Sustainable gift-wrapping solutions to adore!

The amount of wrapping paper thrown away in the UK alone, is enough to reach the moon! That is equivalent to 384,400 km.

Shocking enough?

Every holiday season, US households throw away 25% more trash than any other time of the year. A big part of this daunting number includes the materials used for gift wrapping. The shiny and glittery wrapping paper, ribbons, and plastic bows can’t be recycled and end up in landfills. When you get down to gift-wrapping, start by looking for reusable material at home. If you don't have anything, you can always check for cute materials at second-hand shops.

Let’s start wrapping!

1. Furoshiki

Furoshiki is a Japanese wrapping cloth traditionally used to carry around belongings, but has now become a popular eco-friendly gift wrapping method in other cultures as well. To wrap a gift in furoshiki, all you need is a two-sided square cloth and some basic folding skills. Here’s a simple way to wrap a gift in furoshiki:

Source: Invaluable

There are also plenty of other furoshiki gift wrapping ideas out there that cover various kinds of gift types and forms. To get the most out of it, use a piece of cloth you already own—look for forgotten gems in your closet or scarf drawer. Tip: To make the wrapping fancier and add some nice rustling sound, wrap the gift in leftover tissue paper under the cloth.

If you want to keep it as simple as possible or just don’t have the patience for decorating, furoshiki is the right choice for you. When wrapping a gift in furoshiki, you’ll see that no decorations are needed. Just find a nice cloth, perhaps with a festive pattern, and you’re good to go.

2. Kraft paper

Most types of wrapping paper can’t be recycled. The shiny, laminated paper, and anything glossy, glittery, and metallic-looking contaminates the whole batch if thrown together with recyclable paper. This is where kraft paper comes in—it’s biodegradable and recyclable. 

Let your creativity shine when decorating a gift wrapped in kraft paper. To complement the rustic look of the paper, decorate the gifts with some natural materials like pinecones, dried plants, or dried orange slices. Tip: Remember to go tape-free to keep it eco-friendly.

3. Gift bags

Finding eco-friendly gift bags is easier than you think. First off, you can use a multi-purpose bag as a gift bag. I’d love receiving a gift wrapped in an eco-friendly tote. Or even better, create personalized tote bag or a personalised drawstring bag that can be used for years. If you’re into crafts, there are ways how you can create reusable and eco-friendly fabric gift bags yourself. Look through your closet for pillow cases, scarves, sweaters you don’t wear anymore, and anything else that can be reused, but doesn’t look old and washed out yet. Tip: Sweater sleeves make great gift bags for wine bottles.

Save up all the gift bags, gift sachets, and drawstring bags you get and you won’t have to worry about buying new ones and creating more waste. But if you decide to buy a gift bag after all, make sure you purchase something reusable or recyclable.

4. Newspaper & magazines

While more people are switching from printed newspapers to digital news, there are still 28.6 million copies of newspapers printed daily. And many of us have our own share of newspapers and magazines lying around at home waiting to be reused and recycled. 

There are quite a few ways to make this simple and thrifty idea into something meaningful. For example, go through your stack of newspapers and look for an interesting or funny article that complements the gift you’re giving. Or find an unsolved crossword puzzle and use it as a place to write your holiday greetings.

Ask your friends or family to share some of the newspapers they don’t use anymore, and in exchange, share your gift wrapping idea with them. They might try it out as well! 

5. Carton boxes

This is the time for you to rattle through all your saved up gift boxes and any other reusable boxes you have (for example, cardboard delivery boxes). If they don’t look as good anymore, there are ways to freshen them up. Use eco-friendly colors, kraft paper, newspapers, or saved up tissue paper to make gift boxes look like new.

But there’s also a way to make an eco-friendly gift box yourself. All you need is the inside of a paper towel or toilet paper roll. What’s great about this gift wrapping idea is that you can leave it to the kids to wrap small gifts as well. It’s quick, easy, and you won’t even need scissors or tape. Just fold both ends of the roll and you’re all done. 

With the right eco-friendly decoration of some leftover ribbons, pine tree sprigs, or anything else you find, it’ll be hard to tell how the gift box was made. (Although, you can always make the receiver guess, and spread the word about eco-friendly gift wrapping at the same time!)

6. Glass jars

This is another adorable gift wrapping idea where all you need is to look through your shelves to find a glass jar waiting to be reused. If you don’t have any jars at home, remember to save up jars from pickled goods the next time you eat them. Or, again, just ask around—your family and friends will definitely have some spare jars you can use.

