How can we reduce paper waste?
Reducing paper waste goes beyond just recycling. It starts with mindful purchasing—choosing sustainably made products and opting for reusable alternatives whenever possible. For paper recycling information, review the guidelines found here. On this page, we will discuss eco-friendly alternatives for common paper products, reusable replacements, and how to responsibly dispose or recycle them at the end of their life.
Eco-friendly alternatives to common paper products
- Baby wipes
- Baking cups
- Beauty product packaging
- Books
- Cleaning & disinfectant wipes
- Coffee filters
- Cotton rounds
- Cotton swabs
- Diapers
- Feminine products
- Gift bags
- Napkins
- Office / Printer / Copy Paper
- Paper Plates, Bowls & Cups
- Paper towels
- Parchment Paper
- Shredded paper
- Takeout Containers
- Tissue Paper
- Tissues
- Toilet Paper
- Wrapping Paper
Baby wipes
Go Green: Reusable baby wipes
Many of the baby wipes on the market are actually not made from plant-based material. Instead, they are usually composed of polyester or polypropylene, both fossil-fuel based non-biodegradable plastics.
Using a reusable cloth instead of single-use disposable baby wipes is the greenest choice, as well as the most economical. Simply use a damp washcloth as a reusable wipe, such as Burt’s Bees Baby 100% Organic Cotton washcloths, which are GOTS certified. Available on Amazon.
Compostable baby wipes
Reusable wipes may not be feasible in certain situations, especially when you’re on the go. 100% plant-based, compostable baby wipes are the best choice.
- Caboo Bamboo Baby Wipes
- 99.3% naturally derived ingredients, plastic-free
- Unscented
- MADE SAFE certified
- Available at Amazon
- Dyper Simply Kind Baby Wipes
- The Honest Company Clean Conscious Wipes
- Water Wipes
- Self-proclaimed “Purest wipes in the world” contains only two ingredients: 99.9% water and a drop of fruit extract.
- National Eczema Association Seal of Acceptance,
- vegan, hypoallergenic, fragrance-free, cruelty-free.
- Packaging is made from low density polyethylene and contains 30% post consumer recycled polyethylene. Boxes are made from recycled cardboard.
- Available at Target / Amazon
- Eco by Naty
- 98.4% water
- Unscented
- OK Compost TUV Austria certification
- Available at Amazon
There is no such thing as a flushable wipe; ask any plumber. Refrain from flushing any type of wipe, despite ‘flushable’ claims.
Can you compost baby wipes?
It is possible to compost wipes made from natural fiber if they were used to clean hands and face, surfaces etc.; if used to change diapers, they should be tossed in the trash.
Are baby wipes recyclable?
Baby wipes are not recyclable, with the exception of Dyper brand wipes (and diapers). They have a curbside pickup program that covers 20 cities across the country. For $20/pickup, their drivers come every other week and take soiled diapers and wipes for composting. Read about their unique process. If you don’t live in one of their pickup areas, you can purchase their return bundle to send the soiled items to them for processing.
Recycling baby wipe packaging
Recycle cardboard boxes. Most plastic packaging for baby wipes is made from #4/LDPE, which can be recycled with other plastic film.
Baking cups
Go Green: Reusable baking cups
Try BPA-free silicone reusable baking cups for zero waste baking.
- OXO Silicone Baking Cups – BPA-free, Set of 12 multi-color for $11.99. Also available at Target and Amazon.
- King Arthur Nonstick Baking Cups – BPA-free. Set of 12 red cups for $11.98
- Amazon Essentials Reusable Silicone Round Baking Cups – food grade, BPA-free silicone. Pack of 12 multicolor for $6.99
Best disposable baking cups
I like If You Care Baking Cups, made with unbleached and chlorine-free FSC and USDA Biobased certified paper. Industrially compostable.
Compost 100% paper cups unless grease-soaked.
Beauty product packaging
Books
How to be a greener reader
- Shop at local book stores.
- Borrow books from the local library or a friend.
- Buy used books from local shops or thrift stores, or online at ThriftBooks or Bookshop.org.
- I personally love reading from a book and turning pages, but if you don’t have a preference, get an Kindle or other e-reader or listen to an e-book.
- Start a neighborhood little free library or borrow from and contribute to an existing one.
Where to donate books
- Donate books to a public, school, or university library.
- Donate to a thrift shop.
- Various book donation drop offs bins around town, like Book Drop.
Can you recycle books?
