The holidays are almost here and everyone’s favorite part is giving or receiving presents.
Tons of wrapping paper is used and thrown away each year. Gift wrapping paper often contains non-paper additives such as gold and silver–colored shapes, glitter, plastics, is dyed and laminated, which makes it unrecycable.
This year, when the Earth is already drowning in Covid-19 related trash such as masks, gloves, plastic take-out containers, plastic bags, etc. in addition to the usual trash we generate, which is at least 3.5 million tons of plastic and other solid waste a day, let’s avoid polluting our systems even more.
Just in Case
If you get that gold glitter wrapping paper, open it very carefully and just save it for next year. That’s what I have been doing for years. I keep the wrapping paper, gift bags and ribbons and reuse them for future gift wrapping.
Sustainable Gift Wrapping Ideas
1. Use recycled brown paper or Kraft paper with a jute string and decorate with real pine branches or other natural items. You can even use brown paper bags.
2. Upcycle old newspapers with jute strings. Want to be extra special, use old sheet music.
3. Let the kids decorate! Use plain brown paper and let them color on it.
4. Gift wrap with fabric, also known as furoshiki, which is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. The fabric can be reused over and over again, either to wrap another present or used as a towel around the home.
Let Us Know
Comment below if you have any other great eco-friendly, sustainable gift wrapping technique!
