8 Earth Friendly Gift Wrapping Tips This Christmas!

8 Earth Friendly Gift Wrapping Tips This Christmas!

It takes a little more planning but we think it is worth it! Your loved ones will love that you have gone the extra mile! It might even save your hard earned money being thrown in the garbage. It never fails to irk me that the wrapping and card can cost a small fortune but mostly end up in the bin. So here are some easy tips that not only show that you put some thought into your gift but also become part of the gift rather!

Santa Sacks / Stockings

Reusable for years to come this is one of the time honored traditions of Christmas gifting for kids but it is also great tradition to start for adults too. In my family mum handmade each of our stockings and embellished them with tiny Christmas ornaments. Calico draw string bags are also a handy solution and make great storage bags or book bags for kids.

Beeswax Wraps

Beeswax wraps, fabric infused with a beeswax mixture are growing in popularity as an alternative to plastic wrap. What better way to wrap your gift than with a wrap that can be used over and over again later!

Tea Towels / Hankys / Table Clothes

A tea towel is the perfect size and shape for wrapping a medium size gift. Make it a little christmasy with a christmas print tea towel! For small gifts a hanky or lovely face washer or cloth and for large gifts fabric or a table cloth is a great solution. Simply add a bow and you are ready to gift.

Funky Cannisters / Jars / Tins

Funky canisters and tins are a great option and readily available from most dollar stores. Try repurposing jars from home by painting or adding beautiful decorations and a ribbon. So many options. The only limitation is your imagination!

Shopping Bags

With the extinction of the plastic shopping bag imminent in Australia a useful wrapping solution is to use a great shopping bag. Paper bags can be sealed simply by punching a hole at the top and threading through ribbon.

Shipping Boxes

If you are an online shopper you will be no stranger to the shipping box. Shipping boxes are a quick and easy option and can be repurposed easily. If it is dirty or has labels on the outside it is easy to turn it inside out. Simply tie with a gorgeous fabric ribbon or add a belli band and it is ready to gift.

Brown Paper / Wrapping Papers

If wrapping paper is unavoidable we can make the best of it by choosing paper that is recyclable or reusing paper that we have saved previously. Unfortunately foil wraps and paper with glitter and other decorations aren’t able to be recycled but they can be reused. The easy way to make sure the paper can be recycled is to use the scrunch test. If it holds the scrunch and isnt embellished it should be recycling friendly. Simple kraft brown paper can look beautiful tied with a sprig of greenery or a flower from the garden.

Gift Tags vs Christmas Cards

Instead of sending cards, give the personal touch with a call to those friends and family who live far away. If time is limited a E-Card is a great alternative. Gift tags made from recycled paper are also inexpensive and can be recycled again as long as they follow the same guidelines as wrapping paper.

Happy gift giving! I hope you have lots of fun with your wrapping!