Celebrations, decorations and gift-giving are among everyone’s favorite ingredients in recipes for a magical holiday season.
And that’s not even counting literal recipes, those for foods like pumpkin pie, roast turkey and icing-coated cookies.
To go along with all of the above, we’d like to offer some recipes for a sustainable holiday season from papertarians, people who live a paper-based lifestyle, buying paper products whenever possible and recycling them. The key ingredients are simple: easily recyclable paper and cardboard; more specifically, the boxes and wrapping paper accumulated by gift-givers.
Those materials come from trees, a renewable resource. By working with responsible foresters to develop and maintain healthy purpose-grown woodlands, the paper and packaging industry is safeguarding its future along with that of the planet, a top priority for papertarians. Today’s U.S. forests grow nearly twice the tree volume that’s harvested every year.
If you’re wondering by now whether the holidays are a good time for you to become a papertarian yourself, the answer is: absolutely! Any time is a good time, and the holidays might even make it easier.
To help you get started, here are some of the things that papertarians are already doing to get the most out of their holiday paper and cardboard.
Draw a bow on repurposed paper for a simple but eye-catching effect.
Colorful, splashy magazine pages make a graphic impression.
Hand-drawn bows, brown paper packages stamped up with bling: These are a few of our favorite things.
Sustainable and Recyclable Wrapping Paper
DIY (Design it yourself)
There are a variety of ways to use paper you already have on hand to wrap gifts colorfully and creatively. Here are just a few suggestions:
- Start with deconstructed grocery bags, brown paper padding from delivery boxes, magazines and newsprint, all of which make great wrapping material.
- Pro tip: Tape colorful magazine or newspaper spreads together before wrapping.
- When repurposing brown paper packing paper, smooth out wrinkles and then use dot paint markers to create a festive pattern.
- Jewelry spreads from magazines give gifts a glossy look. Perfumed pages make them smell fabulous.
- Markers and a ruler can go a long way toward creating a timeless but simple line-pattern design on plain brown paper.
- Find paper, compostable or recyclable ribbons to give it that special touch.
A note of thanks: What better way to thank friends and family for their gifts than with a handwritten note? Make it unique by creating an envelope from leftover wrapping paper.
Gift wrap takes a bow: Take strips of leftover gift wrap or even gift bags and fashion homemade bows for presents throughout the year.
Use gift paper for padding: We all know people who open gifts with reckless abandon, leaving scraps strewn all over the floor. Save that paper. You can use the crumpled pieces as padding for gift bags or to store delicate objects.
Make your own custom ornament: Save some of your holiday gift wrap and make a unique paper ornament to remember each year.
Sustainable Food Packaging and Holiday Tablescapes.
Set the table: Gift wrap is also a great way to decorate the table. Fashion itinto place mats or a table runner. If you happen to use brown kraft paper, kids can doodle on it while waiting for the food to be served. To put a festive and decorative spin on your tablescape, use paper to wrap your holiday centerpiece.
Present your party treats: No need to have special food trays for your next holiday party. Line your everyday trays with gift wrap and serve your hors d’oeuvres and treats festively.
Send leftovers home: Paper and cardboard make perfect to-go boxes for leftovers from big family dinners. Consider using paper baking containers and treat/gift bags. Don’t forget to attach festive labels!
Spread and contain the love: After a holiday meal, there are lots of bags and boxes to take home—gifts, sweets, leftover food—and you don’t want your guests juggling it all. Use those larger cardboard boxes from your online purchases or paper bags to help guests carry everything. And recycle them when you are done.
Set the table: Gift wrap is also a great way to decorate the table. Fashion it into place mats or a table runner. If you happen to use brown kraft paper, kids can doodle on it while waiting for the food to be served. To put a festive and decorative spin on your tablescape, use paper to wrap your holiday centerpiece.
Sustainable Gift Boxes and Packaging
Gift a celebration
For friends and family you can’t see in person this year, send a holiday celebration in a box. Fill your larger cardboard boxes with multiple gifts wrapped in boxes that were saved from your online deliveries.
Storing the holidays
Paper and cardboard are perfect for storage. After all, we often keep our precious documents in them. Put your holiday decorations into a cardboard box, using paper gift bags to protect them from damage, until the next holiday season.
Create your own subscription box
Subscription boxes are a popular gift for many holidays, but why not keep the holiday spirit all year long with your own “of the month” club, whether it be books, crafts or baked goods?
If you still have leftover paper and cardboard, don’t throw it away. Paper and cardboard are super easy to recycle and can be made into new products up to seven times. At that rate, the leftovers from this year’s celebration can keep giving all next year—and beyond.
