origami grocer

local grocer makes his own bags from recycled paper!

paper packaging

Packaging is the single largest category of paper use at 41% of all paper used.

About 35% of municipal solid waste (before recycling) by weight is paper and paper products.

Internationally, about half of all recovered paper comes from converting losses (pre-consumer recycling), such as shavings and unsold periodicals; approximately one third comes from household or post-consumer waste.

The average per capita paper use in the USA in 2001 was 700 pounds (318 kg). The average per capita paper use worldwide was 110 pounds (50 kg).

Overall, recycling paper uses about 60% less energy than making paper from new materials.

Today, over half of the material used to make paper is recovered waste. Paper products are the largest component of municipal solid waste, making up more than 40% of the composition of landfills. In 2006, a record 53.4% of the paper used in the U.S. (or 53.5 million tons) was recovered for recycling.

camera holder

This handy camera holder is made from a bubble wrap mailing package and red duct tape.
The bubble wrap is already 10% recycled so, that means that it is now 110% recycled!

how to make your own:
1. Cut bubble wrap to size of object. This is a lot like wrapping a present. Make sure you have enough around the edges to provide a seam. I think 1 inch is good.

2. Wrap the bottom and tape. Fold the two sides in and then the opposing sides and secure with duct tape. Also, tape the side seam. Hardware stores usually have a nice variety of duct tape colors.

3. Leave one end open for the flap. Extend the flap with tape. The closure is duct tape too. It sticks but doesn't completely adhere to itself so, it is perfect for a resealable tab.

tetra pak folder holder

I made this folder holder from soy milk containers. First, I tried to use glue. Due to the shiny texture, Mod Podge and Gorilla glue failed. So, I decided to use the industrial sewing machine.

tetra pak or aspetic packaging reuse

Aseptic Packaging (Drink boxes, soy-milk containers)

The square boxes used for liquids are called "Aseptics", the most common brand of which is "Tetra Pak". Aseptic packages are made with three materials. Paper comprises 70 percent of the package, polyethylene 24 percent and aluminum 6 percent.

Hydra-pulping is the only way to recycle Aseptics. It is like a huge blender that separates the paper from the plastic and aluminum, so that the high-quality paper fiber is recovered for recycling into other paper products. Sources say the actual hydra-pulping recycling process, unfortunately, is very expensive and awkward, and is therefore only available in a very few places. Because of the difficulties, only an insignificant fraction of aseptic packages are currently recycled. In San Francisco, Sunset Scavenger accepts and recycles Aseptics.

america loves packages!

packaging = 2x's the amount of durable goods waste.

Image from the National Recycling Coalition site.