Month: October 2021

The present-day world we live in is seeing a boom in the exploitation of resources that industries crave to grow financially. The phenomenon of mass production is fixated on tending to people’s year-round needs which are constantly evolving at a rapid pace. 

Having to provide for millions of people and satisfying new trends means high demand rates, and thus the need for accommodating a heap of supply. New eye-catching products are being rolled out weekly and there is no sign of manufacturers and brands taking a step back. 

Aesthetics and presentation play an important role in our consuming habits and there is an often overlooked industry that makes everything more attractive: the gift wrapping industry. 

This specific industry is tied to an important matter: sustainability. Shopping and gift-giving is an exciting activity as humans naturally gravitate towards gifting and receiving. There is an environmentally costly race for “presentation” due to the widespread use of new, eye-catching wrapping supplies (specially during the holiday season) such as wrapping paper, ribbons, and other single-use non-recyclable materials to be able to package a plethora of trendy items. 

According to an article by Grand View Research on the statistics and trends on gift wrapping products in the US, “Product innovation in gift wrapping products is the major factor contributing to the growth of this industry. Furthermore, the rise in purchasing power has increased the demand for elegant and customized gifting options” (2019). 

The next two figures by Grand View Research show the packaging products expected to have the highest demand projecting numbers until 2025, and the general upwards trend for the demand of gifting supplies, and thus show where sustainable gift wrapping options could be implemented.

Wrapping paper is the main culprit for wasteful gift-giving, as it is used disproportionately in large amounts. Reasons explaining how wrapping paper is detrimental to the environment are summarized in an article from Wheelie Bin Solutions, whose goal is to reach out to the community about promoting recycling and making changes in the waste bin industry. The author also states that wrapping paper creates enormous tons of waste each year, enough to tear down many forests since it uses “virgin paper”, and most often has components and decorations attached that cannot be recycled (Pryce 2020). 

Image from https://shop.tokki.com/blogs/tokkigifting/is-wrapping-paper-recyclable-the-truth-might-surprise-you

There is currently an active movement going around to oppose this issue called “Green Gifting” (Tokki 2020). Companies are starting to look into recycled wrapping paper options, and they are certainly on the rise. More importantly,  people have found creative eco-friendly gift wrapping solutions that are making their way to social media. Most techniques tackle the paper-waste aspect of traditional gift-wrapping and repurpose toilet paper rolls, paper bags, newspaper, and textiles. Other ideas show how to substitute or find alternatives to single-use items such as tape, cards and envelopes. 

Let’s do our part and start being conscious of what we can use and how we use our resources, especially with the holiday season is around the corner. This is the season to start reducing, recycling and repurposing what we already have. Scroll through the images below to find ideas on how to implement “Green Gifting,” and well…. that’s a wrap!

         

Fabric wrapping (Japanese Furoshiki technique)

https://www.sustainablebabysteps.com/fabric-gift-wrap

Paper bag bows

https://shop.tokki.com/blogs/tokkigifting/is-wrapping-paper-recyclable-the-truth-might-surprise-you

Eco Friendly wrapping paper from Earth Greetings (Aussie brand)

https://thegreenhubonline.com/2020/12/01/eco-friendly-sustainable-christmas-gift-wrapping-ideas/

 

Additional sources:

https://www.allthingssupplychain.com/the-wrapping-paper-waste-problem-and-what-can-be-done-about-it/

https://www.grandviewresearch.com/industry-analysis/gift-wrapping-products-market

https://wheeliebinsolutions.co.uk/blogs/recycling/the-shocking-environmental-impact-of-wrapping-paper

https://shop.tokki.com/blogs/tokkigifting/is-wrapping-paper-recyclable-the-truth-might-surprise-you

Sustainable living is becoming more popular and recognized as an increasing lifestyle choice. Many people associate sustainability with conscious choices we make during our daily routines. However, as a society, we fail to recognize that we can be sustainable without even having to get out of bed. It’s called sleep sustainability. Humans spend up to half of the day in their bedrooms and more specifically, in their beds. Making simple changes to one’s night routine can drastically improve sustainability- and improve sleep quality as well!

For starters, replace your ten-year-old mattress with a new eco-friendly one. Organic mattresses are free from chemicals and other harmful substances. They are also fire-resistant, allergen resistant and biodegradable. The next step is to cover your new mattress with green bedding. 100% cotton sheets and organic materials are breathable, soft and clean from toxins. What you wear to bed matters too: breathable, silky soft materials like bamboo, hemp, cotton and flannel provide comfort and can elevate your sleep style.