Add a personal touch by decorating the jar with some cinnamon sticks, candy canes, eucalyptus leaves, or carved wooden decors. If you have some leftover pieces of cloth from furoshiki wrapping, use them to cover the top of the jar and tie it up with twine. Tip: If you’re short on gift ideas that fit in a jar, try some homemade goods, like jam or eggnog, or small DIY kits.

Sustainable gift-wrapping station at the Christmas Green Fair

We thought it would be handy and convenient to offer visitors at the Green Fair sustainable gift-wrapping. You can shop over 40 stalls, all selling approved eco-friendly and sustainably-made products, and we'll wrap your gifts in some of the methods mentioned above. 

The Christmas Green Fair is on Saturday 19 and Sunday 20 November at The Veg Box and Majjistral Nature Park, Manikata. Only 3 minutes walk from Golden Bay. 

Besides eco gifts, you will find vegan and vegetarian food and the many delicious Christmas treats, vegan wines & beers, ice-cream and chai. The popular Kids4Kids Market will be happening too - plus several fun workshops! 

The agenda looks like this:

• Saturday 19 November
• 10.00hrs – Permaculture Workshop
• 12.00hrs – Kids Workshop: Make your own Santa Stocking
• 13.30hrs – Plant-based Nutrition Talk & Recipes
• 15.00hrs – The Elves Workshop
• 16.30hrs – BEE-Aware Workshop
• Ongoing – Kids4Kids Market, Sustainable gift wrapping, thrifting and face-painting
• 
  
• Sunday 20 November
• 10.00hrs – Finger puppet show 
• 12.00hrs – Kids Workshop: Make your own Advent Calendar
• 13.30hrs – Kids Yoga
• 15.00hrs – The Elves Worksop
• 16.30hrs – Sunset Yoga
• Ongoing – Kids4Kids Market, Sustainable gift wrapping, thrifting and face-painting
• 
  

Visit the Event Page for more info.

This year, let's choose local, mindfully and sustainably!

Why do public markets matter?

Public markets are as old as civilization. They were once a primary channel where people gathered to find the ingredients for their meals. Around the world, for centuries, the buying and selling and exchange of food and other essential products has been transacted in public marketplaces open to all. As urbanisation and industrialisation swept through, in the mid 90th century, public markets started to decline. By 1950s, supermarkets had eclipsed the old public markets in both convenience and sales volume.

Yet, public markets never wholly disappeared and they are making a comeback. In some countries, markets remained an immersive tradition and a cultural experience.  

This September, we saw the return of the original Eco Market, the summer edition at the beautiful Square in Mellieha, and it was great to see the community coming alive again, after three years! 

Eco Market in Mellieha, 2019

Eco Market in Mellieha, 2022

The Eco Market took place during EU Sustainability Mobility Week and on this occasion, we organised several mobility-related activities. For the young ones, we had free balance bikes trials, and there was also a fun obstacle course for kids on bicycle, scooter and skates. There were crafts where children had the opportunity to build their own 'futuristic' vehicle from upcycled materials. Kids also had fun learning new moves at the yoga session, and reflect during a mindfulness session.

For the adults there was an AI workshop, to better understand the role of artificial intelligence in the mobility sector and several info stalls about green jobs and cycling. 

The Eco Market's purpose goes beyong the buying and the selling. Our focus is on inspiring sustainability as a way of life and on public good. Our events create a safe active space for people with like-minded interests to learn, share and give birth to new ideas. We bring diverse people together, from retired tourists enjoying the experience and supporting local small business owners - to young children who ask their parents to take them to the Eco Market! 

As an ethical and sustainable business, we promote public health and well-being, through plant-based food, but also vegan wines, beers and ice-cream. Also all the beauty products are chemical-free and made from natural ingredients, mostly organic. Everything is packed in a sustainable way and there is a 100% ban on all types of single-use plastics. 

Buying with purpose

Supporting small local business owners at markets has several ripple effects. From the point of view of the vendors, it is a unique opportunity. For instance, those who have just started their business have the chance to explain face to face the work behind their product to their prospective customers, while getting confident in their new role and beating the fear and anxiety that inevitably comes with a new business. For seasoned business owners, markets are an additional stream of income, especially those who do not have a brick-and-mortar store.

Buyers, on the other hand, know that purchasing something from a local brand means that the product is made with love and care, as opposed to underpaid labor, and they get to appreciate the creativity rather than seeing mass-consumed objects. They get to meet the artist or creator behind the product and establish a mutually beneficial relationship.

