Eco-friendly gift wrapping doesn’t have to be boring, ugly, or expensive. With the right choice of wrapping material, you can wrap a great gift and not waste any money. In addition, you can also be more original! If you want to free yourself from traditional disposable paper but are afraid of losing the thrill of tearing apart beautiful packages, these alternatives are for you!

Alternative Ways To Wrap Gifts:

Butcher Paper

You will never run out of butcher paper, whether it is white or brown. With the growing popularity of online shopping, it can always be found in recycling bins and at friends, family, and neighbors’ places.

After cutting the paper to the desired size and wrapping the gift just like you would with traditional wrapping paper, you can draw holiday pictures on it or use holiday stamps. Christmas-themed stamps can usually be found in thrift stores.

Fabric Wrappers

The art of furoshiki is an old tradition that originated in Japan and has been used to wrap gifts for over 1200 years. Silk, or imitation silk made from natural materials such as hemp, can be a stylish alternative to paper wrapping.

Several companies also sell beautiful fabric swatches in various sizes that can be used to wrap many gifts.

Historical Maps

Before the advent of Waze and Google Maps, we used paper road maps to understand the terrain. An old paper road map or historical world map can make an impressive eco-friendly gift wrapping. What could be better?! Add a lovely big ribbon or a simple decoration, and you have the perfect gift.

Map Gift Wrap – Ramshackle Glam — Map Gift Wrap

Newspaper

There is a lot to say about using newspapers as recycled wrapping paper. The rambling part is always adorable. You can use newspapers in two different ways: to wrap small gifts or as a filler for gift bags.

You can easily find it in your recycling bin or in the free circulars that come in your mailbox. Newspapers come in colored or black and white, but both are very cute as eco-friendly gift wrap.

Cloth Napkins

Cloth napkins may be a little stiffer than silk scarves, but they are a sustainable alternative to gift wrapping that has been around for hundreds of years. Cloth napkins can be found in most grocery stores. Available in various colors, cloth napkins go well with any scheme or other decorations you can think of, and the knot at the top makes a perfect bow.

Sustainable Fastening

Biodegradable Paper Tape

Many people may not think about how much traditional duct tape is harmful. However, there are now many biodegradable tapes available to secure packages. For instance, you can use washi tape made from tree fibers and bark, compostable paper tape, or natural adhesives for eco-friendly gift wrapping. The tape also comes in a wide variety of colors and patterns, making it possible to create super cute wrapping that will make anyone feel like a gift wrapping pro.

Upcycle Old T-Shirts, Sweaters, Flannel Pants, Etc.

Wouldn’t it be so cute to create a ribbon out of an old plaid shirt that you never wear? Cut a T-shirt into thin strips and wrap it around a gift to make a unique and beautiful ribbon.

Additional Decorations

Ornaments: Ornaments can be added to a gift to make the package more festive. Plus, recipients can use them to decorate for the holiday season each year.

Brooches: You can find a lot of great brooches in thrift stores or in your grandmother’s jewelry box. When you tie a package with a scarf or napkin, you can pin a brooch to the ribbon for a bit of celebration.

Dried Oranges: Dried oranges smell great and are very easy to make. Slice the oranges thinly and sandwich them between cloth tea towels.

Best Gift Wrapping Ideas | gift wrapping, gifts, christmas gift wrapping — Gift Wrapping Idea

What are your thoughts on these sustainable ways to wrap gifts? Share them with us in the comments below!

You have always been concerned about the planet and the destructive impact of human activities on our its well-being. It’s been a few months now since you started to adopt a sustainable lifestyle. And little by little, you aim to be living completely waste-free. However, there is a small problem: the holiday season is just around the corner, and in less than two months, it will be the most magical time of the year but also the moment when we, as individuals, contribute the most to the destruction of our planet with our gifts and wrapping paper that we buy in tremendous quantities.

Nevertheless, there is no need to perpetuate this tradition of using unsustainable wrapping paper. Set a new rule instead and let your creativity run wild: use only recycled and recovered items to wrap your Christmas gifts. It will also make the season much more fun. Not sure how to proceed? Here are a few original ideas to get you started:

Paper Rolls

We all have them, and they probably always go in the trash. But not this season! Paper rolls can be the perfect alternative to standard wrapping paper, especially if you plan to give something small but precious. You can achieve remarkable results in just a few easy steps by turning a paper roll into a pillow box. Don’t limit yourself with decorations, which include painting it, adding ribbons and glitter to it. Then fold one end inward, put the gift inside, and do the same with the other extremity.

Sheets of an Old Exercise Book

If you have teenagers, you probably have lots of old exercise books with unused pages around the house. You can tear off these sheets to make an original package. They will make a perfect alternative to the commercial wrapping paper, plus you can also easily create small gift rolls. Of course, you can add a dash of fun with some pentels or colorful pencils.

Newspapers

Many of us like to keep up to date with current events, and an excellent traditional way to do this is to buy newspapers. However, when we finish reading, we often just throw them in the corner and forget about them, but now it’s finally time to use them! Recycling old newspapers in a beautiful gift packaging is a great way to save money and preserve the planet. It also makes wrapping more fun. You can draw pretty flowers or plants on it or simply add a little preppy rosette with a bright red ribbon for even more excitement.

Old Sleeves

Are you looking for a pleasant and creative way to wrap a bottle of wine? The sleeve of an old man’s shirt will do the trick! No, it’s not a joke! Cut off one of the sleeves and sew its bottom. Place the bottle inside and fix the sleeve cuff and tie it with a ribbon or an organic thread with a small card.

Cereal Boxes

You’ll never have to purchase gift bags! For large gifts, you can turn a cereal box into a bag. Cut out the top part of the box and glue it inside the box to reinforce the bottom. Then punch two holes in both sides of the box and put a wrapping ribbon through the openings and tie it. You can, of course, decorate the package as you wish.

Unused Scarves

Have you heard the famous phrase “to kill two birds with one stone”? This is exactly what you’ll do with this alternative! Not only will you recycle but you will also let the one receiver reuse the scarf, which is even more sustainable. By following the Furoshiki Japanese art, you can get marvelous ideas to create some unique packages.

Once you’ve used these great gift wrapping ideas to make your holidays more eco-friendly, make a habit of using them for all your gift-giving opportunities. You’ll save money on materials but also reduce your carbon footprint and be more sustainable. Don’t forget to leave in the comments how your creative wrapping turned out.

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