Are you wrapping gifts for the holidays this year? According to MarineBio, every year in America, 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper end up in the landfill, so before you pick up a roll of shiny paper, take a moment to look around your home. You may already have everything you need, and with a little creativity, you can wrap beautifully and sustainably. 

Choosing Your Wrapping Materials

Wrapping Paper

• Plain Paper – Kraft Paper
  • Kraft paper is a wonderful option for holiday wrapping. It is recyclable and acts as a blank canvas for you to decorate with markers, stamps, or paint. But if you prefer something ready-made, many brands now sell kraft paper with printed holiday designs.
• Foil, Shiny, Glossy, or Metallic Wrapping Paper
  • While these papers look festive, their coating often contains plastic or other materials that contaminate the recycling process. If you already have the paper, try reusing it to wrap gifts year after year. 
• Newspaper
  • Newspaper makes great wrapping paper. It is recyclable and provides a unique character to gift wrapping. If you save the cartoons, crossword puzzles, and fun articles throughout the year, in addition to a gift, your recipient also gets some fun entertainment! 
• Paper Grocery Bags
  • Paper grocery pages can easily be turned into wrapping paper. Cut them open, flip to the blank side, and decorate them as much or little as you like. And after the paper is used, it is recyclable. 

Not sure if your wrapping paper is recyclable? First, check for recycling labels on the packaging. If you can’t find any indicator of its recyclability, you can try the rip test. If you rip a corner off and it rips easily, it most likely is paper and is recyclable; however, if the paper stretches prior to ripping, it most likely contains plastic and may not be recyclable. When determining recyclability, be cautious of wish-cycling–a practice where people put items in recycling without knowing if they should be recycled or not. This is a practice that overwhelms recycling facilities and sometimes prevents the items that are recyclable from getting to their end location. If you are unsure, contact your local recycling facility before disposing of the material. 

Bonus Tip: Wrapping paper doesn’t need to be single-use. Save larger pieces and reuse them for future gifts.

Gift Bags

• Paper Gift Bags
  • Paper gift bags are durable and can be reused many times. Once they tear, the paper can be used as wrapping paper or recycled. 
• Paper Gift Bags with Additional Materials
  • Bags with a plastic coating, glitter, or metallic finish are still reusable, but typically can’t be recycled in curbside programs. 

Other Wrapping Alternatives

• Scarves
  • Scarves can be wrapped in a chic way that elevates a package from typical paper. And if kept in good condition, they can be used hundreds of times.  You can use scarves that you already have or thrift them for unique patterns and textures.
• Tins
  • Whether from cookies, tea, or snack boxes, tins are a great option for wrapping. They are especially good for gifting homemade food items since many tins have an air tight seal. 
• Mesh Jewelry Bags
  • Not sure what to do with the mesh bags that come with jewelry orders? Save them and use them as wrapping for stocking stuffers, gift cards, or small gifts. 
• Amazon Fabric Gift Bags
  • Have you ever received an Amazon package with a gift bag? They are durable and provide an easy way to wrap gifts–especially ones with odd shapes. Simply save the bags when you receive them and use them for your own gifts.
• Cardboard Boxes
  • Shoe boxes, Amazon boxes, or any cardboard packaging can be dressed up with ribbon, stamps, and other art supplies. And as a bonus, boxes protect fragile gifts and can be recycled after. 
• Fabric Wraps
  • Similar to scarves, scrap fabric (often called fabric wraps) provides great wrapping. Whether from old clothes, sewing project excess, or thrifted fabric, this adds charm and reduces waste. 
• Free Makeup Bags
  • Makeup and skincare sets often come with zipper pouches. If you have extra, they make perfect reusable gift bags.

Tips for a More Sustainable Wrapping Routine

1. Reuse Before You Recycle

Using what you own is always the greenest option. Before buying new wrapping supplies, look around your home for items you can repurpose.

2. Keep a “Wrapping Bin” All Year

In order to reuse what you have received, it is helpful to have a designated place to store it throughout the year. When the holidays come around, everything you need will be accessible.  

3. Thrift Your Wrapping Supplies

For supplies like baskets, scarves, tins, ribbons, and fabric, thrifting is always a great option. It’s inexpensive, unique, and reduces demand for materials. Additionally, around Christmas time, the thrift stores often offer wrapping paper and bags as well. 

If you are interested in conducting official life cycle assessment analyses to see the environmental data behind wrapping methods, contact us at:

https://trayak.com/contact-us 

[email protected]

+1(513)445-3264

Links:

The Holiday Plastics Surge: How Our Celebrations Impact The Ocean