You’ve finally found the perfect gift, and now it’s time to wrap it up. But before you reach for the gift wrap, consider this: each year in the United States, an estimated 2.6 billion pounds of wrapping paper is discarded–enough to cover 40 football fields.
Wrapping paper, as well as gift boxes, bags, and bows, are things that, when you stop to think about it, are surprisingly wasteful. Like any single-use product, these items require many resources to create, only to result in brief usage before being thrown into a landfill. The manufacturing of products to decorate a package, only for it to be torn apart and thrown away moments later, feels both unnecessary and unsustainable.
Fortunately, there are plenty of simple eco-friendly gift wrapping methods that preserve the visual appeal of a wrapped gift while drastically reducing or even eliminating waste. And every element of sustainable gift wrapping–from boxes to wrapping paper to ribbon–can be done for minimal (or even no) cost. Read on for sustainable gift wrapping ideas that will reduce waste and inspire creativity this holiday season.
What to look for in eco-friendly wrapping materials
Knowing what qualities to look for when gathering eco-friendly wrapping materials is essential for success, and it is pretty simple. Here is what you should seek, in order of importance.
- Repurposed items. Reusing things like boxes and bows that you may already have is the best choice as it gives these things new life and does not require the manufacturing of new items.
- Reusable items. Utilizing reusable items to wrap such as cloth gift bags are a gift that can be used again and again.
- Recycled materials. Look for paper products made from recycled materials, which takes less energy to create and decreases need for resources.
- Responsibly-made materials. The best paper products are produced from trees grown in sustainably-managed forests, which is best denoted by a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification.
Learn more about choosing eco-friendly paper products.
Eco-friendly Christmas gift boxes
Finding the perfect box is often the first step in preparing a gift. There’s no need to buy new gift boxes, especially considering how much online shopping we do these days. Instead, start saving your shipping boxes to repurpose as gift packaging. Shoe boxes work wonderfully, as do any gift boxes you may receive.
In addition to cardboard boxes, many other containers can be upcycled for gift giving, such as:
- Tins
- Jars
- Wooden boxes, such as cigar boxes
- Baskets
Sustainable Christmas gift bags
I can honestly say I don’t think I’ve ever bought a gift bag. Call me a hoarder if you like, but I save every gift bag I receive—unless it’s in terrible condition. If you get a gift bag from me, rest assured it’s been regifted. Over the years, I’ve accumulated bags for nearly every occasion: baby showers, kids’ birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day, and plenty of generic options.
If you have some extra closet space, I highly recommend the Jokari gift bag organizer. I’ve been using mine since 2017, and it’s still holding up beautifully.Reusable gift bags
If you haven’t been graced with a plethora of gift bags to regift, consider using reusable gift bags. Cloth gift bags are a great eco-friendly alternative for gifting, and can be re-gifted for years to come. Crafty people can upcycle old shirts or other fabric and sew into gift bags, or purchase some ready-made.
Etsy has a wide variety of reusable fabric gift bags, including some made from upcycled materials. Rockflowerpaper is a sustainable company based in California. Their festive reusable gift bags are made with 100% cotton canvas and azo-free dyes. And with each purchase, the company donates to the Ocean Conservancy, with over $250,000 given to date. If you’re looking to spend more on a more upscale option, check out Bag-all. In addition to gift bags, this company has bags for all occasions. All of their products consist of either 100% cotton or recycled nylon, printed with water-based colors. Bag-all demonstrates social and environmental responsibility by granting over 350 micro loans to female entrepreneurs worldwide and plant trees through One Tree Planted.Eco-friendly paper gift bags
If cloth bags aren’t an option and you don’t have any gift bags to reuse, shop for gift bags that are made with recycled paper, or at least FSC-certified paper from sustainably managed forests. If those options aren’t available, choose simple gift bags free from glitter, sparkles, or otherwise bedazzled. Kraft paper gift bags are probably your best bet as they are sure to be recyclable.
Try Target’s Wondershop gift bags. They are FSC-certified and made from 90% recycled paper.Are gift bags recyclable?
You can recycle gift bags, as long as they are not metallic or coated in glitter. In the photo, note how the pink metallic coating is peeling off. This is plastic, and contaminates the paper for recycling.
