Great Green Gift Wrapping Ideas

This week my Eco Tip is not my Eco Tip. My dear friend Amber has written a super-informative article about environmentally friendly gift wrapping ideas. So instead of writing my own, I'm posting hers. Enjoy!

Written by Amber Case

The environmental cost of waste produced over the holiday season is astronomical.

Canadians alone will send more than 100,000 elephants worth of wrapping waste to the dump this year, including 540,000 tonnes of paper wrap/gift bags and 3000 tons of plastic foils.

And the frightening fact is that these numbers are increasing each year. The above statistics came from information given by Stats Canada and Zero Waste Canada in 2014. That year Canadians also purchased 2.6 billion holiday cards, 6 million roles of tape and managed to increase our garbage produced by 25% to 50 kilograms per person over the holiday season.

Now with the holidays fast approaching “tis the season to redesign and reduce our waste”.

The best way to do this is to start changing tradition and redesign the holidays to decrease the impact on our environment. This year show your loved ones that you truly care by wrapping their tokens in new and creative ways. Try the following alternatives for greener gifting.

Brown Paper Packages Tied Up With String

Plain papers (untextured without shiny inks or glitter) and newsprint can be recycled and

decorated using markers or ink stamps for a personal touch. Have kids help with the art project or even use their old art work as wrap. Add a reusable ribbon made of cloth, hemp twine or wool string to hold it all together.

Japanese Furoshiki and Other Fabrics

Wrapping using cloth is not a new idea but simple and beautiful. There are so many

colours and patterns to choose from. Or choose a cloth that serves as part of the gift. Tea

towels or table linens, scarves and wraps all make excellent choices and can be purchased

second hand.

A Tisket, A Tasket, A Green and Yellow Basket

Place gifts in a reusable basket or storage bin. Baskets are easy to find in thrift stores

and can be passed along for many years. Storage bins make a useful addition to any gift, but avoid plastics (wood, cardboard and fabric bins are best).

The Good Goodie Bag

Homemade cloth gift bags are simple to make and can be reused over and over again.

If sewing is not for you try a reusable cloth tote or shopping bag. Wrap up breakables inside

bag with newsprint or cloth (avoid disposable tissue papers).