Eco Market vendors and their products are approved according to our sustainability criteria which looks into how the product is made, what raw materials are used, where they came from, the life-shelf of the product, and several other aspects. It is important to mention that we do not look for perfection - for we do not believe such thing exists. We believe in effort, in progress, and in a passionate heart. Therefore brands who do not use any single-use plastic, and tick at least one of our criteria, are welcome to the Eco Market. 

UPCOMING EVENTS

We're looking forward to hold Eco Market's 'Marine Life Fair' next weekend at the Square in front of the Malta National Aquarium. This is a first-of-its-kind event in Malta - a family-friendly weekend jam packed with interesting and marine-themed activities and market stalls. Have a look above for a sneak peak of activities, which will be conducted by professional marine biologists from the Aquarium staff, social enterprises and NGOs. 

Saturday 1 October from 1200 to 1700

Sunday 2 October from 1000 to 1700

Free entrance to the Fair and all the activities.

Free entrance to the Aquarium for 3 kids with every paying adult.

On Sunday 9th October, we will once again be part of 'Genna ta' Gonna' (literally, Heaven of Gardens), the open day of the city of Floriana, with all its wondrous gardens which will be open to the public, along with many other attractions of the locality.

You can find the stalls of the Eco Market on the sidewalk near the main bus terminus between Floriana and Valletta from 1000 to 1700. We are planning an exciting and varied list of stalls which will include pre-loved thrifting and vintage clothing, vegan bakery and desserts, handmade luxury candles, jewellery, kids clothes, handsewn cushions, contemporary home decor, and a unique artisanal ice-cream. 

If you are looking for a unique and purposeful shopping experience, you know where we are! Looking forward to seeing you there 💚🌍🌱

Eco Market at Genna ta' Gonna 2019

Ecotourism and Responisble Travel

In plain words, Ecotourism is a form of travelling that is sustainable and organised with respect to the surrounding environment and the well-being of the local people. Its purpose is to benefit the economic development of a local community and to foster cultural and human rights. In its essence, Ecotourism stands for a travel experience to a destination that is relatively untouched by humans, to focus on educating the traveller with an eye to ecological conservation. 

Today, Ecotourism is a term used to describe socially responsible travelling. The popularity of Ecotourism is fueled by greater public awareness of the negative impacts of tourism be it on the destination or natural environment. 

As the entire world is focusing to find alternative sustainable means of energy, transporation, and production; so is the sector of tourism moving towards a new 'green' era. More and more tourism destinations and operators are adopting ecological best practices and many tourists are becoming aware of their ecological impact when they visit natural areas. 

We've outlined a few ways that you can reduce your carbon footprint while travelling and make your holiday greener. Green travel is about making smart choices and keeping the environment in mind at each twist and turn. First and foremost, plan in advance. The more time you spend planning and researching options the better the chances of enjoying a smooth, sustainable empowering holiday. 

 

Travelling by plane

Air travel is not sustainable, and even though we can never tell what type of scientific and technological breakthroughs there will be in the future, sustainable air travel is not projected to become eco-friendly anywhere in the forseeable future. The only way that we can make travelling by plane more responsibly, is to choose short routes. Exotic, faraway loctions are a thrill however choosing a destination closer to home is much kinder to the planet. Alternatively, you can compensate for your flight's CO2 on an online carbon offsetting site or app.

Travelling by boat

Cruise liners are not eco-friendly at all. They dump toxic waste into the ocean, run on giant diesel engines that fill the planet with carbon dioxide and kill marine wildlife. However, today many cruise line companies are incorporating green technologies into newly built ships, inclusive of solar panels, a cooking oil conversion system and energy-efficient appliances. Many liners are also removing single use plastic, recycle more effectively and donate unwanted furniture and linen to charities instead of being sent to landfills. The cruise liner industry is getting greener. Choose one of the cruise liner companies who are implementing sustainable practices. For instance, Carnival ships plug into electrical power when docked, eliminating noise and air pollution while idle; while Costa launched a new ship that runs on LNG, utilizing the world's cleanest-known fossil fuel. 

Travelling by train

Trains are the ultimate environmentally-friendly mode of tranport. They allow you to travel long distances in a relatively short amount of time. They can carry large volumes of passengers which makes them far more sustainable than other modes of transport. Travelling by train is easy, comfortable, picturesque, with fewer chances of delays; you can read, sleep and eat or do whatever you want!

Waste

Food and packaging waste accounts for as much as half of what is thrown away in a day, especially when you are far from home. There are some easy ways for you to reduce your packaging whilst travelling; such as: keep reusable bags and containers and don't be shy to say no to more bags when shopping; choose zero-waste toiletries; go paperless. 

