Dear Proper Green,
I bake treats for my office mates all the time and normally I individually wrap them. I let my crafting side loose with small baggies and ribbons, small boxes for cupcakes, etc. I'm a Pinterest addict and love all the ideas I get there, but lately I've been feeling really guilty about seeing all the packaging go into the trash. Help! How can I keep it cute and fun while being green?
-Shenae D.
I bake treats for my office mates all the time and normally I individually wrap them. I let my crafting side loose with small baggies and ribbons, small boxes for cupcakes, etc. I'm a Pinterest addict and love all the ideas I get there, but lately I've been feeling really guilty about seeing all the packaging go into the trash. Help! How can I keep it cute and fun while being green?
-Shenae D.
Dear Shenae,
Your coworkers are lucky to have you! We've got a few excellent bakers of our own at Recyclebank headquarters, and I'm happy to give you a couple of tips based on techniques they use when they bring in their delicious treats.
1. Consider not individually wrapping at all. The main attraction is the taste and the sentiment, not the ribbon! While I'll admit seasoned crafters can produce some wow factor, at the end of the day, most of us on the receiving end of your generosity are just eager to wolf it down eat it up! Dish it out on a nice serving platter and voila! Bon appétit!
2. Let your creativity shine through with the design or shape of your treat. To celebrate her recent Four Square mayorship of Recyclebank, Jen, one of our team members, treated us to amazing crown-shaped marshmallow-stuffed cookies — great to look at, even better to eat! So break out those cookie cutters, and icing tips, and get crafty with your desserts.
3. If you must wrap, then waste not want not. Jen's also brought beautiful cupcakes to Recyclebank wrapped in the FSC-certified parchment paper she baked them in. While it's best to grease the pan and forgo foil or paper when possible, there are times when non-stick becomes an absolute mess. If you are using cupcake holders, consider this parchment paper alternative instead. It's simple but very elegant! Think outside of the cupcake box: What else could you reuse or repurpose?
What ideas or tips do you have to create a fun, visual splash for your baked treats without setting off your guilty green conscious? Share your ideas in the comments below!
About Proper Green
Proper Green is Recyclebank's green advice column. From promoting good manners in a green world (because ideas about what constitutes proper behavior and the environment are still evolving) to providing easy ways to make your every day more sustainable, Proper Green aims to help smooth the way with answers to questions that are important to you!
Do you have a question for Proper Green? Send inquiries to propergreen@recyclebank.com. Please note: Questions may be edited for clarity and length.