Be sure to remove any non-paper adornments, such as fabric, beads, and ribbon or rope handles from gift bags adding them to your recycling bin.
Eco-Friendly tissue paper
Tissue paper is a common addition to most gift bags, and it’s another gift wrapping item I always save and repurpose.
Target Wondershop Tissue Paper is the very best option I have found for tissue paper. It is inexpensive and still meets the criteria of being both FSC-certified and made from 70% recycled paper.There are more options for recycled tissue paper, however, the ones I have found are only available in large amounts. These include Paper Mart Kraft Tissue, which is FSC-certified and 100% recycled, and Nashville Wraps Recycled Kraft Tissue Paper, 100% recycled.
Is tissue paper recyclable?
Yes, tissue paper can be recycled with other paper recycling; it is also compostable and biodegradable. Metallic or glittery tissue paper needs to be thrown away.
Eco-friendly wrapping paper
The best Christmas wrapping paper is no wrapping paper at all or anything that is either repurposed from other materials or designed to be reused instead of discarded after opening a gift. Sustainable wrapping paper is reusable, recyclable, or biodegradable, ideally being all of these. Wrapping paper (or any other wrapping material) that is shiny, metallic, or contains glitter does not meet either of these criteria; the shiny coating may be aluminum but is most likely plastic, and cannot be separated from the paper for recycling.
Repurposed paper
Instead of buying wrapping paper, get creative and use paper you have around the house. My favorite eco-friendly gift wrap is the brown shipping paper included in delivered packages–it’s free kraft paper. This type of paper is thick and strong but easy to wrap with. Used as is, wrinkles and all, this paper looks great for gifts, or if you prefer, you press out creases and wrinkles with a warm iron without steam.
Brown paper grocery bags are very similar and are another great example of repurposing. You could also use newspaper or pages from magazines.
Get even more creative and dig in your closets or hit the thrift store for old maps, sheet music, books, or posters for fun and unique wrapping paper.
Reusable wrapping paper: Furoshiki
Furoshiki is a Japanese gift wrapping cloth dating back to around 700 AD. Originally used for wrapping or transporting goods, Furoshiki wrapping has experienced a resurgence as an eco-friendly alternative to single-use wrapping paper, but these cloths also have numerous other uses, too.
The most inexpensive option to Furoshiki is repurposing a small cloth, scarf or handkerchief, or tea towel; for larger gifts try a beach towel, thin blanket, or bed sheet. Or visit a thrift store to find linens in fun patterns that you can cut to desired sizes.
If you’d like something more elegant or unique, there are many places to buy Furoshiki cloths for the purpose of wrapping.
Recycled wrapping paper
Wrappily is a women-owned small business that offers recycled wrapping paper. Products are designed by independent artists and manufactured in the USA. According to their website, paper is “made from sawdust collected at lumber mills mixed with recycled newspaper fibers, and uses the least amount of chemical agents to change the consistency or quality.” Wrapping paper arrives in a folded sheet, rendering the cardboard tube and plastic packaging unnecessary; clear packaging is made of PLA, a plant starch, that is commercially compostable and certified biodegradable. Target Wondershop gift wraps are FSC-certified and made with 90% recycled paper.Kraft wrapping paper
Kraft paper is a nice wrapping option as it is very strong and versatile. This type of paper is unbleached and therefore maintains its natural brown color. Eliminating the bleaching process requires less energy and chemicals in the manufacturing process compared to traditional white paper. It is fully biodegradable and compostable.
Sustainably sourced wrapping paper
Central 23 gift wrap is made from FSC certified paper that is printed with vegan, chemical-free inks. Also available on Amazon. The Waterleaf Paper Co. trademark product is their ‘dissolvable’ wrapping paper, which is made from plant cellulose and can dissolve in water; it is biodegradable and compostable as well. The paper is FSC-certified and designs are created by female artists worldwide and printed with non-toxic water-based ink. Etsy offers a wide variety of unique handmade papers, such as HeavenHemp Lotka Paper, made from fibers from the Lotka bush found in the Himalayas.Can you recycle wrapping paper?
Wrapping paper can be recycled as long as it isn’t metallic or coated with wax, plastic, or glitter. Test wrapping paper using the scrunch test: if you scrunch it up and it stays in a tight ball, it is ok to be recycled. If it doesn’t stay in a ball, it’s made with other materials and cannot be recycled.
