How to Wrap Presents in an Environmentally Friendly Way
Christmas is truly the most magical time of the year! Unfortunately, it’s also the most wasteful. This festive season has an enormous environmental impact in terms of water use, greenhouse gases, and land disturbance. And every holiday season, literally tons of waste is collected from gift wrapping alone. If we could all try to reduce our eco-footprint just a little, it would go a long way to protecting our environment. Therefore this year, Eco Party Warehouse has prepared Eco-Friendly Christmas Gifts! We will help you limit the buildup of waste and even save money on gifts by reducing, reusing, and recycling Christmas wrapping with some of our sustainable wrapping ideas.
Use Fabric
Scrap fabric, towels, and even blankets can be used as a form of gift wrap. There are so many different options of fabric to use, and then even more flexibility with the textures of the fabrics. Choosing a specific type of fabric for a gift adds a nice layer of thought to the gift you are giving.
Use Magazine Covers, Book Sleeves or Music sheets
Both magazine covers, book sleeves, and music sheets make great wrapping paper because they have a shiny exterior and can be folded easily. Not to mention, there are a variety of different topics to choose from depending on the interests of the gift receiver.
Use Recycled Kraft Paper
Many types of wrapping paper (including anything with a shiny/laminated or metallic-looking surface) can't be recycled. When these are accidentally mixed in with recycling, they contaminate it and can prevent other things in that batch from being recycled. Kraft paper's made of wood pulp with minimal processing and is both biodegradable and recyclable.
Use Biodegradable Ribbon
Twine (made of cotton or hemp) and paper raffia are completely biodegradable ribbon options. Paper raffia is also recyclable.
Use Natural Garnishes
Each time you use a metallic-looking/plastic composite bow, you're adding to the landfill. Sprigs of cedar, pine, or eucalyptus leftover from your tree, wreath, or garland are a natural (and biodegradable) way to 'spruce' up your wrap game.
Reuse Old Wrapping Paper
Did you also receive some wrapping paper from another gift? Avoid throwing it out, and instead reused that gift wrapping. If you are very careful in unwrapping, the paper may be salvageable enough to fold, store, and used again on another gift. The possibilities of creative and reused gift wrapping are endless.
Reuse Ornaments
Each year some ornaments don't make it on the tree. You can give them their chance to shine by using them to decorate gifts. If the recipient lives under the same roof, simply pluck them off before putting the paper in the recycling and use them again next year.
