Eco Considerations For Papercraft

by NatalieH

Mining

Mica is largely used in the makeup industry, with a crossover into crafts as it can be found in paints and powders to add a touch of glamour to your projects.

Roughly 70% of mica produced in India comes from illegal mines that are totally unregulated by the government. With no other industries in the region, many families have no choice but to continue working in crumbling mines under a new, informal organisation sometimes referred to as the "mica mafia". Family mining is common, and a young child’s small stature and nimble hands make them valuable for entering narrow mine shafts and sorting smaller pieces of mica.

Source: https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/2019/05/231987/mica-in-makeup-mining-child-labor-india-controversy

Avoid buying products which contain Mica and think about other ways to add a shimmer to your projects to help bring this global issue to an end.

Landfill & The Ocean

As we know, throwing things in the bin and washing things down the drain can have a huge impact on our landscape and sadly there are a handful of disposable crafting supplies which contribute to this epidemic.

Disposable Wipes

Disposable wet wipes — whether we’re talking about baby wipes or disinfecting wipes — pose a major problem for sewer systems and the environment. In the UK, the number of wet wipes found along the coastline has increased by more than 400% over the past 10 years, the Guardian reported. And though many disposable wipes are marketed as “flushable,” they often contain plastic and are not biodegradable. Once in they’re in the sewer system, wet wipes bunch together and trap food and other waste to form giant blockages.

Source: https://www.globalcitizen.org/en/content/household-detergent-wipes-tea-environment/

Follow our guide to creating your own Eco Kitchen Roll here

Glitter pollution

Most glitter is composed of aluminium and a plastic called PET. Because glitter is so tiny, it is considered a microplastic, and are not always caught by water filters and easily creep their way into lakes, rivers, and oceans, or are easily blown away on their way to a landfill. Once they get into the environment, they’re consumed by land and sea animals alike. It’s even harmful when it’s not consumed, because it’s plastic, and remains in the environment forever just breaking down into even smaller pieces.

Source: https://www.blueoceansociety.org/blog/glitter-a-sparkling-nightmare-for-oceans/

Watch our Craft Hack video to learn how to clean up glitter

Recycling

One brilliant way to craft in a clever way is to look at items you would throw away in a new light, creativity has no bounds and I would argue that you can turn any trash into treasure with a bit of imagination and some tools of the trade! Take this home décor piece, made from recycled maps which have been given a new lease of life.

Handy ways to recycle:

  • Reuse wrapping paper and newspaper for papercrafting projects
  • Use cardboard packaging in makes to add structure or strip back the corrugated card for a textured effect
  • Save tissue paper scraps to be used for mixed-media projects - like Lou has done here
  • Visit charity shops and jumble sales for materials to bring into your crafting
  • Resend cards sent to you to spread more joy - this could be easy to tweak with a change of sentiment or re-backing to add a new message.

Craft Hacks

We're no stranger to craft hacks on CraftWorld - by learning top tips and bringing them into your craft room, you could be saving resources and finding new ways to upcycle and innovate.

Here's a project I made creating paper beads (rolling up old magazine pages) to cover an upcycled frame

Here are a few of our favourite Craft Hacks to get you started:

Shop Savvy

We encourage you to check with craft suppliers to see if they are doing everything they can to keep their businesses sustainable, be it manufacturing, packaging or shipping - it can be comforting to know that the journey your supplies have been on has a conscience. Sticker Kitten is a great example of a transparent UK-based company who outline their workings - click here for more information!

Items you can shop for to reduce waste / pollution;

Nature at your fingertips

If you're looking for basic supplies to inspire your makes, then look to the great outdoors! We're surrounded by nature which can not only be a source of inspiration, but literal materials. Have you tried pressing flowers or leaf printing?

Create a DIY flower press using items from the home to get yourself started!
Leaf printing is a great craft to try with the kids and extends into making impressions on air-dry pottery or clay!

Crafts for kids

Teaching the kids how to reuse and recycle at a young age can be a great way to set them on the right path.

Check out our review of the Eco Craft Book from GMC and learn how to transform your recycling bin into a craft stash with inspiration from authors Laura Minter & Tia Williams. This exciting eco-friendly publication combines crafty kid's projects with a resource for them to create and learn to be conscious of their carbon footprint. Featuring a range of multi-crafting projects, from basic papercrafting skills, to embroidery, sewing and gardening - this handy guide also boasts find facts, tips and handy hints on how to be a crafty eco-warrior.

If you are a sewist or yarn crafter, we would love you to check out the following blog posts to find out about sustainable crafting in other areas of craft;

Sustainable Sewing For The Home

Greener Crafting

Happy recycling,

Natalie