If paperback books are in too poor condition to donate, recycle in your curbside bin. Hardback books are trickier: first remove the cover and binding and only recycle the pages.
Cleaning & disinfectant wipes
Go Green: Skip the wipes
Even in our Covid life, there’s no need for any kind of cleaning wipes at home. You can use store-bought or home-made disinfectant spray with a rag to clean pretty much anything without all the waste.
Buy a glass spray bottle like my Grove Reusable Cleaning Glass Spray Bottle and purchase a refill of your favorite cleaner, or better yet, try making this disinfectant spray recipe from Bob Vila. I like it because it’s quick and easy to mix, and uses ingredients that you probably already have. Find more eco-friendly cleaners and disinfectants here.
Best disinfectant wipes
The only appropriate time I see using disinfectant wipes is when you’re out and about or traveling, but unfortunately they are not biodegradable.
- Boulder Clean Disinfecting Wipes
- Kills 99.9% of bacteria
- Free of bleach, triclosan, paragons, phosphates and phthalates
- California Prop 65 Compliant, EPA Safer Choice
- Leaping Bunny certified
- Available at Amazon
Wipe disposal
No cleaning wipes are recyclable or compostable; throw in the trash. Recycle plastic packaging with plastic film.
Coffee filters
Go Green: Reusable coffee filters
Stick with the reusable filter that comes with your coffee maker, or if you don’t like the standard filter, there are plenty other coffee filter options. For the coffee pod crew, purchase reusable K-cup filters or reusable Nespresso pods.
Best sustainable single-use coffee filters
When shopping for disposable coffee filters, look for unbleached options. Unbleached coffee filters, just like other unbleached paper product, undergo minimal processing and are free from chlorine and associated chemicals. These brown coffee filters are a more natural, eco-friendly choice.
- Sourced from FSC-certified pulp
- Unbleached, totally chlorine-free paper
- USDA Biobased certified product
- TUV Austria certified OK Home Compost
- Available at Grove / Amazon / Whole Foods
Are coffee filters compostable?
Both filters and the grounds are backyard compostable or can be added to your green waste bin. Properly applied coffee grounds are great for plants and garden soil.
Cotton rounds
Go Green: Reusable cotton rounds
Make the switch from single-use disposable cotton rounds to reusable.
Last Object LastRound includes a 100% recycled plastic case that holds 7 rounds, which are made from 30% cotton and 70% wood fiber. According to the company, these rounds replace 1750+ single-use rounds and are 24x better for the environment per a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) performed by a third-party. The texture is similar to Swedish dishcloths so depending on the intended use, they may need a little water added. Packaging is plastic-free. They are backyard compostable when they reach the end of their life. Also available at Grove.
There are many softer reusable cotton round options available, if that is what you prefer.
- BooNBoo Bamboo Reusable Rounds are sold in a set of 18 rounds composed of a blend of biodegradable bamboo and cotton. Included is a laundry bag for washing and packaging is plastic-free. The company is a Certified B Corp, Climate Neutral Certified, and 1% for the Planet member.
- Greenzla Reusable Cotton Pads are made of a bamboo and cotton blend. They are sold in a set of 20, packaged in a cardboard cylinder, and also includes an organic cotton laundry sack so you can easily wash them in the washing machine. Available on Amazon.
- Marley’s Monsters makes a variety of reusable cotton rounds, including their GOTS-certified Organic Cotton Flannel Facial Rounds. There is also an option that includes a mesh laundry bag. Purchase on Grove / Amazon.
Best disposable cotton rounds
Reusable cotton rounds can be used for any task that you normally use rounds for. I personally don’t like to use them for nail polish removal; I feel like polish doesn’t come off well and I don’t like the idea of the chemicals on the reusable pads. In that case, you may want to have a single-use option handy.
- Organyc 100% Organic Cotton Rounds
- Certified organic
- Free of chlorine, parabens, SLS, or ethyl alcohol
- Made using geothermal and solar energy
- Packaging is biodegradable
- Plastics for Change partner
- Available at Amazon
Can you compost cotton rounds?
100% cotton or bamboo rounds are fully compostable, although if used for something like nail polish I would throw them in the trash.
Cotton swabs
Cotton swabs are a sleeper item….it may surprise you to know that plastic swab sticks are among the top ten items that wash up on beaches.
Go Green: Skip swabs with plastic sticks
Do not buy swabs with plastic sticks. Purchase 100% cotton swabs with paperboard sticks, such as Q-Tips. You can also buy swabs with bamboo sticks, such as BOONBOO Cotton Swabs. This company is a certified B Corp, Climate Neutral, and 1% For the Planet member. Also available on Amazon.
