Christmas is fast approaching. It's time to buy gifts, but also to wrap them. Every year, we spend hours wrapping presents, only for that same paper to end up in the trash. Hours to wrap and only seconds to tear them up and create additional waste. So how can we be more eco-friendly? Gifts also deserve zero waste. Here are 6 alternatives to disposable wrapping paper.
1/ Furoshiki: zero waste gift wrapping
Coming straight from Japan, furoshiki is a wrapping technique that involves folding and tying a piece of fabric around the gift to be given.
This eco-friendly process is infinitely reusable. Once the gift is unwrapped, you can reclaim your fabric to wrap your next gifts. To encourage as many people as possible to do the same, give it to the recipient so they can adopt this same eco-friendly technique.
You'll find fabrics in all sizes and with different patterns to wrap both small and large items. You can also make your own furoshiki using a scarf, for example.
YouTube is full of tutorials for learning traditional Japanese knotting techniques.
2/ A cotton pouch: a great alternative to disposable wrapping paper
Why not use a cotton bag to wrap your gift? It's a great way to create stylish, zero-waste packaging.
Your beneficiary can then use it to:
- offer other gifts;
- do bulk shopping;
- store washable cottons ;
- separate underwear from other items in a suitcase;
- take the children's toys;
- etc.
The result: the person receives a gift, but also a small fabric bag that's useful in their daily life. If they don't need it, keep it for future use.
3/ Seeded gift wrap: packaging and beautiful flowers
Here's a unique idea for wrapping Christmas gifts! Made from natural and 100% biodegradable materials, seeded paper is an innovative wrapping technique. It perfectly illustrates the zero-waste trend.
The principle? Once the gift is unwrapped, you simply plant the paper in the soil and then water it to watch it transform into flowers. 🌷Incredible, right?
Of different thicknesses, there are several types of seeds inside each paper: flowers, aromatic herbs, vegetables. 🫑
You can also find it in envelope form if you're giving money to your loved ones. Avoid disposable envelopes and opt for biodegradable ones!
Be sure it will delight many!
4/ Bee wrap: bees at the service of ecological packaging 🐝
What is a "bee wrap"? In French, it means "bee packaging." Okay, but what else? That doesn't shed any more light on this story.
Bee wrap is primarily used in cooking as a substitute for cling film or aluminum foil. It's a reusable food wrap.
But ultimately, why should we only use them to cover our dishes? They're also perfect for wrapping Christmas gifts in an eco-friendly way. 🎅🏻
These beeswax-impregnated fabrics are soft and malleable, making them perfect for gifting anything.
Plus, this is an opportunity for you to introduce zero-waste habits to your recipient. They'll then be able to use the bee wrap in their kitchen and banish plastic wrap or aluminum foil.
5/ Everyday boxes: recycle for eco-friendly packaging
Who says you absolutely need paper to wrap a gift? Disposable wrapping paper isn't a must. There are other alternatives.
What if we went around our house looking for boxes? You'd be surprised at how many unused boxes are in your cupboards.
Come on, let's go on a treasure hunt! Here are some ideas to help you get your bearings:
- shoe box;
- tea box;
- sugar box;
- cookie box;
- beauty product boxes for those who have a box subscription;
- etc.
And if they are not very pretty, you can simply customize them using felt-tip pens, recycled paper (magazines, newspapers, etc.) or with a pretty bow made from an old scarf.
To take it a step further, you can recycle your tin cans. Similarly, cover them with a lovely fabric or recycled paper, and you're done. For a little more impact, place your gift in a beautiful textile.
6/ Recycled wrapping paper from previous years
There's the tear-everything team, and the delicately open-the-gifts team. There's always someone who's in charge of gathering all the trash to throw away and free up space. Take on that role from now on! And if the paper isn't damaged, salvage it, store it at home, and reuse it next year.
Turn it into reusable wrapping paper. Less waste, less expense, and less hassle.
You can also recycle a whole bunch of papers: newspapers, magazines, old sheet music 🎼, road maps, etc. If you dig around a bit, you'll end up finding something that will do the job. And what matters is what's inside, right?
Whether it's for Christmas, a birthday, or any other occasion, it's time to put an end to the scourge of disposable wrapping. Despite everything, the tradition of wrapping gifts persists. It's always difficult to give a present without wrapping. We're even a little embarrassed to do so. However, there are many alternatives to disposable wrapping paper. We hope this article helps you produce less waste and guides you towards more eco-friendly habits.
Feel free to share any other tips you use in the comments. We'd love to try them out ourselves.
Have a wonderful holiday season! 🎄🎁🎉
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