5 Sustainable Gift Wrapping Hacks

So you followed my Eco Gift Guide and want to go above and beyond on your sustainable gift-giving. During the holiday season, we throw away literally TONS of garbage. A Stanford study shows that Americans throw away more than 25 million tons of garbage from Thanksgiving to New Year’s. As easy as the thought of recycling paper may be, most wrapping paper isn’t recyclable. While shiny, laminated wrapping paper may be adorable, it could include toxic, unusable materials, and incorporating them in your recycling bin with other paper products will make the whole load un-recyclable. Approximately 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper are produced each year, and about 2.3 million pounds of it ends up in landfills. With that in mind, here are a few excellent low and no waste hacks to wrap any gift.

1. Packaging from Online Orders

Boxes from online orders are a perfect way to store your gifts. More than likely, you ordered the gift online, so all you need to add is a colorful ribbon or bow. Many stores also have bags decorated for the holidays that you can opt for over bringing your own reusable bags. Speaking of reusable bags, you can place your gifts in a stylish tote to add an extra gift that they’ll be able to use all the time.

2. Newspaper Wrapping Paper

Nothing is more nostalgic than spending Sunday mornings reading the comics while your parents read the newspaper and did the crosswords. Bring back old memories and fun activities along with your gift. Not only will you have a thoughtful gift, but you will have fun activities and funny comics to pass the time while reducing waste. Your friends will be entertained with this unique and colorful gift wrap. In the gift-giving department, you’re bound to be the four-letter word for superior. (ʇsǝq)

3. Mason Jars

Mason jars are the perfect way to create personalized kits and share your favorite DIY goodies. These make great last-minute party gifts to keep on hand. Growing up, my mom would have extra jars of cookie and hot cocoa mix for unexpected visitors. These are just a few of the things you can use the jars for. You can fill it with their favorite candy or snacks. You can get creative and make a snowglobe. And who doesn’t love homemade jam or pickles? The possibilities are literally endless.

4. Baskets

Speaking of endless possibilities, baskets also make great last-minute and DIY gifts. You can pack it with scented candles and homemade scrubs to create a luxurious spa gift basket. Everyone would love a cozy winter basket with fuzzy slippers, comfy scarves, and a mason jar of hot chocolate mix. You can even mix in some suggestions from my eco-friendly gift guide and create a coffee and chocolate lover’s dream gift with thrift store mugs, a pound of their favorite coffee, and reusable k-cups. Of course, you can always go literal for the outdoorsy person on your list with a picnic basket.

5. Scarves

This would have to be one of my favorite hacks. Silk scarves and cloth scraps make excellent gift wrap. I usually opt for scarves from my local second-hand clothing store. You can even ditch the ribbon and add an accent like a sprig of fragrant evergreen or rosemary and a gift tag. This way, nothing goes to waste, and your gift looks amazing all wrapped up. If you want to really impress, you can learn how to gift wrap using the Japanese method of Furoshiki.

This is the time of year to consider gifts that will do more than bring a smile on our face but bring a lasting impact on the environment. Even small things like decorative ribbons, bows, and glittery holiday cards are not recyclable and can harm the environment. Luckily, they are easy to save and reuse next year. Or if you really want them out of your house, you can have a swap party with friends or family. If every family would simply reuse gift ribbons, it would save 38,000 miles that could tie a bow around the entire planet. In the end, a beautifully wrapped gift will look amazing under the tree and will always wow the person receiving it. What’s even better is if the accessories to the gifts are also ones that will keep on giving.