Try out a reusable swab such as Last Object’s LastSwab. I decided to give it a try, and it is not as gross as it may seem and is surprisingly very easy to clean. The one thing I will say is I wish the texture was a little softer. Although it adequately cleans ear wax, it is not absorbent and doesn’t help dry out water in the ear canal, which for me is a big reason I like to use them after a shower. They do make a swab specifically for beauty that looks softer, so if you use swabs for makeup touchups that would also be worth a try. Also available at Grove / Zero Waste Store.
Swabs made from 100% cotton or bamboo are compostable.
Diapers
Disposable diapers have a significant environmental impact, starting with the numerous resources required for production. Nearly all disposable diapers contain plastic, namely polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene. In addition, they also contain wood pulp and/or cotton.
But even worse, a 2021 study stated that, “Unfortunately, disposable diaper manufacturers are reluctant to present their exact chemical composition, claiming that their trade secrets apply. However, several reports show that disposable diapers of well-known brands, “store” brands and “bio” brands may contain a number of toxic compounds.”
Even if made with recyclable or compostable materials, the stinky contents means disposable diapers go to the landfill where they will not biodegrade. And considering a single baby will probably go through between 5,000-6,000 disposable diapers before becoming potty trained, that’s a lot of waste. In fact, the EPA reports that in 2018, an estimated 4.1 million tons of disposable diapers ended up in landfills, 1.4% of total waste for that year.
Go Green: Reusable cloth diapers
Reusable cloth diapers generally have a lower environmental impact than single-use diapers. Cotton is resource intensive, but buying organic cotton helps to lessen this factor. The biggest ongoing impact from reusable diapers comes from the water and electricity used to launder them. Despite this, I think it is a good trade off compared to their fossil fuel-based, possibly chemical laden, and non-biodegradable counterparts.
These impacts can be lessened by adopting certain practices.
- Wash full loads in your washing machine
- Washing with cold water
- Using sustainable laundry detergent
- Using energy-efficient washing machines
- Line drying
- Reusing diapers as many times as possible.
Amazon has lots of reusable cloth diaper choices, as does Etsy. Here are Babycenter’s favorite cloth diapers. Ask around for a local diaper service recommedation.
Plant-based disposable diapers
For various reasons, reusable diapers may not be the most feasible option for you. Eco-friendlier disposable diapers minimize plastic use and use responsibly harvested tree pulp for their fluff.
- Dyper diapers – Certified USDA BioPreferred 55% Product, Certified OK Biobased certified by TÜV Austria, OEKO-TEX certified. These diapers contain FSC certified bamboo and are the most expensive of the disposable diapers at around $0.56 per diaper. However, they are the only company that offers recycling of their products, as described below. I have a friend who loves these diapers and the service they provide.
The following diapers are comparably priced around $0.35 per diaper. (For reference, the very cheapest brands I found online were around $0.17 per diaper.)
- Honest Company Clean Conscious Diapers – tree fiber harvested from FSC certified forests in North America; free of latex, fragrance, or parabens; cruelty-free. OEKO-TEX certified. Diaper boxes are made from 100% PCR post recycled consumer cardboard.
- Eco by Naty Eco Diapers – contain 0% oil-based plastic, FSC certified wood pulp, TUV Austria OK Biobased certified, vegan, OEKO-TEX certified
- Available at Amazon
Can disposable diapers be recycled?
They are not recyclable, with the exception of Dyper brand diapers. The company offers a curbside pickup program that operates in 20 cities across the country. For $20/pickup, their drivers come every other week and take soiled diapers and wipes for composting. Read about their unique process. If you don’t live in one of their pickup areas, you can purchase their return bundle to send the soiled items to them for processing.
Feminine products
The average menstruating woman disposes of approximately 10,000 feminine products, which is around 300 pounds worth, in her lifetime.
Click here to learn all about eco-friendly period products.
Gift bags
Go Green: Save & reuse gift bags
I have gift bags for pretty much every occasion—I think I’ve only purchased a couple new ones in my life. I purchased this Jokari Gift Bag Organizer to keep them together.
Buy tree-free gift bags
When you’re in need of a new gift bag, buy one made from tree-free paper. These beautiful HeavenHemp Handmade Lokta Gift Bags on Etsy are made with lokta, which comes from the bark of a shrub.
Are gift bags recyclable?
