Carbon Footprint Showdown: How To Wrap Gifts Sustainably

TL;DR: This holiday season, the biggest surprise might not be inside the box—it could be the carbon footprint hiding in your gift wrap. Discover how a simple wrapping choice can transform your carbon and water footprints and inspire creativity.

The holiday season is here! While you’re busy choosing the perfect gifts, have you thought about how you’ll wrap them? It might seem like a minor decision, but your wrapping choices can significantly impact the environment.

We paired up two contenders for a holiday-inspired carbon footprint showdown:

Traditional Wrapping Paper vs. Yesterday's Newspaper.

Which packaging option will come out on top? Let's dive in.

Is Wrapping Paper Also Pretty for the Planet?

In one corner, we have traditional gift wrap: patterned, shiny and a festive choice with many different options for color and occasion. And it's definitely a popular selection: the global wrapping paper market stood at US$ 4.5 billion in 2023 and is projected to reach US$ 6.9 billion by 2032!

Indeed, wrapping paper is colorful and fun, but its environmental footprint isn’t something to celebrate. We did the math, and it turns out that wrapping a single gift (about the size of a shoebox) produces 25.87 grams of CO₂e, roughly equivalent of using a laptop for an hour! Multiply that by the dozens of gifts exchanged every holiday season, and the numbers add up quickly.

At Least It Can Be Recycled, Right?

Unfortunately, not. Most wrapping paper isn’t recyclable due to the glitter, metallic finishes, and plastic coatings that can't be salvaged. In other words, most wrapping paper ends up in landfills. The UK alone tosses over 365,000 km of wrapping paper during the December holidays: enough to wrap the Earth 8 times!

A good test to determine the recyclability of your wrapping paper is to try the Scrunch Test: if it can be balled up and stays that way, it's recyclable. If not, it needs to go in the bin (see video below).

The Case for Yesterday's Newspaper: Reading the Fine Print

Next up to bat is yesterday's newspaper. It's black, white, read all over, and perfectly suitable for one last job before it hits the recycling bin. That's right, our calculations show that this underdog, fantastic (and retro) gift-wrapping alternative emits only 3.44 grams of CO₂e: an 85% reduction compared to traditional wrapping paper!

More Sustainability Benefits to Love

After you finish your daily crossword, enjoy even more environmental benefits that newspaper has to offer. Using yesterday's newspaper to wrap just one gift requires 27 liters less water per gift than wrapping paper. Those water savings could translate into bottomless festive beverages for the whole family (think: 13 cups EACH of Hot Chocolate, Irish Coffee, Eggnog, Bombardino, Christmas punch, Glühwein, Wassail, Pálinka and Glühwein [Drink responsibly!]).

Creative Ways to Wrap Gifts with Yesterday's Newspaper

You might be thinking: sure, the carbon and water savings are significant, but won't newspaper-wrapped gifts look plain? Think again! Here are some easy ways to make them stand out:

1. Add a Pop of Color: Tie your gift with twine or fabric scraps (or reused ribbons).

2. Highlight Fun Sections: Use the comics or crossword puzzles for a playful touch.

3. Go Natural: Decorate with dried orange slices, pinecones or cinnamon sticks for a rustic feel.

4. Create Newsprint Bow Toppers: DIY bows and ribbons out of newspaper can add a unique and personal touch.

   

Want more inspiration? Check out this Pinterest board of eco-friendly wrapping ideas and unleash your creativity!

In the carbon savings spirit, but not so keen on newspaper? Other eco-friendly wrapping ideas include:

1. Reusing gift bags from previous years

2. Wrapping gifts in scarves or reusable fabric

3. Repurposing glass jars or tins for smaller presents

   

About This Carbon Comparison: Doing the Math

This simulation is inspired by the C-mulator™, an innovative carbon footprint simulation tool by the ECO-OS ESG software suite that empowers marketing and sales teams to demonstrate the impact of the advanced, sustainability-optimized material choices - in real-time.

Methodology and Results

For this holiday simulation, we assumed:

1. Gift size: 15x15x15 cm

2. Wrapping dimensions (with 25% overlap): 0.16875 m²

3. Environmental factors: Paper production: 1.339 g CO₂e/g; Transportation: 0.0975 g CO₂e/g; Landfill: 1.164 g CO₂e/g; Recycling: 0.0064 g CO₂e/g

4. Wrapping paper: All new materials; Typical weight: 80 g/m²; Total weight: 13.5 g

5. Yesterday's newspaper: Reused (previously read); Typical weight: 42.5 g/m²; Total weight: 7.1719 g

Here's how the results stacked up:

Wrapping Up the Carbon Footprint: Make The Greener Gift Choice

This holiday season, consider swapping traditional wrapping paper for yesterday’s newspaper; it’s an easy, cost-effective way to reduce your carbon footprint, conserve water, and add a personal, creative touch to your gifts.

Ready to make the change? Share your eco-friendly wrapping ideas with us on social media by tagging #Cmulatorsimulations and #Sustainablematerialswaps.

Happy holidays—and happy wrapping!