“Green” Gift Wrapping

Holiday wrapping paper, ribbons, cards, and envelopes involve a lot of paper, and a lot of trees. But with a bit of creativity, you can wrap your presents in style, and waste less paper and money this holiday season. Check out our ideas for easy, eco-friendly gift wrapping alternatives.

Dishtowels, placemats, and table cloths
For the friend or relative who loves to cook, wrap gifts in pretty dish towels. Or give her a nifty, new kitchen tool that you’ve bundled into a set of placemats, then tie with recycled ribbon. Get that old tablecloth you haven’t used in five years, cut it up and use the pieces to wrap gifts. An easy way to do it is to gather the ends of the fabric at the top of the present, and tie them together with some raffia or ribbon recycled from last year.

Newspapers and magazines
Old newspapers and magazines make great wrapping paper. Use the sports section of the paper for your brother, colour comics for the younger kids, glossy fashion magazine pages for your teenaged cousin. Use a magic marker in the colour of your choice to fill in different parts of the pictures or graphics on newspaper for a modern, pop-art look. Tie with inexpensive yarn or ribbons you saved from last year. Looking for a gift-wrapping idea that’s really original and exotic-looking? Pick up some Chinese newspapers in Chinatown!

Brown paper bags
Paint and stencil the brown paper bags you usually get at the supermarket. Get some gold spray paint or glitter, and cover the bags. Punch two holes at the top, then string ribbon or raffia through the holes, and tie into a bow or a knot. You can also cut pieces of brown paper bags to wrap small gifts, decorating the paper first.

Cloth gift bags
If you’re handy with a needle and thread, make your own reusable gift bags, using sumptuous fabrics like velvet. Sew pieces of ribbon at the top to serve as handles. These make great gifts, too!

Copy paper wrappers
When buying a pack of copy paper for your printer, carefully open it if the wrapper is paper—once unfolded, it will make a big enough piece to wrap a medium-sized gift. Use stencils to paint the white side, or decorate with rubber stamps. If you’re a natural at drawing, why not add some cool designs with brightly-coloured magic markers? Finish with a simple raffia bow or recycled ribbon.