Fairtrade

Sustainable tourism is kind tourism. The concept of fairtrade ensures that preference is given to locally sourced products and the workers get fair compensation in good conditions. In tourism, fairtrade ensures that the benefits and income are rightly distributed amongst the local people who are involved in that product or service. How to support fair trade as a traveller? Be mindful and make conscious shopping choices by avoiding mass-produced products and instead favour local artisans and certified Fairtrade stores. 

Accommodation

An eco-friendly accommodation refers to a place that is built or operated in such a way as to minimize both the carbon footprint of the business operation as well as the carbon footprint of those who work and stay there. You might have heard of Eco Hotels or Eco Resorts. But what does that really mean? It means that the administration is taking measures that may include reducing energy and water consumption, aiming for zero waste generation, handle the waste in the proper way, and using environmentally-sound products. 

Live the local experience

Homestays, local guides and programs that give back to the community are an excellent way to enjoy your destination with purpose. Check out ecobnb for a network of sustainable accommodation, where you can see in real time the number of CO2 avoided every day, the number of trees and liters of water saved every day.

Need inspiration of where to go this summer? Check out these top 10 eco-friendly cities and countries in the world!

Top 10 most eco-friendly cities in the world

* Copenhagen, Denmark

* Amsterdam, Netherlands

* Stockholm, Sweden

* Berlin, Germany

* Portland, Oregon 

* San Francisco, California

* Cape Town, South Africa

* Helsinki, Finland

* Vancouver, Canada 

* Reykjavik, Iceland

                                    

Top 10 most eco-friendly countries in the world

* Denmark 

* Luxembourg

* Switzerland

* United Kingdom

* France

* Austria

* Finland

* Sweden

* Norway

* Germany                                                                          

Making e-commerce packaging sustainable

The rise of e-commerce through Amazon and other online marketplaces has made all of our needs available to us with just a few clicks of a button. The convenience and accessibility of e-commerce have led to a major rise in online shopping that’s projected to double over the next four years.

Unfortunately, the rise of e-commerce has brought with it an increase in single-use plastic and packaging materials that flood landfills. Currently, packaging materials make up approximately 65% of all household waste , with that number projected to increase dramatically by 2050 if no changes are made.

In today's blog post we look into how e-commerce can be improved to reduce waste and make our shopping habits more sustainable.

The Problem In e-Commerce Waste

E-commerce currently accounts for 13% of all retail in the United States and is predicted to increase exponentially over the coming decades. In some ways, e-commerce is more sustainable than shopping in physical stores, as it reduces the amount of mass shipping needed to distribute goods to stores - and eliminates the emissions from customers driving to the store and back. 

However, the fundamental problem with e-commerce lies in its excess packaging. Often we see our purchases packaged in plastic wrap inside at least one cardboard box. The plastic used in shipping is most often designed for single-use purposes and then thrown away once the package has been safely delivered. This leads to massive amounts of plastic waste in landfills and our environment, as the vast majority of shipping materials are not designed to be recyclable or reusable.

Shipping materials have improved dramatically over the past few decades, but as e-commerce begins to overtake traditional retail, packaging systems need further efforts towards sustainability. The heavy usage of Styrofoam packaging has been on the decline for several years, but the cardboard and single-use plastics that make up our packaging still account for more than half of our household wastes. As the use of e-commerce is expected to rise in the coming years, the plastic pollution that comes with it will outweigh the progress that has been made.

Finding Sustainability in e-Commerce

Companies around the world are looking to improve their packaging systems to be more sustainable. Amazon has recently recognized the growing trend of using disproportionately large cardboard boxes to ship small products, as well as using split shipping to separate multi-item orders into multiple shipments. While Amazon is undoubtedly still a major contributor to environmental problems, after recognizing and addressing these concerns, Amazon has worked to eliminate more than 83 million cardboard packaging boxes. 

Many online companies are using environmental auditing services to improve their quality management systems. A significant portion of a product’s waste comes from its supply chain, but approximately 69% of companies lack full supply chain transparency. By analyzing quality management systems, companies can track and manage their supply chains to gain better control of their packaging and shipping processes. In an effort to reduce the dependence on single-use material, companies can invest in biodegradable packaging. 

Biodegradable materials differ from traditional recyclable cardboard in that they are designed to degrade without leaving any harmful residues in the environment. Recyclable materials are a limited and imperfect system, as materials can only be resalvaged a few times before the material is no longer usable. Biodegradable packaging, however, is designed to break down after a few months, leaving no waste behind.

Some options for biodegradable packaging include materials made of:

● Cornstarch

● Sugarcane

● Bamboo

● Mushrooms

These types of materials can double for both plastic and cardboard substitutes, and can help significantly reduce the amount of long-term waste e-commerce generates. 

