So You Want to Be a Papertarian? 

Join the papertarian movement! 

A “Papertarian” is someone who genuinely loves paper and incorporates it into their everyday lives—the feel of it, the versatility, the sustainability and the fact that it’s been humanity’s favorite material for thousands of years and still hasn’t been topped for a whole lot of everyday jobs. 

We’re talking about the satisfying crinkle of a paper bag. The smell of a new notebook. The way kraft paper looks tied up with twine. The quiet pleasure of dropping something in the recycling bin and knowing it’ll be remade into something new. Here are ten everyday places where paper really shines. 

1. Grocery Bags 

Paper bags have been around forever, and they hold up better than you’d think. When one finally gives out, it goes straight into the recycling bin or compost pile. No guilt. 

2. Straws 

Remember the first generation of paper straws that turned to mush halfway through your iced coffee? Those days are mostly behind us. Today’s are sturdier, and for drinks at home especially, they hold up just fine. 

3. Packaging: Shop the Box, Not the Bottle 

Next time you’re comparing two products on a shelf, check the packaging. Cardboard box or plastic container? Go with the box. This applies to everything from cereal to laundry pods to electronics. Most paperboard and cardboard break down. Plastic doesn’t. 

4. Journaling and Note-Taking 

There’s a reason people keep coming back to pen and paper—it’s satisfying in a way that typing on a phone just isn’t. A good notebook is just nicer to use than a tablet. 

5. Gift Wrap: Kraft Paper is Actually Beautiful 

Kraft paper looks rustic and charming, wraps cleanly, and goes straight into the recycling afterward. Tie it with twine, and it honestly looks better than most store-bought wrapping. 

6. Tape 

Paper tape—masking tape and paper-based packing tape—sticks just as well for most applications, tears cleanly by hand, and breaks down without issue. A simple win for anyone who regularly ships packages. 

7. Eggs: Cardboard Cartons Only 

Molded paper egg cartons are widely recyclable and compostable. They’re also sturdier; eggs don’t rattle around in them. Easy choice, every single week. 

8. Coffee: Paper Filters Over Plastic Pods 

Drip coffee with a paper filter is cheaper, produces better coffee, and skips the plastic-aluminum pod mess that’s nearly impossible to recycle properly. Hard to argue with that. 

9. Food Storage: Wrap It, Don’t Bag It 

Wax paper, parchment, and butcher paper are fantastic for sandwiches, cheese, baked goods, and leftovers. Parchment is even reusable a few times. Try wrapping your next lunch in wax paper—you probably won’t miss the zip-lock. 

10. Personal Care: The Packaging Is the Point 

Shampoo bars in paper packaging, paper-wrapped soap, toothpaste in cardboard tubes—all widely available now. The products are great, and they don’t leave behind a pile of plastic bottles every few weeks. 

The Bigger Picture 

None of this requires a dramatic lifestyle change or a big budget. Paper is mostly biodegradable, widely recyclable, and made from a renewable resource, and there’s something quietly satisfying about handling a material that feels natural in your hands, tears cleanly, folds well, and is part of a sustainable system. 

Learn more about being a papertarian now!