A New Wrinkle in Holiday Gift Wrap

One of the best and worst parts of holiday shopping occurs at about the same time. Right about when you think you are done (depending on how you choose to shop, this may happen at your desk, in the checkout line or even at the gym as you go over final lists in your head), you realize that you still need something to wrap all of those presents.

Perhaps part of you even takes heart in the knowledge that you are not alone as you look around and see the same wrapping paper panic on the faces of your fellow shoppers. Then a question hits you: Where does all of this shiny paper end up? According to StopGlobalWarming.org, “During the winter holidays, 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags are thrown away.” Yikes!

If the idea of spending even more money and creating unnecessary waste does not appeal to you, consider wrapping your gifts in something a little less disposable. For the green, thrifty gift giver, many options abound:

Less is More

For most of us over age five, the thrill of receiving a present is in the thought behind the gift, not the actual contents of the box. So there really is no need to completely hide what’s inside; a decorative and easily reusable ribbon or bow is often all you need to dress up your gift.

Scour the House

Before you go out and buy anything new to wrap your gifts, look around for boxes, wrapping paper, ribbons and even shopping bags, that would work just fine as totes for your goodies. Most of us with a smidge of environmental consciousness have a hard time discarding used wrapping that could easily get at least one more go-round on the gift train, and you will probably be surprised by the many wrapping resources already residing in your abode.

Newspaper Chic

One of the most cost-effective and highly recyclable types of wrapping paper is probably in a stack in your house right now. Newspaper is a classic alternative, whether you tailor the ready-made themes of the day’s happenings to fit the personality of your recipient – sports, politics, comics, etc. – or you use it as a backdrop for artistic creation. Better yet, give the kids some crayons and newsprint, and let them create a wrapping masterpiece, which will probably be a big hit with Grandma.

It’s a Wrap!

No, really, it is a wrap, or a scarf, or some extra fabric from your latest craft project, or even a barrette or ornament instead of a bow. Using items other than paper or plastic to cloak your gifts is an excellent way to be creative and eco-conscious at the same time. If your recipients look perplexed as to what to do with that scarf or remnant, recommend that they give it back to you, so you can save it for reuse the next year!

It’s a Gift…Inside a Gift

Depending on the shape and type of your offering, you may find that part of the present can be the wrapping. Perhaps you have found a cool reusable tote (and in the age where we are all trying to use less plastic, who doesn’t need one more of these?), a sturdy basket or a hip t-shirt.

Post Consumer Paper

If you decide to buy gift wrap, be sure that it contains the highest percentage of post-consumer, recycled paper possible. Remember that paper with a metallic coating is usually not recyclable and neither are bows and ribbons, so be sure to reuse all of these materials as much as you can.

After all, we all know that disappointing feeling when there are no more gifts to open, just a mound of holiday detritus to dispose of. With a little resourcefulness and creative thinking, it is possible to be almost as excited about the wrapping as we are about our gifts!