It’s official – tinsel is over. So take it from Vogue Scandinavia and trim the tree with something different this year.
’Tis the season for all things bright and beautiful, but when it comes to one festive tradition, perhaps this is the year we finally bid farewell to tinsel. Tinsel, much like glitter, shiny wrapping paper, ribbon, and those other holiday trimmings destined to outlast our great-grandchildren, is undoubtedly losing its appeal.
“Tinsel is usually made of fossil-based plastic, mainly PVC, which is currently not easily recycled,” explains Daniela Bqain, manager of sustainability engagement at Stora Enso. “This means that it often ends up either in landfill or incineration. In landfill, it does not readily degrade, and during this long degradation process, it releases toxic chemicals into the environment. Toxic chemicals are also produced if PVC ends up in incineration at end of life.”
Let's twist again
Photo: Getty
The current movement towards adopting more sustainable and planet-friendly festive decorations is notably evident on TikTok. On the platform, a growing trend sees people returning to traditional, even old-fashioned methods of adorning their Christmas trees, such as making "Victorian" tinsel by twisting metal, harking back to a more artisanal and less disposable approach to holiday cheer.