Brown Paper Packages

Day 4: Tied Up With String

In the US, 4 million tons of waste is generated each holiday season from gift wrapping materials that are used once and then discarded. 4 million tons!! Don't get me wrong, I love the colorful ribbons and festive paper, and the sight of a lit Christmas tree loaded with gifts is one of the most festive parts of the season. However, it is one of the most wasteful aspects of the holiday season. Here are a few ways you can reduce the amount of materials that get thrown away on December 26th.

Gift Bags: Holiday gift bags reduce the waste of wrapping a box with paper. However, this generally includes replacing the tissue paper inside the bag, and depending on the gifts inside sometimes the bags look worn out after only a few uses.

Make your own gift bags: Inspired by a quilter friend of my mom's, I started making re-usable bags out of holiday fabric. They are simple designs with draw-strings, made in various sizes to accommodate all shapes of boxes and gifts. They take significant time and energy to design and sew, but seeing them recycled among family gift exchanges is very satisfying. The holiday fabrics available are just as festive and bright as most wrapping papers, including some that incorporate foil and glitter. And using real ribbons to tie them adds to the textures beneath the tree. (I also cheat and wait until the week after Christmas to buy up holiday fabric patterns on super-sale, which makes them much more affordable!)

Furoshiki: The traditional Japanese style of wrapping a gift, enclosing it in colorful material and tying the corners together artfully.

Recycled Paper: Purchase rolls of recycled paper that can be composted or burned when its purpose has been served. Barring aggressive rips, save scraps that can be trimmed and saved inside a roll for smaller gifts next year.

Wrap a box: Find a box that has a separate lid, and wrap them each individually. This way the receiver can remove the lid and open the gift without taking the paper off, and the box can be used for another gift.