It may be the most wonderful time of the year, but the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day is also the period when our bins overflow with discarded paper and cardboard.
Yet amidst the ribbons, wrappings, and festive cardboard boxes, there lies an opportunity for creativity and responsibility. You guessed it – we’re talking again about recycling paper and cardboard, but this time with a festive twist!
Boxing Day, literally
Cardboard boxes are the unsung heroes of the holidays. Beyond their intended packaging use, they can be repurposed into plenty of fun and functional items.
Kids can dive into their imaginations to turn them into playhouses, rocket ships, or even sleds for those snowy (or rainy, we’re in the UK after all) afternoons. For grown-ups, these sturdy boxes can be repurposed as useful storage solutions for holiday decorations, ensuring they stay safe and sound until next year.
Planning ahead
Christmas may be done and dusted this year, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t already be thinking of Christmas ’24!
Those delivery boxes that Santa and Amazon rely so much on can be transformed into charming tree ornaments, festive garlands, or even a quirky, eco-friendly Christmas tree alternative. Let your imagination run wild as you cut, paint, and deck your halls with DIY décor. Who knew that the humble cardboard box could be the star of your holiday decor?
And let’s not forget about wrapping paper, the other star of the gifting season. Before tearing it off and tossing it away, do the ‘scrunch test’ – if when crumpled it stays in place, you know it’s made of paper; if instead it starts expanding, it’s because it’ll feature plastic components. Once you’re certain it’s completely paper-based, consider giving it a second life. How about creating custom gift tags for next year’s presents? Or, if you’re feeling crafty, use the paper scraps and combine them with cardboard for a festive collage or a set of handmade greeting cards.
Remember to recycle responsibly.
We’ve always encouraged our followers to think beyond the box – now we’re asking you to think before the bin!
As the festivities begin to wind down and the time comes to clean up, remember to sort your paper and cardboard materials responsibly. Flatten those boxes, remove any non-paper packaging, and ensure they’re clean, dry and with no traces of glitter before they are placed in the recycling bin. It may be a small act, but it makes a big difference in the recycling process.
As we bid farewell to another holiday season, let’s do so with the satisfaction of knowing we’ve added a touch of green to our celebrations. Repurposing and recycling our paper and cardboard not only sparks joy and creativity but also contributes to a more sustainable environment – so let’s carry this spirit forward into the New Year and beyond!