Christmas is a wonderful time for family and friends, but it also means a lot of wrapping paper, bows and ribbon end up in the garbage. Here are some simple ideas to be more environmentally-conscious this holiday season.
Reuse Other Paper Materials as Christmas Wrap
Use old magazines, newspapers and posters to wrap presents. Interesting flyers and junk mail can also be used as Christmas wrap. Another idea is to save the Christmas wrapping, bows, ribbons and gift tags that comes off presents for the next year. Just fold the paper nicely as everyone unwraps their presents. Most Christmas wrap can’t be recycled, so it’s a good idea to reuse it as long as possible.
Make Christmas Wrapping Paper
Families can also make their own Christmas paper. This can be a fun activity to lead up to Christmas for kids in particular. Use old paper bags, the back of posters and the back of any paper that is blank on one side. Kids can do potato stamps with things like Christmas tree shapes or they can draw their favorite Christmas scene. Another possibility is to save every piece of art that the children do, and then choose pieces to use as wrapping paper.
Use Boxes and Cloth Bags for Christmas
Think outside the box when it comes to wrapping paper, or perhaps actually in the box. Boxes with Christmas designs can be used year after year. There are wooden boxes, cardboard boxes and even try tin boxes or cans. Cloth bags are also available in all shapes and sizes, and with Christmas-themed designs as well.
Get Creative with Alternatives to Wrapping Paper
Use a beautiful bolt of cloth in a festive color to wrap up presents. Nice fabrics can be found at a sewing shop or for something fun, visit an Indian cloth shop and buy sari material which comes in great designs and fabrics. Another option is putting things in a basket. It’s a nice way to present a gift and the basket can also be used for more than just Christmas around the house.
Make the gift part of the wrap. Fill mittens with Christmas candy or a scarf can be wrapped around some good books. Pashminas or handkerchiefs also make for good wrapping.
Get Minimalist with Christmas Wrapping
Not everything must be completely coated in wrapping paper. If it is a bottle of wine, just a bow will be fine. If the gift is extremely large, for example a bike, a bow or Christmas tag can suffice as well. Christmas wrap is still a big part of what Christmas means for people, but it can be used and bought more wisely. More companies understand the demand by customers to have more eco-friendly products and there are places that sell wrapping paper that is made from recycled materials.
For a greener Christmas when it comes to wrapping presents, try reusing wrapping paper from Christmases past, make one’s own Christmas wrap and use other paper products to wrap gifts. Use boxes, cloth bags and even bolts of fabric as alternatives to wrapping gifts. As well, not everything needs to be wrapped, sometimes a bow or Xmas tag are all that are needed.
Another idea is to add some Quick and Easy Homemade Christmas Decorations to a gift. And make Heartfelt Homemade Holiday Gifts to Make with Kids . Also check out Christmas Shopping Tips to Save Money for a less stressful holiday season this year.
Tami Nicholson - Tami is the Topic Editor for Parenting Methods at Suite101. She is a mother of two with a background in education and journalism.
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