For many, thinking about the holiday season invokes images of tearing colorful wrapping paper and bows off of gifts, with the smell of hot chocolate wafting from the kitchen. However, the joy of these moments is often outshined by the pile of paper and plastic left behind after all presents have been opened. Luckily, there are still many to give beautiful gifts to loved ones without sending more waste into the landfill.
- The easiest option: reusable bags
This option may already be a go-to for those that don’t like wrapping presents. Paper gift bags come in a variety of patterns and can emulate the same glamor of wrapping paper with a key difference — the bags can always be reused or recycled. An even more sustainable alternative is packaging gifts in reusable cloth bags. These bags can be found in a wide variety of sizes and patterns, and, if you just can’t find the perfect bag, you can even sew one yourself. Not only is this option super simple, but reusable bags are also extremely versatile and will be able to live on as shopping bags, storage, or packaging for future gifts.
- A twist on wrapping paper: reusing newspapers and magazines
If you still love the look of paper wrapped crisply around a box, consider using an old newspaper or magazine. You don’t even need to go out and buy anything; a copy of The Union itself could be used to wrap your next gift. Traditional wrapping paper with sparkly details and plastic tape cannot be recycled. Even worse, the tiny pieces of glitter can end up in the stomachs of wildlife, according to “It’s Officially Time to Ban Gift-Wrapping Paper” by the Huffington Post. If you still need something to keep your wrapping in place, you can spruce up your gifts by securing them with a ribbon or washi tape — a type of tape that is typically made from compostable and recyclable materials according to “Your Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap Guide, From Knot Wraps to Washi Tape” by the Huffington Post.
If you want to take it one step further, take inspiration from the New York Times article “Top a Present With a Newsprint Bow” and make snowflakes and bows out of repurposed paper to attach to your present. If you happen to have spare magazines or newspapers, the holidays could be a great opportunity to put them to good use!
- Two gifts in one: wrapping with fabric
For a slightly more elegant look, you can utilize a scarf, handkerchief, or any spare cloth, allowing the wrapping to become its own gift. This method takes inspiration from furoshiki, which are traditional Japanese cloths that have been used for centuries to carry belongings or wrap presents, according to “Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Makes My Christmas Gifts Much More Sustainable” from The Strategist. An online resource titled “How to Use ‘Furoshiki’” created by the Japanese Ministry of the Environment details many different ways to fold the fabric around your gift. While a variety of stylish knots can be used, one of the simplest of these methods is yotsu musubi, which involves simply tying opposite corners of the fabric to each other. Much like wrapping paper, fabric comes in a large variety of colors and patterns and can be further customized with details such as embroidery.
If all else fails, one of the best ways to reduce waste is to not wrap your gifts at all. In the end, it doesn’t matter how fancy your presents look — what matters most about the holidays are the people you spend them with and the memories you make.
