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As the holiday season approaches, you’re probably already thinking about gifts. But have you considered how you’ll wrap them? This year might just be the year to make the switch to reusable wrapping paper and cloth bags, a small change with a big impact that’s sure to put you on Santa’s nice list.
Here’s a closer look at the problem with regular wrapping paper and how to replace it with reusable wrapping paper that will keep your gifts looking beautiful year after year.
The Problem With Regular Wrapping Paper
Think about the mountains of wrapping paper used each Christmas just in one household. I always find it frustrating to realize that the vast majority of wrapping paper, because it’s laminated with plastic and contains non-paper additives, can’t be recycled. Each year, tons of wrapping paper ends up in landfills.
It’s time to break this wasteful cycle, and luckily, that’s easy to do!
The Solution: Reusable Cloth Gift Bags
My personal favorite eco-friendly alternative to wrapping paper is the reusable cloth gift bag! Cloth bags offer a cute and practical option. They’re sturdy and versatile, and they also add a thoughtful personal touch to your gift-giving. Plus you can use them for years on end. This year, I told myself I was going to replace at least 80% of the wrapping paper I typically use.
Here’s how I’m doing that:
First, I went online and began searching for reusable gift bags. I’ve found a bunch of holiday gift bags on Etsy and some plaid cuties on Amazon with holiday prints in different sizes. My favorite find so far is the unicorn and flamingo holiday themed set from this seller on Etsy (I bought two sets of these because my daughter is going to go nuts for them!).
I also found some reusable holiday gift bags that clearly came straight from Santa’s workshop!
I want to make clear that one of these bags cost more than a roll of wrapping paper, at about $4 apiece, so they are definitely an investment. But with all the wrapping paper I use every holiday season, I feel like I’m going to come out on top with these reusable options in the long run. I’ll probably break even in about four years, and then I’ll still have these bags and won’t need to buy any more wrapping paper from there on out.
We’re currently about two weeks out from Christmas day, and I began putting gifts into my new reusable holiday gift bags this afternoon. My main takeaways are: One, it takes so much less time to place presents in these gift bags than to wrap them with wrapping paper. What normally would take me a whole evening of wrapping presents took me less than an hour! And two: they look really nice! I just need to get some reusable gift tags to go along with my bags.
Reusable Cloth Wrapping Paper
Reusable wrapping papers, made from materials like cloth and burlap, can also be used year after year. They come in various festive designs and are fun to both give and receive. Here are some companies where you can find pre-made reusable wrapping cloths.
1. Hallmark
Hallmark sells some reusable Christmas wrapping cloths. These cloths are pricier than the reusable bags at $9 apiece and 26 x2 6 inches — ideal for wrapping books and smaller boxes and gifts. These reusable wrapping cloths are made out of 100% cotton with a cute holly sprig design and come with a matching gift tag.
2. The Useless Brand
You can also find a pack of three solid color Furoshiki wrapping cloths from the humorously named The Useless Brand for $15 a set. Although this initially seems a lot steeper than wrapping paper, remember that you can reuse them every Christmas for years to come. You can even wash them in between holidays if you like!
3. EverWrap
Everwrap makes both reusable gift bag and box options that come in bright, festive colors. They’re richly decorated, look great, and you can get them as sets (a set of 12 pieces costs $60) or as separate pieces.
DIY Gift Wrap: Furoshiki Method
If you’re into DIY projects for the holiday, making your own DIY upcycled reusable wraps could be a fun holiday project. You can use premade cloths you buy online or you can make your own cloths out of fabric scraps, old scarves, bandanas, or even shirts or pajamas (think flannel!).
To make your cloth wrapped gift look fancy, you can try the Japanese Furoshiki technique of cloth wrapping. It’s not only eco-friendly, it also adds a unique and personal style to your gifts.
Furioshiki is a traditional Japanese art of cloth wrapping, It’s a pretty and eco-friendly way to wrap your gifts this holiday season. Think of it as origami for presents. Through folding and tying, a single square piece of fabric can be transformed into a gorgeous gift wrapped package.
A small sprig of rosemary or garland or pine looks beautiful tucked into the knot of one of these cloth wrapped gifts.
Other Alternatives To Wrapping Paper
There are other creative and eco-friendly alternatives to traditional wrapping paper out there as well.
- Newspaper or magazines: An old classic, using newspapers or magazines is a great way to recycle paper. The comic section of a newspaper, for instance, can add a fun and colorful touch.
- Reusable tin or boxes: Decorative tins or boxes can be a gift in themselves. They are perfect for wrapping smaller items and can be used later for storage or as decorative pieces.
- Brown Kraft paper: If you prefer the look of traditional wrapping paper, brown Kraft paper is a great option. It’s recyclable and can be jazzed up with natural elements like twine, leaves, cinnamon sticks, or dried flowers to look simple and beautiful.
- Glass jars or mason jars: Ideal for small or edible gifts, glass jars offer a charming presentation. They can be decorated with ribbons or fabric and reused by the recipient, perhaps to make their own candles.
- Cardboard boxes: You can get plain cardboard recyclable boxes at a craft store and dress them up with some ribbons and cardboard name tags to look festive and straight out of a holiday farmhouse. They’re sturdy enough to use for many years in a row.
- Old maps or sheet music: For a unique and vintage look, wrapping gifts in old maps or sheet music sheets can be so charming, especially for travel enthusiasts or music lovers.
- Handkerchiefs or bandanas: Wrapping small gifts in handkerchiefs or bandanas is another fabric-based option that adds a stylish twist.
- Children’s artwork: This is such a good one, if your children will cooperate! If you have kids in your life, using their artwork to wrap gifts can be a delightful and personal touch. It’s also a great way to celebrate their creativity.
- Reusable burlap: Burlap gives a rustic charm to gift wrapping and is durable for reuse. It works well with natural twine and greenery for a more organic look. It’s also reusable: win-win!
- Pillowcases: Though it sounds silly, pillowcases can make for easy wrapping paper in a pinch. This is my husband’s go-to gift wrap alternative (he really hates wrapping paper waste!), so I’ve received many a gift in a tastefully folded up pillowcase over the years. Throw a ribbon on top, and it can look really nice!
Each of these alternatives not only reduces wrapping paper waste but also adds a unique and personal touch to your gifts. And it feels good to get to reuse these charming gift wraps year after year and make the holiday season a bit more sustainable.
The Importance Of Reusable Gift Wrapping Solutions
As I see it, switching to reusable wrapping paper options isn’t only about reducing waste. It’s also about creating new traditions that honor our planet as we give gifts to our families and friends. I like the message I’m going to give to my children as they unwrap their holiday gift bags this year.
By choosing reusable wraps over conventional wrapping paper, you’re taking a stand against unnecessary waste. It’s a simple step that can significantly reduce your holiday carbon footprint.
This holiday season, as we give gifts to the people in our lives, let’s also spread awareness and care for our environment. This might be the year to embrace reusable wrapping paper and cloth bags for extra unique gift giving, both to our families and to the planet.
For more sustainable ways to celebrate this holiday season, check out our guide to having a green Christmas.
