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How to make holiday gift wrapping environmentally friendly

Published on November 21, 2024

box wrapped in brown paper with roll of twine on right and scissors on leftThe holiday season is a time of celebration and, sometimes, excessive waste. Americans discard millions of pounds of wrapping paper and packaging each year, much of which isn’t recyclable due to glossy finishes and mixed materials like glitter.

Here are some upcycled wrapping paper ideas so you can spread holiday cheer while being kind to the planet.

Old can be new: Old maps, magazines, newspapers and sheet music can make for colorful and creative wrapping paper. Old greeting cards can be used for gift tags.

What about brown? Turn grocery store paper bags inside out and have fun decorating. Invite children to give their special decorating touch to the gifts as well. Kraft paper works well, too.

Sew much more: If you sew or craft, you probably have leftover fabric pieces that would make great wrapping.

This holiday season, cut down on waste and add a personal touch to make your holidays merry and green.