Recycle paper gift bags, removing rope handles, beads, or other decorations first. Bags coated in glitter or made from plastic have to go in the trash.
Go Green: Refuse junk mail
- Set up paperless billing and notifications on all your different accounts.
- Decrease junk mail with an app like Paper Karma, or sign up with DMAchoice or Catalog Choice.
- Unsubscribe from catalogs by contacting a company’s customer service, or they may have a link on their site to do so.
Can you recycle mail?
Recycle all mail, including junk mail, cards, cardstock and postcards, catalogs, envelopes (including the ones with windows).
Napkins
Go Green: Reusable napkins
I’ve never owned formal cloth napkins. I did findsome really cute, casual cotton napkins from the CozySimpleLiving shop on Etsy. If you know how to sew, you could easily and inexpensively make your own! My mom even used one of the napkins I bought as a pattern and made a bunch more for me.
Best disposable napkins
Reusable napkins are suitable even for picnicking or entertaining a crowd, but there might be occasions when you need a disposable napkin. As with all paper products, look for items that are made sustainably with either 100% recycled materials or bamboo.
Recycled napkins
- 365 100% Recycled Lunch Napkins
- Everspring 100% Recycled Napkins
- Seventh Generation 100% Recycled Paper Napkins
- Simple Truth 100% Recycled Paper Napkins
*I can’t find any not packaged in plastic. Reel and Who Gives a Crap offer plastic-free paper towels that you could used instead.
Bamboo napkins
Are napkins compostable?
Napkins are not recyclable. They are compostable if not soaked with oil or grease.
Office / Printer / Copy Paper
Go Green: Minimize paper use & buy recycled paper
- Be selective about what you actually need to print.
- Yale has a great page of ideas for saving paper in the office, as does the EPA.
Purchase 100% recycled paper. Note that some paper brands, i.e. Printworks on Amazon, actually package their paper in plastic, which is ridiculous. They’re PAPER companies.
- Staples 100% Recycled Copy Paper – FSC certified
- Target up & up 100% Recycled Letter Printer Paper – FSC certified
- Hammermill Printer Paper – SFI certified
Reuse paper
Get another use from unwanted papers and junk envelopes by using the backside for scratch paper.
Recycling paper
All office, schoolwork, sticky notes, lined paper, printer paper, and colored paper can go in the recycle bin.
Paper Plates, Bowls & Cups
Go Green: Minimize use of disposables
I’ve done my fair share of entertaining a crowd, so I totally get the appeal of disposable dinnerware. I’ve made it a goal to have an empty dishwasher and sink beforehand so that when the party is over, clean up is easier…we can just load it up. That’s not to say it always happens, and sometimes we’re just not up to doing a thousand dishes. But when you are able, try to use regular dinnerware, or buy inexpensive ones just for parties, picnics, etc.
Best compostable paper plates
Many paper plates labeled ‘compostable’ are made of PLA sourced from sugarcane, and this is ONLY compostable in a commercial composting facility, which are rare.
- My favorite brand of truly compostable paper plates is Bambu. These plates are USDA Biobased certified and made with FSC-certified and USDA organic bamboo. They are CMA certified compostable. The company recommends cutting them into small pieces for faster composting. Bambu is the best brand for home compostable disposable plates (and utensils). Made with FSC-certified, USDA Organic bamboo, these plates are USDA Biobased certified and CMA certified compostable. The company recommends cutting them into small pieces for faster composting. Enter ‘LETSGOGREEN’ at checkout to save 10% on your purchase.
- Also available at Grove.
There are a couple businesses that are great if you’re buying paper products on a large scale.
- EcoProducts makes products from PLA and sugarcane. We use a variety of these compostable cups in the hospital where I work—and all because a nutrition care employee fought to get the hospital to make the switch from regular styrofoam. This is a great example of how you can make a difference in a large organization.
- Certified B Corp
- Depending on the product, they may hold FSC, BPI, ASTM, and USDA Biopreferred certifications
- Green Paper Products has pretty much any serving items you might need, and they are tree-free and certfied compostable by BPI, CMA, or TUV.
Are paper plates recyclable?
Unless you are throwing out a clean, unused paper plate, they cannot be recycled. Even then, plates made with a waxy coating are not recyclable. And after being used, paper products cannot be recycled after being coated or soaked with food material.
Are paper plates compostable?
Paper products with a waxy coating cannot be composted. If made from 100% paper they may be composted, but if made from PLA, they have to be processed in a commercial composting facility.
