Zero-Waste and Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas for the Holidays
- Olga Shavrina
- Nov 24, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
The holiday season is coming. And where there are holidays, there are gifts, and where there are gifts, there’s wrapping. I trust that single-use plastic packaging is already out of your focus – you wouldn’t be reading this post otherwise.
Let’s discover what the alternatives are and how to make sure we make our loved ones happy without hurting the planet.
The first good news is that you don’t need to sacrifice the look of your gifts. Moreover, sustainably packaged gifts in natural materials with natural decorations look more beautiful, authentic, personal, luxurious, and cordial.
The second piece of good news is that wrapping gifts in eco-friendly packaging is no more expensive than using plastic. It can even be 100% free if you use your imagination.
And finally, crafting eco-friendly wrapping encourages you to be creative, involve family and kids in the wrapping activities, make the whole experience more meaningful, and unlock your imagination.
Recyclable Wrapping Paper and Gift Bags
If the holiday season caught you off guard and you haven’t saved any recycled wrapping materials from the previous year, the easiest option is to use recyclable brown paper or a recyclable paper gift bag instead of plastic.
To make a gift look personal, you can use stamps or handmade gift tags. Pair them with natural decorations like dried orange or lemon slices, pine cones, small fir branches, cinnamon sticks, dried flowers, or herbs, and your gifts will leave a lasting wow effect.
Be aware that many paper bags have plastic or fabric handles that need to be recycled separately. Personally, I prefer bags with paper handles, as they can be fully recycled.
Non-Plastic Tape for Gift Wrapping
When thinking about eco-friendly gift packaging, don’t forget about tape. It’s so common to default to plastic tape or Scotch tape without realizing its potential to pollute the planet and harm wildlife. The good news is that there are plenty of eco-friendly, zero-waste alternatives that are not only better for the environment but also look nicer and more natural.
Instead of plastic tape, consider using Washi tape. It’s made of paper, easy to detach from paper packaging, and recyclable. You can also opt for natural ropes (twine, raffia or jute), and other textile ribbons as sustainable alternatives to plastic tape.
Washi tapes:
Textile tapes and ribbons:
Reusing Old Packaging
You can get creative with recycled or homemade packaging this holiday season. Reusing wrapping paper, gift bags, or boxes from last year is a simple and eco-friendly solution. Even everyday items like paper bags from grocery stores, old newspapers, or packaging from previous purchases can be repurposed into unique gift wraps. Preparing wrapping paper with kids can also turn into a fun and engaging activity, sparking creativity while making cherished memories.
For a cheeky and memorable twist, consider wrapping gifts in bamboo toilet paper—perfect for eco-conscious friends who will appreciate both your sense of humor and resourcefulness (just don’t tell them it was my idea!).
Reusable Fabric Gift Wraps and Bags
Apparently, the Japanese have known how to wrap things sustainably for a very long time. Their wrapping technique, called “furoshiki” (read more in Wikipedia), dates back as far as 800 AD. The concept involves wrapping items in cloth that can be reused multiple times.
There are plenty of gift wrapping cloths and gift bags available on the market. Moreover, you can easily make them at home from old fabric or household textiles. They’re perfect for gifts for family members—the wrapping material stays within the household and can be reused repeatedly. Receiving a gift wrapped in furoshiki is especially rewarding—not only is it a pleasant experience, but the recipient also gets a reusable wrapping cloth that they can use over and over again.
And who said a wrap can't be a gift itself? Explore handmade block print napkins that can serve for years on your loved ones' dinner table.
Wrapping cloths and fabric squares for DIY wraps:
Textile gift bags:
Author's Take
I rarely have time to get very creative with gift wrapping, so I stick to a simple solution — sustainable gift-wrapping paper combined with washi tape, jute twine, or a recycled cloth ribbon from gifts I’ve received. For small gifts, I sometimes use pieces of paper bags from grocery stores. I also store small cardboard boxes and paper bags from stores and deliveries to reuse as packaging later.
I used to wrap gifts in plastic paper with plastic ribbons and made beautiful bows I was pretty proud of. But I realized it’s far more important to stick to one’s beliefs and avoid contributing to plastic pollution than to show off bow-making skills. And actually, besides being more eco-friendly, my gifts look more authentic and personal now — which makes me feel much better.
What Else Can We Do to Reduce the Gifts’ Environmental Footprint?
Even though the gift-giving season brings joy, it’s also an environmental disaster. So many items are purchased, wrapped, delivered, and then often left unused, returned, resold, thrown away, and ultimately turned into waste. This is a problem we can reduce if we approach it thoughtfully.
Use as little wrapping as possible. There are numerous ways to wrap a gift—choose the most efficient one.
Buy fewer gifts. Limit the number of gifts to one per person, or consider buying gifts only for children, not adults. This policy has worked perfectly in our household for a long time.
Gift experiences instead of things.
Gift digital assets instead of physical ones.
Gift fun promises, such as “A coupon for one home-cooked dinner” or “A promise to take you to karaoke night” (though be careful, these can backfire!).
Recycle all the wrapping materials you receive during the holidays.
Share your sustainable wrapping plans with friends and family before the holiday season to inspire them to do the same.
Save wrapping materials from previous years to reuse.
This way, we can celebrate the holidays joyfully while also being kind to the planet.
FAQ on Eco-friendly Gift Wrapping
What is zero-waste gift wrapping?
Zero-waste wrapping avoids single-use materials and focuses on reusable, recyclable, or compostable options like fabric, kraft paper, and natural twine.
Why should I avoid traditional gift wrap?
Most commercial wrapping paper contains plastic, glitter, or foil, making it non-recyclable and environmentally harmful. The main reason is to avoid adding single-use plastic waste to landfills during the holiday season.
What can I use instead of plastic wrapping paper?
Try fabric (Furoshiki), newspaper, brown kraft paper, old maps, or scarves. They’re reusable, stylish, and sustainable.
How do I secure gifts without using tape?
Use string, twine, fabric knots, or reusable ribbons instead of plastic tape. There are plenty of natural materials that can be used instead.
Are there eco-friendly options for decorating wrapped gifts?
Yes — use dried orange slices, pinecones, sprigs of herbs, cinnamon sticks, or paper tags made from recycled materials. It will not only be sustainable, but also make your gifts special and authentic, showing that you truly care about the person.
Can kids' gifts still look fun with eco-friendly wrapping?
Absolutely! Use colorful fabrics, potato-stamped kraft paper, or draw your own designs for a playful and personal touch. And involving kids in eco-friendly gift wrapping can spark their creativity and teach them to take care of the planet.
Image credit istockphoto.com
Thank you dear for these ideas! I LOVE furoshiki and combine it with jute and burlap ribbons, flowers, candies and all these little yummi things that makes gifts so very much more personal and warm. Big hug!
What a great list! Thanks a lot!!! NOw I know how to surprise my daughter's family next Christmas.