Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping
I wrapped Christmas presents yesterday. This holiday marks our third year of wrapping gifts with greener materials. So many products already contain such an excess of packaging. I just can’t get over the idea of wrapping excess packaging with more packaging that’s all just one-time use stuff.
My goal with wrapping is pretty simple: create no new trash. (Yes – I’m one of those people who saves pretty bows and all the gift bags we receive. Then I repurpose them.) It’s so frustrating to see the piles of trash cans waiting for the garbage man the day after Christmas.
Those of you who have A Greener Christmas ebook know the slew of techniques I love.
It’s amazing what types of materials you find in your house when you start thinking in terms of wrapping gifts. Like the cardboard inserts that come with a package of undershirts? My favorite!
The owner of our little tire house here left an abundant supply of brown paper bags in the kitchen. I think the pile’s just grown from various shopping trips over the years. Since we’re a canvas shopping bag kind of family, I attacked the stash for gift wrapping.
A pile of thick ribbons from family members’ craft room decluttering projects added the perfect pop of color. We’ll be adding some {No Snooping!} gift tags once I get this picture snapped. We have a world famous snoop who will not be getting any sneak peeks of who’s gifts are for who via Making This Home photographs this year!
Do you repurpose with your gift wrapping?
Heck yes I do! Besides saving paper from the gifts we receive I have a stack of old maps someone put on the discard pile at the library, Sunday comics, old calendar pages, fabric scraps made into gift bags, scrap ribbons and bows etc at our disposal for gift wrapping. I also picked up some amazing wrapping paper at a thrift store that I’m guessing is from the 1950s for wrapping some special gifts! Also my favorite thrift store has a bin of 10-25 cent ornaments where I’m always tempted to pick up a few to decorate gifts. The last time I was there I got 2 hand-carved and signed Santas, little mushroom elves, and some gaudy florescent dressed angels!
Happy Monday, Katie!:)
I repurpose all the wrapping I can, but some of my friends over-tape packages so usually it goes in the recycling bin right away. But I also do something a bit different. I trade books online after I’m done reading them (I get a credit for a book myself once it’s received.) I’ve been doing this almost 2 years and in the beginning, I was really annoyed with having to buy envelopes to mail the books in. So I’ve taken to saving every large envelope, particularly the padded ones, I get in the mail, in addition to all the brown paper grocery bags (I usually bring a tote but when I’m low on paper bags I don’t). The envelopes are then “hidden” behind the books on my top shelf in my smallish apartment; out of sight but definitely in-mind. Knock on wood, I’ve yet to run out of shipping materials, at least when it comes to sending books! :) Keep in mind the USPS is still doing Media Mail, so all you need to do is wrap a book and take it in; no need for a box or anything.
I then cut the bags up when I need them to wrap the books in, then walk them to the Post Office during lunch at work.
I’ve started using furoshiki to wrap some gifts in fabric, which I love.
Otherwise I reuse all paper and ribbon I can, and have even trained my inlaws to pass ribbon back to me to reuse (quite an achievement…)
I’ve managed to use very little tape the last few years (usually none, just a little on some tricky shapes!) which makes paper easier to reuse and recycle. People who I can trust to reuse (!) get ‘real’ ribbon and those who I know are going to bin it get the curly stuff that can’t be recycled that I’ve saved from gifts I’ve received.
My favourite paper is the free Chinese newspaper that DD1 and I ‘rescued’ on a visit to China Town in London. It looks great with a big ribbon.
For birthdays I second Diana. Maps look fab! I am working my way through our very out-of-date road atlas, which is good for male presents especially.
I make my own envelopes too- a really easy way that a 6 year old can do- no template or cutting, just a bit of folding and sticking with a glue stick. Matching map paper and envelopes look very smart! Christmas envelopes are made from small bits of wrapping paper, festive pages from magazines and catalogues that find their way into the house.
I am using yarn and some kraft paper. We also have some leftover paper from Christmas’ past, but I’m really trying to avoid buying more. I really like the kraft paper look – and yes, since we save ribbons and paper from other gifts, we always seem to have enough!
I love repurposing things around my house for wrapping, and reusing particularly nice bits I receive from others. I haven’t bought new gift wrap for years!
Nope! I know, I’m terrible! But I just love love love the pretty wrapping and the bows and then tearing it all to shreds…then I do recycle it, of course!
Also – posted about your fab shop on my lil blog today! Hoping to send some holidays business your way!
I have a large collection of out-dated maps I’ve found in the trash over the years, and they make really lovely, unique wrapping paper. Of course, afterwards they also make excellent kindling starter for those with fireplaces and woodstoves.
Where to begin? I save all gift bags, ribbons and bows and reuse them. I have even taken apart damaged bows and reworked them into new ones. I will cut off damaged parts of wrapping paper. I save old maps as well. Greeting cards are cut down into gift tags. Paper bags are decorated and tied with pretty ribbons for gift sacks as well. Of course there is always fabric to wrap in! Sometimes I can wrap a gift in a clothing item that is also for the recipient. Then the present looks even more intriguing! I work at avoiding plastic tape if I can by tying the packages creatively with ribbons.
Regarding shipping, I never purchase boxes or packing material. I reuse envelopes, boxes and packing material from my own mail as well as from friends. (I am working on getting my friends to be greener!)
How timely! I just wrote a post on what I am doing this year! http://sevensistersinchrist.blogspot.com/2010/12/green-christmas.html
Oh yes, definitely repurpose the gift wrap! My extended family has been giving gifts in reusable bags for years. If you’re careful, you can even reuse the tissue inside. If not, it burns well in the wood stoves and fireplaces :)
I also try to save as many ribbons and bows, too–from Christmas and other gifts. I love ribbon and gift wrapping items, but hate paying a lot of money. If I can reuse, I do!
I definitely reuse gift bags and bows if I can. I’m not very good about saving paper, though. This past year I’ve tried to be more creative about wrapping gifts, finding bags that the recipient can reuse. For a baby gift, I found an inexpensive plain diaper bag and put the gifts in that. Moms can always use an extra bag and it didn’t cost much more than a gift bag or wrapping paper. I also like the idea of using colorful reusable grocery bags to wrap gifts in.