Sunday Edit
x
Sign Up!
  • Beauty
    • Skincare
    • Hair
    • Makeup
    • Nails
  • Wellness
    • Mental Health
    • Health
    • Holistic & Spiritual
    • Love
    • Sex
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Sustainability
    • Culture
    • Fashion
    • Travel
    • Gifts
  • Shop
  • About Us
A woman's hands wrapping a present with furoshiki fabric.
Blue Collectors/Stocksy

Lifestyle » Sustainability

Wrap Gifts the Eco-Friendly Way

Elizabeth Bennett
Elizabeth Bennett
February 10, 2020

Receiving presents is always lovely, but the gift of giving is often sweeter. Seeing the face of a treasured friend or family member light up at an item you have chosen is priceless. Tearing open the beautiful packaging is all part of the parcel (excuse the pun), but often these materials aren’t the most eco-friendly, with gift-wrapping playing a big part in the huge amount of waste created over the holiday period. Stanford University found that Americans throw away 25 percent more trash between Thanksgiving and New Year’s than any other time of year.

This additional waste piles up to the equivalent of 25 million tons of garbage — that’s 1 million extra per week. So now that we are gearing up for another gift-giving occasion — Valentine’s Day – this is an important fact to consider.

“Much like any other packaging, gift-wrapping offers benefits when it’s used and further ones if it’s reused or recycled. However, when gift packaging is discarded without being recycled, its value is lost forever,” says Jeff Wooster, global sustainability director at materials science company Dow. The key problem? The majority of wrapping paper is made from plastic. “If the paper is bonded with plastic, it can’t be recycled — this includes shiny wrapping paper that has a plastic coating as well as a wrap that has glitter or metallic elements,” says Hema Chauhan, founder of Curlicue, an eco-friendly wrapping paper company. “Any wrap with plastic can’t be recycled and goes straight to landfill, creating more and more waste each year,” she says.

Fear not though, by switching up your shopping choices, you can make a big difference. Research highlights that if every American family wrapped just three presents in reused materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

Here are our favorite tips and tricks for eco-friendly gift-wrapping without the green guilt.

Use Fabric and Ribbon

View this post on Instagram

Most grateful for the inspiration and creativity that comes from all of you everyday! You make me grow, change and improve. I’m hugely grateful for your support through the years and for the Studio Carta’s team that helps me daily and never stops. Time to slow down and be grateful. Happy thanksgiving everyone! . . . . #studiocarta #studiocartascissors #studiocartadesign #studiocartaaccessories #studiocartacottonribbon #furoshiki #furoshikiwrap #furoshikiwrapping #giftwrapping #holidaygiftwrapping @ciaomelchao @theeveryday_co #studiocartadiy

A post shared by Studio Carta (@studiocartashop) on Nov 21, 2018 at 11:13am PST

Instead of using paper, upcycle some old fabric. “Pretty printed material can be cut up using fabric scissors and jazzed up with a ribbon for a delightful and eco-friendly alternative to wrapping paper,” says Alison Vickery, marketing director at Buyagift. Head to local thrift stores for secondhand or off-cut fabrics. You could use old clothes or linens that have been hanging around taking up space in your wardrobe.

Recycle Magazine Pages

Most of us have plenty of old glossy magazines lying around, and the pages make perfect eco-friendly wrapping paper for smaller gifts. “If you’re wrapping a present for a fashion fan, use pages from Vogue; if the gift is for a sports-mad brother, use a soccer mag or the sports pages of old newspapers,” says Vickery. The gift receiver will love the extra steps you have taken and you will save yourself some money.

Use Recyclable and Recycled Wrapping Paper

View this post on Instagram

DIY Eco wrapping paper – not just for Christmas, for 💗Valentine's Day💗 too! top tip: fold the end of a toilet roll into a heart shape if you don't have a cookie-cutter, details over on the blog https://kidschaos.com/easy-heart-print-wrapping-paper-tutorial/ link in instagram bio – and a big thank you to @DollyDowsie for featuring this classic craft on her wonderful VALENTINE's blog this week too. #ValentinesCrafts #EcoCrafts #💗 #PlasticFreeLiving #HeartCraft #EcoGiftWrap Also featured: @the.gingerbread.house @amumreviews @emmysmummy #momfabulous @dearbearandbeany

A post shared by Kids Chaos (@kidschaos_blog) on Jan 24, 2020 at 6:06am PST

If you have to buy recycled wrapping paper, choose a product that has been recycled and can be recycled. “The only way we can prevent further harm to the environment is by investing in the circular economy,” explains Chauhan. This means choosing wrapping materials that have had a past life and a future one. You could wrap your gifts with Wrappily paper, which is printed with soy ink on newsprint, so it’s totally recyclable, and best of all, it’s double-sided with so many cute prints to choose from.

