rose hips, look extremely atmospheric against the background of craft paper. Olive or eucalyptus branches can also come in handy. The leaves of plants in your home may also work. You can brighten up the gift with the help of dried orange rings, which, in combination with cinnamon sticks, will begin to exude a festive scent.
Beautiful bows and gift ribbons are also quite often made of synthetic materials, which is not very environmentally friendly. Therefore, when packing, it is recommended to use reusable tapes and natural materials such as raffia, hemp or jute.
Whether it's artfully knotted fabric, natural homemade jewelry, or luxurious gift boxes, keeping a clear conscience and finding alternatives to shimmery foil or patterned paper isn't that hard. We encourage you to be creative and give gifts in individual, personalized packaging - with love not only for your loved ones, but also for nature.