In the excitement of gift-giving, it’s easy to overlook the environmental toll that wrapping paper, greeting cards, and other packaging materials can take. Each year, over 4.6 million tons of wrapping paper are used in the U.S. alone, most of which ends up in landfills due to its non-recyclable coatings. In the European Union, the production of greeting cards and wrapping paper contributes to the cutting of approximately 2 million trees annually. This widespread use of single-use materials not only leads to significant deforestation but also results in an estimated 10 million tons of waste being added to landfills each year globally. The charming and festive nature of these products belies their environmental cost, highlighting a pressing need for more sustainable practices in the gifting industry.