Eco-friendly wrapping tape
Traditional adhesive tape, such as Scotch tape, consists of a plastic backing coated with adhesive and is not biodegradable. Instead, consider using ribbon or string to hold wrapping paper in place and skip tape altogether, or use an eco-friendly compostable tape.
Washi tape
Washi tape is a fantastic alternative to traditional plastic Scotch tape. This decorative adhesive tape is paper-based, typically crafted from natural fibers such as bamboo, hemp, rice, or the bark of the mulberry tree. Like other adhesive tapes, Washi tape is semi-transparent but comes in a multitude of vibrant designs, making it a popular choice for crafting, decorating, and gift wrapping.
Kraft paper tape
Kraft paper tape is made from kraft paper and a natural or synthetic adhesive, often water-activated gum or pressure-sensitive glue. This brown paper tape is an eco-friendly option due to its biodegradability and recyclability.
Package Free Kraft Tape uses a natural rubber adhesive and cardboard roll. It’s also approved by USPS, UPS, and FedEx.Earth-friendly bows & adornments
I’ll admit, I’m a lazy gift wrapper and have completely ditched bows—they’re just an extra step and one more thing to toss. That being said, I know a ribbon or bow is essential to making a gift look polished, so luckily there are plenty of eco-friendly alternatives you can use.
I know I sound like a broken record at this point, but for me, repurposed ribbons are the way to go. I’ve got a bin that I stash pieces of ribbons from gift or from packaging. This system hasn’t let me down as I always have some ribbon fit for any need.
If you need to buy bows, make sure to avoid the the cheap, shiny plastic bows that come in a plastic bag. Instead, use natural materials that are biodegradable: paper, cotton, raffia, jute, string, or twine are fine choices for adorning gifts.
Target’s Wondershop 3ct Paper Christmas Decorative Bows are a great alternative for traditional bows; for $3 you get three bows made from 90% recycled paper. Wrappily is an excellent place to buy eco-friendly ribbon. Their ribbons are made from a variety of natural materials such as cotton, hemp, or paper and are fully plastic-free and biodegradable. Waterleaf Paper Co ribbons are made from 100% cotton.When shopping for raffia, take special care to ensure it is natural raffia, a type of grass, not a plastic lookalike. Find natural raffia on Amazon, Etsy, Michaels, or your local craft store.
Repurposed adornments
Adorning your gift with festive objects adds an even more elegant and creative touch. It is likely that if you dug through drawers or hit your local thrift shop, you could come up with some fun ideas to tie to your gifts. Some ideas include:
- Old jewelry, especially brooches
- Small ornaments
- Buttons
- Seashells
- Small toys or knicknacks
- Keychains
- Clothespins
Natural adornments
In my opinion, adding natural elements is the loveliest way to decorate a gift. Not only do they add a touch of nature, complete with different textures and colors, but many of them smell like Christmas. And they can be found right in your kitchen or neighborhood.
Use a small sprig of:
- Holly
- Evergreens, such as pine, fir, or juniper
- Red berries
- Eucalyptus
- Dried herbs, like rosemary
- Pressed flowers
- Small pinecones
In the kitchen, find dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks, or star anise to decorate. Or a tasty element, such as a candy cane.
Eco-friendly gift tags
For minimalists like me, gift tags can be skipped in favor of writing the “to” and “from” right on the wrapping paper or gift bag with a Sharpie. Or you can opt for a DIY gift tags, starting with the classic method of writing the names of giver and receiver on a scrap of piece of wrapping paper folded in half and attached to the gift.
If you want to get more fancy, cut shapes from old cards or packaging. Use decorative stamps on kraft paper or whatever else your imagination can come up with. Attach with washi or kraft tape, or whatever string or ribbon you are using.
Final thoughts on eco-friendly wrapping
Hopefully you are inspired with the variety of practical and beautiful ways to wrap gifts while reducing waste. For minimalists and wrapping aficionados alike, repurposing items, choosing reusable options, and using natural materials and embellishments can result in a wrapped gift that displays your creativity and care. Thoughtful, eco-friendly gift wrapping doesn’t just look good—it’s better for the planet too.