Paper towels
Go Green: Minimize or eliminate use of disposable paper towels
It’s a lot easier to go without single-use paper towels than you may think. The most eco-friendly replacement is to simply repurpose old fabrics–clothes, towels, sheets, etc.–to make into rags or paper towels-sized cloths.
You might want some better looking, uniformly-sized cloths that are kept on a roll like traditional paper towels. Etsy has a plethora of reusable paper towels available in cute patterns, including some cotton ones I purchased from CozySimpleLiving, the same seller as the napkins mentioned above. These cost around $20 for a roll of 12. Marley’s Monsters UNpaper Towels are very similar, but are more pricey at $38 for 12, or $42 for organic cotton. If you really want to splurge, try Coyuchi’s Conserve Organic Paperless Towels, a set of 8 GOTS certified towels for $48. As great as these companies are, I think these products are extremely overpriced. Again, these would be very simple to make on your own, as they are essentially pieces of cloth with surged edges.
I’ve tried reusable paper towels made from bamboo, such as these Kitchen + Home Bamboo Towels, but I don’t really care for them as they are only reusable for about one week and ball up if you try to wash them.
I have become a fan of Swedish dishcloths because of their multiple uses: they can serve as a paper towel, dishrag, and sponge. In addition, they can be laundered in the washing machine and since they are made from plant cellulose and cotton, they are compostable when they reach the end of their life. What’s not to love?
I like both Grove Swedish Dishcloths and Swedish Wholesale Swedish Dishcloths. When my current batch eventually wears out, I’ll be trying Papaya Reusables. Their cloths come in a variety of super cute design options, and they have a little hole in the corner so they can be hung to dry from a hook, which you can also purchase.
Microfiber cloths are very popular option for cleaning. I have tried to stay away from microfiber in my home because they are composed of fossil fuel-based synthetic materials which may contribute to microplastic pollution. Learn more about microplastics and other plastic pollution here.
Greenest single-use paper towels
There are some things I don’t want to clean up with a reusable paper towel, like dog barf or other unmentionables. It is handy to keep a roll or two of disposable paper towels around for cases like this. As with all paper products, look for items that are made with 100% recycled materials, which is the most eco-friendly option, followed by bamboo. Both of these materials do not contribute to the significant deforestation created for tissue products.
Learn more about choosing eco-friendly paper products here.
Listed below are the paper towel brands that received A+ and A grades on the NRDC’s 2024 sustainability brand ratings:
A+ rated paper towels
‘A’ rated paper towels
- Field & Future – H-E-B brand
- Marcal
- Marcal Small Steps
- Simple Truth – Kroger brand
- Seventh Generation, White
- Everspring – Target brand
- GreenWise – Publix brand
- Rosey – Thrive Market brand
- Nature’s Promise – Giant Food brand
Of these paper towel choices, only Reel Paper and Who Gives a Crap are packaged in plastic-free packaging.
Are paper towels recyclable?
Paper towels are not recyclable. They may be composted if they’re not saturated with grease/oil or chemicals, including cleaning products.
Parchment Paper
Go Green: Silicone baking mats
Using a silicone baking mat is an eco-friendly, zero-waste substitute for both parchment paper and aluminum foil. According to Martha Stewart, they can be used up to 3,000 times…I’m all for eating 3,000 batches of cookies. In addition to the oven, these reusable mats can be used in the air fryer, microwave, fridge, and freezer.
Silpat, a French company, is known for creating the original silicone baking mat. These mats are composed of fiberglass, which distributes heat for more even cooking. The silicone outer layer is food-grade and free of BPA, phthalates, and peroxides. All Silpat mats are FDA, NSF and Kosher certified. The mats are offered in numerous sizes and shapes. The downside of these mats is that they are quite expensive, around $30 for one half sheet (regular cookie sheet sized) mat.
GIR silicone baking mats are a less expensive quality option. Like GIR spatulas, the baking mats are made with BPA-free 100% platinum-cured, pharmaceutical grade silicone.
Amazon Basics Silicone Baking Mats are a popular budget-friendly option at only $12.99 for a set of two mats. However, there is not much transparency about the quality of these mats other than that they are made from food-safe silicone.
Eco-friendly parchment paper
If You Care Parchment Baking Paper is the best choice if you need disposable parchment paper. It is sourced from sustainably managed FSC-certified forests, is totally chlorine-free, and certified backyard compostable. Available at Grove / Whole Foods / Target / Amazon
Any parchment paper can be reused multiple times.