There are also steps you can take to improve your sleeping environment. The addition of houseplants in the bedroom cleans the air and removes contaminants- perfect for improving sleep quality. A cooler sleeping environment is both better for your sleep cycle and the environment, so turn down the heater in the winter months and crack a window for cool summer air. It can be hard to fully wake up in the mornings, but taking a cold shower gives you the perfect kickstart to your day and saves water by cutting down the length of your showers. Even the simple act of centering your sleeping hours around the rising and setting of the sun is sustainable, as lighting and electricity does not need to be used. Unplugging devices such as laptops and phones reduce electricity use and blue light emitted from screens which prohibits the production of melatonin, the hormone that controls your sleepcycle. An environmentally friendly bedroom is depicted in image 1 with sustainable bedding, houseplants, bamboo window shades and energy friendly lighting fixtures.

Image 1: Eco-friendly bedroom

In the cottage, we have been implementing these habits and exploring new ways to be sustainable during our sleeping hours. After entering the cottage, you will immediately notice the copious plants and greenery surrounding our living spaces. Cylinder solar lights, like the one depicted in image two, allow greenbelt residents to substitute electricity use for the natural glow of the sun. Personally, I adorned my twin xl college bed with 100% cotton sheets and make use of an organic sleep eye mask. After nightfall, the cottage is lit up with solar string lights that convert sunlight from daytime into energy. The cottage is not only practicing sustainability in waking hours, but we are making efforts to improve the environment, even while sleeping.

Image 2: Solar lighting tube

 

https://www.ecomena.org/eco-friendly-sleep/

https://www.euronews.com/green/2019/05/26/8-ways-to-green-your-sleep-routine

 

A sustainable lifestyle encompasses all aspects of life, including fashion and shopping, areas people might not associate with their carbon footprint. However, to people that may not be familiar with sustainability, I think sustainable fashion is something that people could easily learn and understand, and moreover change in their lives. I know that once I learned the impact of some big fashion corporations, I stopped shopping from them because not only do they negatively impact the environment, but their manufacturing tactics are also inhumane. Brands like Zara, H&M, Forever 21, and Shein are slowly getting exposed for their bad practices, but that doesn’t necessarily stop people from shopping from them. Cheap prices are great in the moment, especially for college students, but I think an education on the long-term impact of “fast fashion” and the importance of shopping with the environment in mind would be beneficial for us all.

CBS published an article in 2019 stating that “Fashion industry’s carbon impact is bigger than airline industry’s” which I think puts things into perspective. It attributes the problems to fast fashion, or the business of encouraging consumption with low prices and fast changing new collections of clothing proving to be                           (Wagner 2021)                                      detrimental to the environment (CBS 2019). The article also offers potential solutions, like consignment and resale of clothes. Once people understand that shopping is more of an investment, and that spending in a smart way can benefit them now and down the line if they choose to buy and sell used clothes, it is a win-win for the consumers and the environment.

This awareness and mindfulness of the processes and resources required in fashion is called slow fashion, the opposite of fast fashion. It is considered sustainable and ethical fashion that focuses on the reduction of consumption and production, along with good quality and fair treatment of people, animals, and the environment (Good On You 2021). One can participate and advocate for slow fashion by shopping secondhand, using consignment and resale, doing research on the brands you buy, and upcycling. Local thrift or consignment stores are a great place to start, and the website https://goodonyou.eco/ can help you research your brands.

    Like I mentioned, upcycling is another great way to recycle clothing, a way of reusing something in a way that makes it of higher value or quality, like sewing an old piece of clothing to make a new product. This is close to my heart specifically because I upcycle clothing myself! It is something I started over the summer, and I now have my own Etsy page; I thrift shirts and pullovers from secondhand stores and embroider or add patterns to make them original pieces! This is a small way that I have encouraged slow fashion, in that now when people buy from me, they receive an original piece without any environmental impacts. 

Original Bookshelf Embroidered Sweatshirt

https://www.etsy.com/shop/EcoFriendlyFits?ref=profile_header

      While the use of the “Good On You” website or simply buying secondhand clothes may seem like a small and insignificant change you’re making in your life, think about the possible outcomes if it is done by others and on a large scale! I hope this has encouraged you to be mindful when shopping and practice more sustainable fashion!

 

 

Sources:

“Fashion Industry’s Carbon Impact Bigger than Airline Industry’s.” CBS News, CBS Interactive, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/earth-day-2019-fashion-industrys-carbon-impact-is-bigger-than-airline-industrys/.

“Good on You.” Good On You, 1 Oct. 2021, https://goodonyou.eco/.

Wagner, Words by: Luisa, and Words by: “The Environmental Impact of the Fast Fashion Industry: Infographic & Stats.” Sanvt, 16 Mar. 2020, https://sanvt.com/journal/environmental-impact-of-fast-fashion-infographic/.

“What Is Slow Fashion?” Good On You, 8 July 2021, https://goodonyou.eco/what-is-slow-fashion/.