Are you tired of overpaying for Christmas wrapping paper that ends up in the trash? Say no to single-use materials and get creative to lower holiday costs and waste.
Save your wallet and the environment with these gift-wrapping hacks:
Use Kraft Paper
Simple brown kraft paper makes an excellent gift-wrapping material. This type of paper is natural, eco-friendly, and 100% recyclable.
Stick with a plain option and get crafty by drawing designs or writing calligraphy directly on the paper. With a few creative flourishes, kraft paper can look as elegant as non-recyclable wrapping paper.
Take a Minimalist Approach
Depending on the item, you can avoid packing materials entirely. Experience-based gifts, like event tickets or spa certificates, require nothing other than a card and envelope. You could also choose fresh flowers or a tin of homemade Christmas cookies to skip the wrapping paper.
Switch to High-Quality Gift Bags
Stop wasting money on wrapping paper that gets torn to shreds on Christmas Day. Packing a present in a quality festive bag is the gift that keeps giving. Instead of tossing your gift bags after the unwrapping festivities, collect them to save for future holidays.
Repurpose Newspapers
Newspaper is a creative and sustainable way to package gifts in a pinch. Keep things minimal by sticking to black-and-white pages, or embrace the season by using colorful comics. Your newspaper-wrapped presents will stand out in style under the Christmas tree.
Pass on Bows and Ribbons
This year, consider passing on Christmas bows and ribbons. Most of these decorative accents contain non-recyclable materials and can become tangled in recycling center machines. By skipping these items, you can cut down on unnecessary holiday waste.
Avoid Metallic Paper
Metallic wrapping paper may catch your eye in the store, but it’s best to pass. These paper types usually contain glitters and plastics that you can’t recycle.
If you already have a roll of shiny wrapping paper, give it the “scrunch test” to see if you can recycle it. Scrunch a ball of the material up in your hand and then open your palm—if it stays balled up, it’s good to go, but if it bounces open, you must trash it.
Pack Gifts in Decorative Wooden Boxes
Consider ditching wrapping paper altogether in favor of wooden gift boxes. These decorative containers are sturdy enough to be reused for years. You can find many styles and sizes to fit any gift and holiday aesthetic.
Skip Tissue Paper
Don’t be fooled into thinking you can recycle tissue paper because it has “paper” in the name. While some forms are recyclable, you should check with your waste management company first to confirm they’ll accept them. If the tissue paper is dyed or contains glitter, it’s likely non-recyclable.
Buy Reusable Totes
Pack your Christmas goodies in a reusable tote to turn one present into two. Tote bags are a thoughtful and environmentally friendly touch for holiday gifting.
They can be reused for travel, grocery shopping, organization, and more, making them a handy addition to any household. To go the extra mile, find a themed bag related to the contents to tie the entire gift together.
Remove All Tape
Though some types of tape are paper or plant-based, the safest option is to remove it altogether. Plastic tape cannot be recycled, so trash any pieces during your Christmas cleanup. Once you’ve removed the tape, you can recycle your eco-friendly wrapping paper.
Don’t Use Glitter
Skip the glitz and glamour by passing on glitter this Christmas. This dazzling material is just a microplastic, making it non-recyclable. Avoiding it altogether will save you the trouble of sorting through wrapping materials and getting glitter all over your house.
Embrace Furoshiki
The Japanese art of furoshiki is a fantastic option for reducing waste. This unique wrapping method uses fabric instead of paper. Research a step-by-step tutorial to try the technique yourself this holiday season.
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Elise Armitage is an entrepreneur and founder of What The Fab, a travel + lifestyle blog based in California. At the beginning of 2019, Elise left her corporate job at Google to chase her dreams: being an entrepreneur and helping women find fabulous in the everyday. Since then, she’s launched her SEO course Six-Figure SEO, where she teaches bloggers how to create a passive revenue stream from their website using SEO. Featured in publications like Forbes, Elle, HerMoney, and Real Simple, Elise is a firm believer that you can be of both substance and style.