The effort to reduce packaging waste rests not only on the shoulders of e-commerce merchants, but on consumers as well. By pressuring online sellers to transition away from single-use materials, consumers can use their purchasing power to shift online retail industries into more sustainable practices. 

As conscious consumers, we have the responsibility to reach out to our favourite brand and demand more sustainable products and packaging. With enough pressure, companies have no choice but to do what their customers expect them to. Next time you receive a delivery, and you notice excessive and single use packaging, email the brand and ask them to switch to sustainable packaging.

The ultimate checklist for a Sustainable Christmas

Christmas is a time of giving, of joy and of warm fuzzy feelings. At least, that is how we imagine it. In reality, today, Christmas is the most unsustainable festive event in the world. What once began as a religious holiday and a jolly celebration of life has now become a season of spending, splurging and over-indulgence. 

These shocking facts highlight the extend of Christmas waste worldwide:

Just imagine...

* The amount of (unrecyclable) wrapping paper used is enough to go around the globe - 9 times!

* 1 billion Christmas card end up in the bin each year!

* The equivalent of 2 million turkeys, 74 million mince pies and 5 million puddings end up in the bin each year!

* 1 in 10 unwanted gifts end up in the landfill!

* More than 1.6 billion tonnes of food is wasted each Christmas!

* 125,000 tonnes of plastic packaging is discarded during December worldwide!

* 100 million black bags full of Christmas packaging are discarded each year in Christimas time!

Sadly, it is evident that Christmas has gotten a little bit out of hand and from an environmental perspective, the holiday season is quite a disaster. So, how do we make changes that can result in a more sustainable Christmas? We have prepared a list for you to consider and check, to help you make your celebrations even more meaningful and special:

1. Choose decorations that will last a lifetime

Not all plastic is bad - if it can be reused over and over again, you don't need to shy away from a pretty plastic decoration. Opt for sturdy decorations, or make your own! Objects such as wood, twigs, ribbons, make great decor items and you'll enjoy them for years to come.

2. Switch to sustainable/reusable wrapping

You can wrap gifts in plain brown paper, something that can easily be reused and recycled. If you are looking for more colourful and fancy alternatives, get your hands on reusable fabric wrapping and check out all the elegant ways in which it can be used.

3. Buy memories over things

Research show that an experiences result in longer-lasting happiness than material possessions. A sight seeing jet flight, a cooking lesson, a pampering day at the Spa, a hobby course, the options are endless! Gifting experiences is memorable, and produces less waste. 

4. It's ok to gift second-hand items

Let's get something straight, 'second-hand' is NOT a dirty word! It is a great trend in a new eco-sustainable, less consumerist world. It is an inspired choice, and usually quite personal and thoughtful. Vintage and pre-loved are cool!

5. Support business that give back

Whether its a business that plants a tree with every order, or donate a % of the profits to a worthy cause, your purchase will have a ripple effect and in true Christmas spirit, you will feel good by doing good.

6. Shop local

When you buy local, you are helping your local community to grow and create more jobs. Shopping local also means tastier, fresher and healthier food options. Buying from a local small business usually means a better and more personalised service. Plus, local products carry a much lower carbon footprint relating to packaging and transporation.

7. Go for LED lights

LED lighting provides many environmental advantages including being energy efficient, producing zero toxic elements, requiring less light fixtures and having a longer life span - meaning they are good for your pocket as well.

8. Plan meals in advance to avoid food waste

People are getting pretty good at finding creative ways to use left-overs and that's good! But to avoid food waste, simply buy less fresh stuff that goes bad and more stuff that can be opend if needed or consumed months later. Rest assured that nobody's going to leave hungry!

9. Reuse everything!

Gift boxes, filler paper, Christmas cards, advent calendar, crackers... everything can be reused and repurposed. If you have kids, you'll probably re-use them for crafts or projects. The trick is to be considerate of what you throw away and use your imagination to turn trash into treasure.

10. Remember the true meaning of Christmas

What is truly important at Christmas? It is not the gifts, the clothes, the excess food or the sparkly decorations. Its all about spending time with loved ones, and reflecting on the year passed and the year ahead, on your personal evolution, on your life goals, on your dreams - and most importantly, Christmas is a time to be grateful for what you already have!

We want to take the opportunity to wish all Eco Market Malta fans, partners, collaborators, supporters, customers, volunteers and all our precious friends a Joyful Merry Christmas and a meaningful New Year 2022! May next year bring more awareness and action towards the most important things in life! 

Love from us at Eco Market!