vegan · vegan ink · vegetable ink · vegetable ink printing ·Mar 15, 2022

Vegan wrapping paper: why it matters

We are consuming products and food more consciously today than ever before. Vegan products are more in demand and brands are being asked to do better to meet the needs of the vegan (and sometimes-vegan) market. Often, vegan products are more sustainable and kinder to the earth.

For us at Curlicue, we set out to create the most sustainable gift wrap we could. It was about using materials that are better for the earth and the environment. We wanted to use vegetable-based ink because they are better than traditional petroleum-based inks.

Vegetable ink is a plant-based alternative to traditional petroleum-based ink, which can contain animal-based ingredients such as shellac, which is made from insect secretions. Vegetable ink is free from any such animal-derived ingredients, making it a suitable choice for vegans and vegetarians.

Furthermore, vegetable ink is also more environmentally friendly than traditional ink, as it is made from renewable resources and is biodegradable. It also produces less air pollution and improves indoor air quality, making it a great choice for those who care about animal welfare and environmental sustainability.

Overall, vegetable ink is a vegan-friendly and sustainable option for printing and is becoming increasingly popular as more people seek out eco-friendly and ethical alternatives to traditional products.

Traditional inks are derived from petroleum which is a fossil fuel. Made from the remains of dead animals, plants and organisms, Fossil Fuels are very harmful to the environment. From fracking to release the oil to the burning of the oil to create energy which releases carbon emissions into the atmosphere, trapping more heat which leads to climate change. Traditional inks are also made with toxic chemicals and often can’t be washed out of the paper ahead of the recycling process, meaning that paper has reached its end of life and goes into waste.

Vegetable ink has several benefits over traditional ink. It is more environmentally friendly, as it is made from renewable resources and is biodegradable. It also produces less volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the printing process, which can reduce air pollution and improve indoor air quality.

Reader's Delight wrapping paper

In addition to its environmental benefits, vegetable ink also produces high-quality prints. It has a lower viscosity than traditional ink, which means it spreads more evenly on the paper and produces sharper and brighter colors. It also dries faster, which can speed up the printing process.

By using vegetable-based ink instead, Curlicue does not harm the environment. The ink is not derived from animals and no other material used in our gift wrap is derived from animals, which makes our gift wrap products vegan. Plus, the particular vegetable ink we use is also chemical-free and non-toxic and is even kinder to the environment.

Vegetable ink is considered vegan. It is made from vegetable oil, usually soybean oil, and does not contain any animal products or by-products, making it a suitable choice for vegans and vegetarians.

Veganism - or a plant-based lifestyle - is on the rise. This is due to diet (research found that 56% of UK consumers had set dietary goals for 2020 driven by environmental sustainability concerns, find out more on The Grocer here) and due to lifestyle (research found 97% of UK shoppers saying they want more vegan cosmetics and toiletries, find out more on The Vegan Society here). The Goodness Project have a fantastic blog with more stats, read it here.

Becoming a vegan is no easy feat. It’s difficult to change your lifestyle, which is why at Curlicue we believe in simple swaps. Which means, making small, incremental changes in what you consume (both in terms of diet and lifestyle) that can have a big impact.

Research by Oxford University shows that if every family in the UK swapped a red meat meal to a plant-based meal just once a week, the environmental impact would be the same as taking 16 million cars off the road.

Punnett of Plums wrapping paper

This simple swap has a significant impact. Our ‘simple swap’ of vegetable ink instead of traditional ink is a small change for us as a business, but it can have a very big impact on the world. So finding other simple swaps that are easy for you to implement can also have a big impact collectively.

Our gift wrap is one of those simple swaps. Plastic-free, made from 100% recycled uncoated paper and made in the UK, Curlicue gift wrap is a brilliant simple swap. Crucially, the vegetable ink we use also plays a vital role in the recycling of the paper. Vegetable inks wash out of paper much more easily which means the paper can be recycled again and again.

What simple swaps has this inspired you to make? If you’re in need of more inspiration, read our blogs on simple swaps here.