Every Christmas, millions of homes across the world sparkle with joy, and unfortunately, mountains of wrapping paper waste as well. The colourful, glittering paper or plastic wrap that makes our gifts look especially beautiful under the Christmas tree, often ends up torn, crumpled, and disposed within minutes. And even after being disposed, most wrapping paper is non-recyclable due to glitter, dyes, or plastic coatings.
Let's do things differently this holiday season without sacrificing love and creativity. Let's be kinder to the planet and make the tradition of gifting even more beautiful. Welcome to The Ultimate Sustainable Christmas Gift Wrapping Guide.
Why You Should Consider Sustainability This Christmas
On Christmas, everything is about giving. We choose thoughtful gifts for the people we love and give to them. Ideally, we should also give back to the planet we share with them. Switching to reusable wrapping this holiday season has many benefits.
For one, you'll reduce waste by avoiding unnecessary waste and avoiding that non-recyclable paper and ribbons are sent to landfills where they will take decades to break down.
Secondly, you'll save money. Although sustainable wrapping is a bigger investment at first, it can be reused for many decades to come. Since it's reusable, you'll need to buy less every year.
Lastly, wrapping in reusable gift wrap will have an emotional impact. Any thoughtful gift will bring joy to the recipient, however, fabric gift wrapping will add more meaning and a personal touch, plus, it adds respect and mindfulness for the planet and its resources.
The Beauty of Fabric Gift Wrapping
Fabric wrapping is one of the most elegant eco-friendly wrapping options. Inspired by the ancient Japanese tradition of furoshiki, fabric gift wrapping has long represented respect for people and objects as well as a mindfulness for the planet.
A furoshiki is basically a square piece of fabric that can be used to wrap or bundle things, or to wear as an accessory. Alternatively, you can just use whatever you have at home, like a scarf, a napkin, or even fabric scraps from your sewing box.
Especially today, furoshiki has become increasingly popular again as people are looking for ways to be more sustainable in their everyday lives. The great thing about furoshiki is that they are completely reusable, meaning the packaging becomes part of the gift. You can either ask for it to be returned by the recipient or gift it to them for reuse - to wrap gifts or use as an accessory. Furthermore, furoshiki can be adapted to any size or shape. No more frustration, no more tears in the paper, or annoying sticky tape. All you need is a fabric cloth and a few knots. Lastly, the furoshiki looks more luxurious than conventional gift wrapping and is a unique packaging that will surely impress anyone.
All you need to do is lay your fabric flat, with the design side down (this will be the outside), then place the gift diagonally in the center and fold the opposite corners over the gift before tying the remaining corners in a knot or bow. It's really that quick and easy! Additionally, you can add a sprig of greenery, a dried orange slice, or cinnamon stick for festive flair.
Paper Alternatives For Wrapping Paper
If you love wrapping in paper, there's still ways to do this in an eco-friendly manner. For instance, you can use recycled kraft paper for a simple and rustic look. It's fully recyclable and can be paired with twine and natural accents for a unique look. Old maps, sheet music, or book pages also make a unique packaging with a flair of nostalgia. Alternatively, you can make use of those brown paper shopping bags you have lying around and give them a second life. Give them a personal and colourful touch by decorating them with pens or natural elements.
No More Tape or Plastic Ribbons
Since we want to be sustainable, we need to talk about plastic tape and ribbons since they make up much of the waste connected to gift wrapping. There are many ways you could be more sustainable here.
To avoid plastic tape, fabric wrapping is your best option but you can also use fabric ribbons or special folding techniques to secure gifts without any tape.
Plastic bows can be replaced with twine, colourful yarn, or raffia, as well as fabric ribbons or natural embellishments, such as pinecones, rosemary, holly leaves, or cinnamon sticks. This adds both texture and scent and makes for a unique, seasonal look.
Creative Reuse Ideas
When it comes to sustainable wrapping, you might already have unique wrapping materials at home without realising it.
Old scarves and bandanas are often square shaped and can instantly be reused as fabric gift wrapping. Furthermore, old newspapers make for a chic and nostalgic look, especially when paired with red or gold ribbon. Simple, yet elegant! Tins, baskets, or jars are perfect for smaller gifts or homemade gifts such as cookies. And lastly, those fabric scraps that you may have at home make beautiful packaging if big enough. And if your scraps are too small, create a patchwork wrapping that tells a story of its own.
New Family Tradition Unlocked
If you love family traditions as much as we do, make sustainable wrapping a new Christmas ritual. You could host a wrapping night, where you make creative and zero waste wraps together. You could even make it a challenge: the most creative wrapper wins! Furthermore, as a family, you can save ribbons, fabrics, or boxes from year to year in a shared wrapping kit that you can all utilise all year round.
Especially children will love finding new creative ways to wrap. You could encourage them to decorate the recycled paper with stamps or drawing of their own, making them part of the tradition and creating wonderful new memories. Wrapping doesn't have to be a chore, it should be a moment of joy and creativity!
Wrapping It Up: A Greener, Lovelier Christmas
A sustainably wrapped gift does not just look beautiful - it feels thoughtful and adds a unique, personal touch. By switching to reusable wrapping, you are not just showing love and care for the recipient but also the planet.
Let your wrapping reflect the spirit of the season: kindness, creativity, and connection. It's giving season, so let's change the way we give. Because the best gifts do not cost the Earth.