Brits will use an average of 10-and-a-half metres of wrapping paper this Christmas – but less than half (44%) regularly stop to consider whether their gift wrapping is recyclable, a study has found.
One in five Brits admit they typically use their wrapping paper as fuel for the bonfire, while three in ten (31%) tend to just chuck it all in a black bin bag.
But a poll of 2,000 adults, who celebrate the season, found that half of Brits want to be more sustainable this Christmas – with two-thirds (67%) keeping doing their bit for the planet at the forefront of their mind over the festive season.
One in four believe their eco-efforts increase in the run-up to Christmas, with a third of eco-conscious respondents saying they will try to re-use their wrapping paper.
But the gift wrap only stands a second chance as long as it is rip-free and tape-free, and clear of any crinkles or folds.
A spokesman for Quality Street, which commissioned the research after switching its plastic wrappers to paper, said: “Wrapping gifts is such a big part of the run-up to Christmas.
“It helps you get into the festive spirit, and makes you excited to watch your loved ones unwrap their presents on the big day.
“The research revealed the sheer amount of wrapping paper many people use in their lifetime, and that a lot of it can go to waste.”
When asked to consider some of the non-eco-friendly behaviours they are guilty of over Christmas, 31% admitted to getting through loads of sticky tape – and a quarter (24%) felt they generated too many non-recyclable sweet wrappers when raiding the chocolate box.
A ravenous 23% said Christmas was the time of year when they were likely to eat more meat, while 22% felt some eco-guilt about running lots of lights and electrical items to get their home feeling festive.
The average Brit will wrap 17 presents this Christmas, using three-and-a-half rolls of three-metre wrapping paper in the process.
But one in five (21%) have changed things up in the past, wrapping a gift in newspaper, while 16% have taken magazine cuttings to cover a gift for a loved one.
Of the toughest wrapping challenges likely to be tackled by festive adults this Christmas, a bicycle was viewed as the most difficult item to conceal, followed by a drumkit and a house plant.
And one in three (32%) have had second thoughts about picking up an awkwardly-shaped gift, because of the hassle it would cause to wrap.
A confident 21% believe their wrapping skills are second to none – while 48% would rate themselves as average or sub-par paper smiths.
The study, conducted by OnePoll, found 43% would expect to pay more for wrapping paper which is 100% recyclable.
As for discerning whether wrapping paper is recyclable or not, just two in five (39%) know to do “the scrunch test”, where recyclable paper will stay scrunched in a ball and non-recyclable will not.
The Quality Street spokesman added: “We’re proud to have a long running association with Christmas and, with our move to paper packaging, it will soon be as easy to recycle our wrappers as it is to enjoy the delicious sweets inside.
“To celebrate our move, and for a bit of festive fun, we’re putting on the first ever “Quality Street Christmas Wrapped Up” pop-up, where fans can bring an item to be gift wrapped in limited-edition wrapping paper made from the same recyclable paper as our sweets.”
It will be taking place today only (December 21st) at 68 Old Compton Street, London, W1D 4UN, from 12-7pm.
TOP 10 NON-ECO-FRIENDLY THINGS BRITS DO AT CHRISTMAS:
- Use loads of sticky tape
- Throw away loads of non-recyclable sweet wrappers
- Use non-recyclable wrapping paper
- Eat more meat
- Run lots of lights and electrical items
- Leave the TV running when nobody's watching it
- Throw recyclable sweet wrappers in the bin instead of the recycling
- Throw things in the bin that could probably be recycled
- Throw away batteries that could be recycled
- Throw away more food than normal