Stay Clear of Glitter

Shiny, sparkly packaging is a must-have for magpies at Christmas, but these sorts of wrapping materials are not planet-friendly. “What a lot of people don’t know is that wrapping paper that’s shiny or has sparkly bits is not recyclable,” says Beth Anne Fletcher, a sustainable lifestyle blogger and photographer. If you can’t forgo the glitter, look for biodegradable craft glitter for any gift decorating projects.

Say No to Gift Boxes

View this post on Instagram

More of our #reusable Christmas gift bags. Perfect for any gift and any occasion 🎁❤️🌿 . . . . #giftwrap #giftwrapping #giftbag #giftbags #gift #gifts #giftwrapped #fabricgiftbags #christmasgiftbags #holidaygiftbags #_inthedaylight #inthedaylight

A post shared by J e s s i e (@_inthedaylight) on Nov 18, 2018 at 12:02am PST

Buying brand new gift boxes is a shortcut to creating more unneeded waste. “Decline gift boxes when you purchase gifts and reuse boxes you already have,” suggests Wooster. Or, why not try reusable gift bags? If you give a gift in a tote bag, the receiver can continue to use it for other things.

Avoid Tape

Tape turns any wrapping project into a planet-damaging one. “Plastic tape makes the paper non-recyclable,” says Fletcher. If you make the mistake of using plastic tape, make sure you take it off before recycling the paper. Otherwise, it will end up in a landfill.

Gift Experiences

View this post on Instagram

thank you for all the bday love ❤️ see the link in my bio to help my bday wishes come true by donating to my Charity: Water birthday campaign! xo

A post shared by Kendall (@kendalljenner) on Nov 3, 2017 at 7:13pm PDT

If you can, consider gift alternatives that do not require packaging at all. An experience such as a meal, a sports event or concert is often more personal than a store-bought gift.

Save Paper for Future Occasions

If you end up using large sheets of paper, keep them for next year or any upcoming birthdays. Just remember to not tear open that paper too speedily.

Make Better Use of Old Maps

View this post on Instagram

Map Wrap!! . . . #mapwrap #mapwrappingpaper #chartwrap #chartwrappingpaper #custom #mapgeeks #mapdorks #lovemaps #maplove #wrap #wrappingpaper #giftideas #gifts #mapisart #maritimetribesusa

A post shared by MaritimeTribes (@maritimetribesusa) on Oct 3, 2019 at 4:54pm PDT

Old maps also provide ideal green-friendly paper. Considering they go out of date pretty fast, charity shop or secondhand bookshops are likely to have some wallet-friendly options. “Vintage stores often have beautiful maps which are almost works of art,” says Vickery.

Experiment With Beeswax Wrap

Edible or fresh gifts (for example, candy or homemade soap), are eco-friendly gifts in their own right but how about continuing this theme to the wrapping? Enter beeswax wraps. “The breathable material will keep things fresh, and they can be reused by the recipient time and time again. Simply wipe the wrap down with lukewarm water between uses,” adds Vickery.


We only recommend products we have independently researched, tested, and loved. If you purchase a product found through our links, Sunday Edit may earn an affiliate commission.

Lifestyle Sustainability Gifts

Your Sunday Edit

bringing only the best to your inbox

Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy

Most Popular

Is Screen Time Impacting Your Skin?

The Best Baby Shower Gifts That Show You’re Super-Thoughtful

How to Tell If Your Sunscreen Is Expired

Read More
7 Sustainable Gifts for Everyone on Your List

7 Sustainable Gifts for Everyone on Your List

By Macaela Mackenzie
Why Your Next Birthday Party Should be a Piercing Party

Why Your Next Birthday Party Should be a Piercing Party

By Jenn Sinrich
Is Falling In Love Good For Your Skin?

Is Falling In Love Good For Your Skin?

By Sarah Levy
Why the Love We Want is Not the One We Give

Why the Love We Want is Not the One We Give

By Iman Balagam
by
  • Beauty
  • Wellness
  • Lifestyle
  • Shop
  • About Us
  • Terms + Conditions
  • Privacy Policy
  • California Privacy Notice
  • Contact Us
Bringing only the best to your inbox.
© 2021 Sunday Edit

We use cookies to ensure that you have the best experience on our site. By continuing to use our site, you accept the use of cookies. Learn more here

Privacy Overview
Sunday Edit

This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.

Strictly Necessary Cookies

Strictly Necessary Cookie should be enabled at all times so that we can save your preferences for cookie settings.

Powered by  GDPR Cookie Compliance
heart-envelope-email

Your Sunday Edit

bringing only the best to your inbox
No thank you!

Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy