It’s Green Week, a time to celebrate all that Mother Nature gives us and consider ways we can give back to our home planet.
When you think about jigsaw puzzles, sustainability may not be the first thing that comes to mind. However, you’d be surprised by all the ways your favorite pastime can positively impact the earth!
Let’s dive into how you can enjoy puzzles more sustainably, why it matters, and the green initiatives that Completing the Puzzle is committing to carrying out.
We love that so many indie puzzle brands have committed to sustainable practices. Before these practices became more widely implemented, puzzling was a lot more wasteful than it is today. Traditional puzzles created a ton of waste, from plastic packaging to paper waste.
Did you know that many puzzles are primarily printed on virgin paperboard? The switch from wooden puzzles to paperboard made them more affordable, but virgin paperboard contributes to deforestation.
To make matters worse, traditional puzzles are laminated with a plastic coating that makes them hard to recycle. Many puzzles also use toxic dyes and adhesives that contribute to pollution.
From start to finish, puzzle production can be hard on the environment. They also aren’t easy to dispose of responsibly, so many puzzles get thrown into landfills.
Almost 130 million puzzles are sold each year in the US alone, so all of these environmental damages add up. Luckily, emerging brands are implementing environmentally-friendly practices so you can still enjoy puzzling and feel good about its impact.
Here are some environmentally-friendly best practices you can look out for when you’re shopping for your next puzzle:
Tons of brands have switched to recycled puzzle boards, which we love to see. It’s better for the planet and you still get a great puzzling experience.
There are new inks made from natural materials like soybeans instead of petroleum. Puzzles with natural inks are non-toxic and easier to recycle.
You can cut down on the carbon footprint of your puzzle by buying ones made in your home country. The fewer miles it has to travel to you, the less of an impact it has on the planet.
Tons of puzzle brands have veered away from shrink-wrapping their puzzle boxes in plastic. This is a small way to reduce waste that can really add up.
The Forest Stewardship Council certification ensures that the production process for those puzzles doesn’t contribute to deforestation. It’s a great certification to look for on the puzzle box and brand website.
Some brands donate a portion of their proceeds to environmental causes or other worthy causes. It’s awesome knowing that part of the money you spend on puzzles is helping to make the world a better place.
For more details on each of these sustainable puzzle practices, check out our past blog about this topic.
We love supporting indie puzzle brands, but we also love scouting out thrift stores and garage sales for secondhand jigsaw puzzles. Giving an old puzzle a new life is extremely sustainable, fun, and cost-effective.
There are tons of places you can find secondhand puzzles, from your local library to puzzle swap events. Trading puzzles with your friends is also a great alternative to buying new puzzles. When you’re done with your puzzle, you can keep the cycle going by donating it or gifting it to another puzzle lover in your life.
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At Completing the Puzzle, sustainability is embedded into everything we do. The very nature of our puzzle rental model is eco-friendly because it reduces waste, saves resources, and keeps puzzles out of landfills. But we don’t stop there. Here are our current sustainable practices:
We’re always looking for new ways to give back to the planet. Do you have ideas for how we can continue to improve? Let us know in the comments.
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At Completing the Puzzle, sustainability is at our core. Our puzzle rental service keeps puzzles in circulation and reduces their environmental impact while maximizing fun.
Each month, we send a puzzle that was personally picked for you based on your preferences. When you’re done with it, simply send it back and we’ll ship your next one. There’s never been a better way to try the latest puzzles, and the best part is that it’s cost and planet-friendly!
You don’t have to give up your love of jigsaw puzzles for the planet. Puzzles and sustainability can go together, and Completing the Puzzle is leading the way.
Take our Puzzle Preferences Quiz to get started with your Completing the Puzzle membership today!