The truth about how much packaging gets wasted every Christmas
Christmas may be the most wonderful time of the year, but it is also one of the most wasteful. In the UK, it is estimated that 114,000 tonnes of plastic packaging will be thrown away and not recycled this coming Christmas, as well as nearly 227,000 miles of Christmas wrapping paper. That’s enough to wrap around the circumference of the Earth over nine times – quite a Christmas present.
Environmentally friendly wrapping paper and festive packaging
During the festive period, it is inevitable that extra packaging will be added to gift and food items – and we’re certainly not advocating going without Christmas packaging, but there is a strong economic and ethical case to be made in favour of more eco-friendly packaging and sustainable wrapping paper among ecommerce businesses.
Unfortunately, due to the sheer number of purchases during the festive season, a shocking amount of product packaging and wrapping paper will end up in landfills. This doesn't have to be the case though; by getting creative with reusable eco-friendly packaging – e.g. attractive gift boxes and bags, and making use of sustainable and recyclable packaging materials, businesses can help drastically reduce the waste produced each holiday season.
What you can do to reduce your wastage:
The good news for sustainability is that consumers are becoming increasingly conscious of how festive packaging choices contribute to environmental waste. This positive trend can be leveraged by ecommerce businesses to create a responsible and eco-conscious brand image, through encouraging more sustainable packaging choices.
Use 100% Sustainable Packaging: It's so easy for consumers to get caught up with the gift-giving process and forget about waste management. Make it easier for people to recycle your packaging by foregoing single-use plastics and non-recyclable foils and ribbons, and opt instead for 100% recyclable gift wrap, or even compostable packaging materials. There are now a wide variety of packaging substrates available that offer equal quality and protection to traditional, less sustainable alternatives.
Be aware that most foils and glitters Can’t be recycled: To sustain the sparkle of Christmas without the environmental harm, migrate over to biodegradable glitters and sustainable alternatives, and educate your consumers about the importance of recycling (many people will assume that products that feature glitter and foils can’t be recycled, even if this isn’t the case).
Don’t Use Bubble Wrap. As the importance of sustainable packaging becomes more apparent, bubble wrap has become an outdated choice for ecommerce businesses due to its reliance on single-use plastics. To fill this gap and reduce plastic waste, many companies are developing innovative alternatives to bubble wrap that combine low cost with greater sustainability.
From recycled shredded paper to sheets of corrugated cardboard cut-outs filled with air cushions, these sustainable options provide a similar or superior level of protection for postal products while reducing plastic consumption. Furthermore, many bubble wrap alternatives are now available with biodegradable additives so they can more easily be broken down after use without leaving behind harmful environmental or human impacts.
With plenty of available options on the ecommerce packaging market today, it is becoming easier than ever for businesses to source eco-friendly alternatives to bubble wrap and make a greener choice for both product protection and the environment.
Sustainable Christmas packaging options from Kudos Giftwrap
With these simple changes to your festive packaging strategy, you can help make a huge difference this Christmas and beyond. To find out more about zero waste packaging and how we can help you improve the sustainability of your Christmas packaging and wrapping products, please click here to download our free Sustainable Packaging Guide today.
Image Source: Pexels
