12 Cool Ideas For Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping

For those who are looking for a way to go eco-friendly with their gifts, it is easier than you might think. Wrapping paper is not the only way you can wrap you gift for giving. There are actually many ways you can present your gift to a friend or family member while staying environmentally friendly. Check out these wonderful options for the next time you need to give a gift. You will love having so many cool, eco-friendly gift wrapping options to chose from!

Tired of the hidden environmental impact of traditional gift wrapping practices? Want to learn how switching to eco-friendly alternatives can make a significant difference? Say goodbye to the harmful effects of non-recyclable wrapping paper, excessive plastic use, and take actionable steps towards a more sustainable and thoughtful way of presenting gifts. Discover innovative and out-of-the-box ideas for eco-friendly gift wrapping that will not only amaze your loved ones, but also contribute to a sustainable future. From repurposed materials to natural alternatives, this blog post will guide you through the exciting world of eco-conscious gift wrapping. Enjoy these instructions, product recommendations, and expert insights to help you wrap your presents with style, while reducing waste and supporting a more sustainable future.

Sustainable And Eco-Friendly Gift Wrap Ideas

1. Use Natural Elements for Decoration

Discover the art of eco-friendly gift wrapping and learn how to incorporate nature-inspired elements into your presents. You can use pine sprigs, maple leaves, pine cones, flowers, sweet gum tree balls, or other natural elements as baubles to decorate your gift. These make great substitutions for shiny, non-recyclable, slow-to-degrade bows. From using recycled paper and biodegradable ribbons to adding a touch of greenery, it is easy to create beautifully wrapped gifts while minimizing your ecological footprint.

2. Japanese Cloth Gift Wrapping

It turns out that the Japanese have long had the custom of wrapping gifts with beautiful cloth. In fact, they call it the art of Furoshiki. I was introduced to the concept by the folks at Rapt, a woman owned company from Massachusetts. I actually discovered their beautiful, sustainable gift wrapping solution on Instagram! They provide everything you need for sustainable gift wrapping- Rapt sheets (which are beautiful, reusable cloth gift wrapping), accents, tags, and matching ribbon. At Rap they go, they go “above and beyond eliminating wasteful paper wrapping – by working with local production and picking up and dropping off whenever possible to reduce our carbon footprint. We believe a tiny change can make a big difference. It’s YOUR PRESENT and OUR FUTURE!” Rapt cloth gift wrap can be used over and over again and it is really a spectacular choice that makes a gift even more special.

3. Reuse Gift Bags

Gift bags have long been quite popular but reusing gift bags is one of the easiest Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping options I know of.  When you give gifts in gift bags, you can make sure they are reusable by not writing on the bag.  You can also use a post-it-note inside the little label on the bag so they can remove it and reuse that too! After birthday parties or Christmas, I always fold my gift bags and tissue paper and store them for reuse later. All of these eco-friendly Christmas gift wrapping ideas can be used any time of the year, of course, for any occasion from anniversary gifts to father’s day gifts.

4. Reusable Tote Bags

You are probably most familiar with reusable bags for the grocery store. Reusable bags are also great for gift giving. Sometimes they are made out of recycled plastic and other times they are cloth tote bags. You can find ones that come in solid colors or fun patterns. The gift recipient can use the reusable bags for shopping, trips to the library or even pass it on to a friend. Reusable bags will get an endless amount of use and they are not going to end up in the trash can. They can be used for trips to the beach or a picnic to the park. They are a great added element to the gift itself. Reusable fabric gift bags are a sustainable option for a special gift.

5. Recycled Gift Wrapping Paper

Some gift companies are printing on recycled paper and materials for their products. Recycled craft paper is usually very easy to find. If you can find these items then they are a great eco friendly option for gift wrapping. You can also use boxes you have at home already to place the gift in before you wrap them. This helps keep the extra clutter down for your home and is helping the environment. You can even “recycle” brown paper bags as gift wrapping paper. Don’t even consider using gift wrapping not printed on recyclable paper, like glittery!

6. Recycled Gift Tags

You can buy gift tags made with recycled paper or you can make your own using gift cards or plain paper. Reuse thin cardboard boxes to make gift tag labels. You can even reuse greeting cards to make adorable gift tags!

7. Draw String Cloth Bags

My cousin let me in on this nifty eco-friendly gift wrapping secret. She used to make cloth draw string bags to give her gifts in. I loved seeing the beautiful fabric she chose and I love getting to reuse them with gifts I give. Turns out Amazon got a hold of this great eco gift giving idea and if you chose the gift wrapping option on their site, your gifts will come in some really pretty cloth draw string bags! Here is a tutorial for a DIY Cinch Bag.

8. Make a Box

You can create a special unique item that will serve as the gift packaging and a container for later use. This means they can reuse the container you gave the gift in for placing items such as paperclips on their desk. This is a great way to give a gift and use the packaging for other materials. You can make small gift boxes from pretty paper with this tutorial. Even purchasing pretty gift boxes that can be reused is a great way to go eco-friendly as well.

9-12. Wrap With Newspaper, Magazines, Sheet Music, or Maps

If you have some old newspapers around the house that you are ready to part with, it can be used as gift wrapping paper. Old maps or magazines make for really interesting eco gift wrapping! Sunday funnies and cartoons make for a whole extra gift on top of the gift itself!

13. Mason Jars

Good news- simple ways work just as well. Mason jars are so easy, useful, and pretty when it comes to an eco-friendly way to wrap small gifts. For zero waste gift wrapping, just drop your gifts inside the glass jars and use a natural bauble to decorate each jar. If you prefer, you can line the jar with some organic cotton to keep the element of surprise.

What is the most eco-friendly way to wrap presents?

If you find yourself rummaging through a bin of potential gift wrap material from last year or the holiday season, you are making a green gift wrap choice! The most eco-friendly choice is the one you from this list that you currently have on had. Almost all of these eco-friendly gift wrapping options can be reused for gifting or in some other fun way around the home.

Conclusion

Explore the lesser-known advantages of eco-friendly gift wrapping that go beyond sustainability. From fostering creativity and personalization to promoting a sense of mindfulness and connection, this article highlights how embracing eco-conscious practices can enhance the overall gifting experience and leave a lasting positive impression on recipients. I hope you enjoyed uncovering the secrets of eco-friendly gift wrapping with practical techniques and strategies that align with your green values.

Be sure to check out these and other eco options for gift giving to lessen your environmental impact. You can give beautiful packages and stay green at the same time! The best part is that you can help pounds of wrapping paper out of the waste bin, this year, next year, and every year. Mother Nature will thank you. Which one is your favorite?

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