Is parchment paper compostable?
Yes, parchment paper is ok to add to backyard compost.
Shredded paper
Only shred documents that contain sensitive information; many areas do not accept shredded paper for recycling, whereas whole sheets of office paper can be.
Can you recycle shredded paper?
Shredded paper is 100% recyclable, but it is not accepted in many areas because it basically turns into confetti when collected, and as with any other recyclables, it can’t be bagged. The best solution is to find a paper recycler in your area where you can deposit shredded paper. If you shred a lot of documents, consider a shredding service that will come collect it for you and recycle it.
Takeout Containers
Go Green: Take your own
Consider taking your own containers for leftovers when you go out. These foldable Stasher bags would be easy to…stash…in your purse, although they are a little spendy. Here’s a great list of more collapsible options.
Some takeout containers, especially the ones made from aluminum or heavy plastic, are very sturdy and can easily be washed and reused for food storage. Deli containers are also great; in our house, they came in handy when the kids went through a slime-making craze and I didn’t want to store that gunk in our regular food storage containers. I also use them when I am hosting people for dinner and sending them home with extra food.
Are takeout containers recyclable?
It depends on the material and what your local recycler accepts. Aluminum is ok, as well as whatever plastics are accepted. They need to be free of food residue. It’s safe to say that nobody will accept Styrofoam (polystyrene) takeout containers, and most likely not wax coated paper products either (think Chinese takeout).
Tissue Paper
Is tissue paper recyclable?
Yes, tissue paper can be recycled with other paper recycling. However, make sure that it is indeed paper and not plastic simply by ripping. If it can’t be torn, it’s plastic and needs to be tossed in the trash.
Tissues
Go Green: Reusable handkerchiefs or recycled facial tissues
You can choose to go old-school and bring back the handkerchief. Etsy has plenty of choices, or try these reusable tissues made by Last Object. I purchased them, and they’re great, but I’m having a hard time with the concept of cleaning snot-filled cloths.
As with all paper products, look for facial tissue that is made with 100% recycled materials, which is the most sustainable option, followed by bamboo. The brands the NRDC gives A+ or A ratings to in 2024 are:
- Green Forest (A+)
- Natural Value (A+)
- Trader Joe’s (A+)
- Fluff Out (A)
- Simple Truth (A)
- Seventh Generation (A) – Buy at Grove
- Rosey – Thrive Market (A)
Bamboo tissue recommendations – all receive ‘B’ grade
Of the A graded tissues, I’ve used the Seventh Generation, Trader Joe’s, and Rosey, in addition to Everspring tissues (which I’m not sure why they aren’t listed when their paper towels and TP get ‘A’ grades). My experience is that recycled tissues are soft, but just a little weaker than regular tissues made from virgin fibers. However it’s not enough to make a significant difference.
Bamboo tissues, on the other hand, are very strong, but also noticeably rougher in texture. It isn’t enough to chafe your nose, and I got used to it quickly.
Are tissues recyclable?
Tissues are not recyclable. They can technically be composted, but your backyard pile may not get hot enough to kill germs in snotty tissues, and green waste collectors probably don’t want them. Compost if you wish, or trash.
Toilet Paper
Click here to learn how to choose eco-friendly toilet paper.
Wrapping Paper
Go Green: Skip buying wrapping paper
Instead of buying wrapping paper, reuse brown shipping paper, newspaper, paper shopping bags, or any other type of paper you have on hand. If you don’t want creases in the paper, iron them out on low heat.
Adopt Furoshiki, a Japanese tradition of wrapping objects in cloth to carry or for gifts. You can use any cloth you have, or buy some beautiful cotton cloths for this very purpose from Bento&Co.
Reuse.
Buy wrapping paper that is printed on one of the three following options:
- Sustainably sourced FSC-certified paper, such as Central 23, which is also plastic and chemical-free, vegan, and printed with vegetable inks.
- Available on Amazon
- 100% recycled paper, like this unwaxed and uncoated Creative Paper Co. Brown Kraft Paper Roll.
- Tree-free paper, like this beautiful handmade HeavenHemp Lotka Paper, made from fibers from a bush.
Is wrapping paper recyclable?
Wrapping paper can be recycled as long as it isn’t metallic or coated with wax, plastic, or glitter. Test wrapping paper using the scrunch test: if you scrunch it into a ball and it stays that way, it is ok to be recycled. If it doesn’t stay in a ball, it’s made with plastic and cannot be recycled.