Problem Background
The development and adoption of eco-friendly gift wrapping, using recycled paper and natural dyes, can contribute to a more sustainable and environmentally conscious gift-giving culture in various ways. The main issue is that it changes the mindset of people, who become more aware of ecological problems and implement sustainable solutions in daily practices. In addition, they reduce waste, which influences all spheres of social life.
Perspectives on Waste
It is possible to discuss waste from sociological, economic, and ecological perspectives. Hird (2022) states that those social groups that suffer from a lack of financial resources are less likely to care about sustainable solutions compared to wealthier ones. Mugambi et al. (2020) investigate the question of sustainability and waste from an economic point of view. The authors claim that creating a circular economy is the solution to the ecological disaster. Recycled paper and natural dyes are examples of more organic and sustainable waste compared to the chemical solutions that are widely used.
Reducing Waste Through Everyday Practices
The book by Simon (2019) discusses numerous topics regarding creating a society without destructive practices for the environment. The information regarding reducing waste in everyday actions applies to the current investigation regarding sustainable gift-wrapping. The author discusses the usefulness of preferring recycled paper and natural dyes in producing goods (Simon 2019). It states that every individual can improve the situation with waste if they reduce the use of polluting materials in the actions they make daily without thinking about it.
The Importance of Understanding Sustainability
Making sustainable and eco-friendly gift solutions requires a detailed understanding of the topic from people. The book by van Oosten et al. (2022) provides a detailed overview of plastic use in producing various things. Even though the focus of the text is on conservators, the information regarding plastic has a general character. The authors claim that people rarely think about the materials they use to produce the things they use, which leads to excessive waste and pollution of the environment (Oosten et al., 2022).
Similarly, Che and Yang (2022) state that many people have a limited or unclear understanding of sustainability color and textile coloration with natural plant resources. The article by Boes and Rickard (2019) focuses on the examination of the topic of sustainability and waste, which is consistent with the theme of reducing waste from gift wrapping and contributing to the environmentally conscious perspective on life. The authors state that most people have a vague understanding of sustainability, which leads to food waste (Boes & Rickard. 2019).
Undas et al. (2023) investigate a similar topic of reducing waste by using recycled plastics and textiles. The authors claim that the urban environment is especially prone to waste because people are used to the fact that garbage disappears automatically due to cleaning services (Undas et al., 2023). As a result, they do not develop a conscious attitude to waste.
Legislative and Market Trends in Sustainability
There is a waste policy in the United States that gives the legislative background to protecting the environment. Yadav et al. (2023) provide a review on natural dyes and pigments, emphasizing that more people have started sharing an eco-friendly mindset. It is consistent with the research question concerning finding sustainable solutions to the problem of gist-wrapping. Pizzicato et al. (2023) describe the advancements in sustainable natural dyes for textile applications, meaning that most individuals are willing to pay for sustainable solutions. This idea shows that eco-friendly gift wrapping can become a widespread practice if it is popularized.
References
Che, J., & Yang, X. (2022). A recent (2009-2021) perspective on sustainable color and textile coloration using natural plant resources. Heliyon, 8(10). Web.
Hird, M. J. (2022). A public sociology of waste. Bristol University Press.
Mugambi, J. K., Windberg, C., Ddiba, D., Ogol, T., Andersson, K., Gicheru, T., & Akinyi, E. (2020). Organic waste and ongoing resource recovery activities. In C. Trimmer (Ed.), Setting the stage for the circular economy: Waste resource recovery opportunities in Naivasha, Kenya (pp. 14–22). Stockholm Environment Institute. Web.
Pizzicato B, Pacifico S, Cayuela D, Mijas G, Riba-Moliner M. (2023). Advancements in sustainable natural dyes for textile applications: A review. Molecules, 28(16): 5954. Web.
Simon, J. M. (2019). A zero waste world. Journal of International Affairs, 73(1), 273–278. Web.
Undas, A. K., Groenen, M., Peters, R. J. B., & van Leeuwen, S. P. J. (2023). Safety of recycled plastics and textiles: Review on the detection, identification and safety assessment of contaminants. Chemosphere, 312(1). Web.
Van Oosten, T. B., Beerkens, L., Cudell, A., Laganà, A., & Veiga, R. (2022). Properties of plastics: A guide for conservators. Getty Publications.
Yadav, S., Tiwari, K. S., Gupta, C., Tiwari, M. K., Khan, A., Sonkar, S. P. (2023). A brief review on natural dyes, pigments: Recent advances and future perspectives. Results in Chemistry, 5, 1-17. Web.