With Diwali around the corner, preparations and celebrations are in full swing. From choosing the right gift to preparing mouth-watering delicacies, the festive cheer brings in a lot of things. It also brings in a lot of waste, especially plastic waste. The plastic wrapping sheets used for packing gifts and sweets is hazardous for us and our environment. In India, around 25,000 tonnes of plastic waste is produced daily, of which some part is recycled and the rest clutters the landfills.
Why you need to avoid plastic sheets
A quick search on Google can show you tons of harmful effects of plastic wrapping sheets. They’re not only non-recyclable, but also toxic! Because of the plastic and dyes found in wrapping paper, toxic gases are released into the atmosphere when it burns in the landfill. Not only this, the glittering sheets attract animals who choke on them. Also, as this plastic ends up in oceans, it gets ingested by marine animals and becomes the cause of their death.
‘Gift wrapping is a trend these days’
Chandigarh-based Gagandeep Mann, owner of Basket’s Charm (a packaging and gifting service), says, “There is a huge market for gift wrapping services, especially in cities. It has become a trend and is improving over the years. Whether a gift is being wrapped for a festival or any particular occasion, everyone makes sure that it looks fancy and is presentable.”
“I try to reuse as many materials as possible as it is our duty to protect the environment. One should definitely reuse the plastic wrapping sheets and make the most of them. But, rather than plastic wrapping sheets, one can opt for paper sheet or eco-friendly wrapping paper, which is easily available in the market in different designs. They might be a bit expensive compared to plastic wrapping sheets, but they look better and don’t harm the environment.”
“One can also get creative by experimenting with old newspapers, magazines, maps, calendars. It is a sustainable way and you can decorate it with doris, threads, ribbons, simple paper art, etc. Even a small tag with a message can do wonders. A little bit of effort goes a long way, so one shouldn’t hesitate to get creative.”
“The trick about wrapping is using proper technique. You can buy a wrapping sheet worth ₹100, but if it does not have finishing and is tied loosely, it will not have any grace. Similarly, a gift wrapped in simple newspaper can look wonderful if done properly. One can find many ideas on the internet and try something new,” she said.
Here are few easy hacks you can adopt:
- One can also use canvas/jute/paper bags. They come in a variety of sizes and are strong and durable. These bags won’t even cost you much.
- If you don’t have much time, you can go for the classic brown covers. A simple thread/ribbon tied around it or an attached flower can do wonders.
- If you keep up with the memes, decorate the gift with characters from comics or paste some funny dialogues. You can even write the name of your loved one using cut outs from comics.
Gift wrapping improves the hand-eye coordination of children and is also a wonderful way to spend time with your children. The other person will definitely feel your love and will always cherish it.
