Facts About Gift Bags

Let’s get straight to the point: Gift bags make gift giving easy. And we’re all guilty of that a last-minute wrapping in the front seat of our car right before we walk into the party. With the convenience of gift bags, it’s no wonder we tend to prefer these easy wrappings.

History Books

Paper gift bags with handles were introduced commercially in 1987, and according to Hallmark research and sales history, they have been the top-selling way that consumers wrap gifts since 2002. In addition, 98 percent of consumers say they wrap gifts during one of the largest gift-giving seasons: the holidays.

Gift wrap continues to be a growing industry, with holiday sales in 2003 at about $10 billion and a growth rate of 5 percent. Gift bags showed the highest growth during the holiday season, a 6.9 percent increase to $1.3 billion

Eco-Impact

Americans go through 380 billion plastic bags, sacks and wraps each year. Gift bags are not typically recyclable because they are generally made from a combination of paper and plastic and hard-to-recycle materials:

• Glitter
• Sequins
• Metallic paper
• Beads
• Faux fur
• Plastic adornments

While your local recycler may collect gift bags, this is not typical.

The easiest way to green your gift bags is to reduce your consumption and practice reuse as often as possible. Purchase sturdy bags that could work for many occasions, reduce your need to purchase a new bag for every celebration and get the most “bang” for your buck.