How to Wrap Gifts in an Eco Friendly Way
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Does anyone else feel like wrapping presents in an eco-friendly way is so much harder than coming up with sustainable gift ideas?
It’s 2022, surely we shouldn’t still be cutting down trees to make a box look special.
Your recipient is only going to look at it for a minute before ripping it off and recycling it (fingers crossed) anyway.
Regardless of your wrapping skills, there has to be a better way (spoiler alert - there is).
And if enough of us use eco-friendly gift wrap, we might not feel so bad when that one relative goes OTT with the plastic tape leaving you no choice but to open their presents with your teeth.
COMING UP
What is the most environmentally friendly way to wrap gifts?
The problem with conventional wrapping paper
Plastic vs paper- which is more sustainable?
Eco tip 1
Eco tip 2
Where to buy recycled paper wrapping paper in the US + UK
Where can you find eco-friendly plain brown paper?
Where can you buy reusable gift wrap in the US + UK
Where can you buy sustainable tape and ribbon?
Gift wrapping on a budget
1. What is the most environmentally way to wrap gifts?
The most environmentally friendly ways to wrap gifts are:
Reusable fabric wrap
Recycled wrapping paper
Furoshiki
DIY gift wrap
Reusing gift bags and boxes
If you’re in the UK, you can find this at Wearth and AndKeep.
If you’re in the USA, check out EarthHero* and Zero Waste Store.
*use my code sustainablylazy for 10% off
2. Why is conventional wrapping paper unsustainable?
Conventional wrapping paper found on the high street or supermarket is usually not sustainable because it is made from poor quality fibres that are dyed, coated in plastic, and decorated with glitter (also plastic) which makes it almost impossible to recycle.
It comes packaged in a non-recyclable film, gets covered in plastic sellotape and ends up in a bin bag.
Now imagine millions of people doing that all around the world. Ain’t so pretty now, is it?
3. Plastic vs paper- which is more sustainable?
Plastic wrapping paper
Plastic is created from the fossil fuel crude oil, one of the main contributors to climate change, so it is obviously not a sustainable material to wrap your gifts in.
Fracking for oil results in catastrophic environmental issues, like oil spills, water contamination and air pollution (plus the companies responsible barely get a slap on the wrist and then continue to receive millions in tax credits).
Basically, you should be more annoyed about fossil fuels than you are at the contents of your wheelie bin at the end of the week. Consumers, like you and me, can try our best, but we will never be perfectly zero waste so it is the companies making the plastic that need to change.
The problem with Paper wrapping paper
100% Paper gift wrap seems like an eco-friendly choice until you consider where it comes from.
Trees store carbon, which is amazing, but when we cut them down this greenhouse gas is released back into the atmosphere. Unfortunately, human beings love excess so are cutting down lots and lots of trees.
“But we can plant lots and lots of trees!”
I hear ya! Believe me, I do.
Not only does it take decades for trees to grow, but there is also no guarantee they won’t be cut down again. We know deforestation is causing climate change yet nobody is slowing down thanks to the high demand for paper and wood.
So far in 2022, 22 million hectares of forest have already been cut down (a hectare is roughly the size of 2.5 football fields).
There is also the issue of water. To make 1 tonne of paper, 2,700 litres of water is needed.
The solution? We need to move away from a throwaway society and utilise what already exists - recycled paper.
All the products in this article are made from recycled and organic materials that can be bought without relying on unethical, tax-avoiding corporations. You know who I’m talking about.
This leads me to the first eco-friendly wrapping tip.
4. Eco Tip one: Use up what you already have
The best thing you can do for the planet (and your bank balance) is to use what you already have in your home.
Before you get swept up in the excitement of buying beautiful sustainable wrapping options (because let’s face it, small businesses create much more wonderful, high-quality products than Supermarkets), hold off until you’ve given out all those gift bags that have lived in your cupboard for ten years. Use up that plastic wrap from last year before you buy more.
That is the most eco-friendly option.
Once you’ve done that, you can look for a trustworthy UK brand with a transparent supply chain and a product with a low environmental impact. Today’s your lucky day because I’ve done that part of the work for you.
5. Eco Tip two: Use newspaper
Following on from the last wrapping paper tip, using paper that already exists is a sustainable choice. One type of paper that is in abundance is newspapers.
See if you can grab the unsold copies from local stores, or ask people you know that read them if you can have them when they are done.
6. Where to buy recycled paper wrapping paper
Although the eco-friendly aesthetic is all brown paper and bamboo, single-use is wasteful. There is absolutely no need for these mega-rich companies to be cutting down trees to make wrapping paper when there is an option for post-consumer recycled materials.
The following wrapping paper has been made by small, sustainable businesses that are showing just how fabulous eco-friendly options can be.
They all use recycled materials, vegetable ink, and natural twine and make their products locally to keep their carbon footprint low. As it is plastic-free, this wrapping paper can also be recycled in your paper household recycling.
In the UK:
Oxfam recycled paper gift wrap - fight poverty with charity gift wrap
Curlicue gift wrap - stunning hand-illustrated wrapping paper is made from 100% recycled paper in a waterless and chemical-free printing process.
RSPB wrapping paper roll - 5 or 10m of 100% recycled paper
Blank Inside wrapping paper is made in Sussex by Liz who designs and illustrates all her products in her illustration studio. She has a range of nature-inspired designs, some are beautiful and some are fun. They are also more affordable than many other options.
In the US:
Wrappily’s beautiful designs are printed on recycled newspaper using repurposed printing press machines–and can be recycled after you're done using it
7. Where can you find eco-friendly Plain brown paper?
This is appealing to many because it is a cheaper option and can be decorated yourself. It is important to check if the brown paper is 100% recycled otherwise it is not an environmentally friendly option.
You can purchase recycled brown paper from Etsy.
8. Where can you buy Reusable wrapping paper
I came across a lot of standard cotton gift wraps during my research but because of the huge environmental impact and social justice issues that cotton farming has, I chose not to endorse them.
It is estimated that 1 in 5 items made from cotton are sourced from slavery.
I highly recommend opting for GOTS-certified organic cotton which has strict social and environmental criteria and ensures no slavery or child labour is in the supply chain, as well as fewer, safer pesticides.
In case you (somehow) don’t have any gift bags and find yourself needing one, there are Fairtrade recycled cotton ones available.
Frugi (UK)
If you are into ethical kids’ fashion then you’ll be pleased to know that Frugi has designed a special-edition Christmas Furoshiki wrap.
Made from GOTS and Soil Association-certified organic cotton, you can be sure this product is made with the highest standard of ethics from both an environmental and social context.
Zero Waste Store (USA)
Zero Waste Store is a plastic-free shop that sells reusable gift wrap that is made from organic cotton. They are Furoshiki wraps featuring original artwork inspired by the beauty of nature.
Happy Wrap (UK)
Happy Wrap reusable gift wrap is made from organic cotton with cotton braids sewn on to assist with wrapping. They are plastic-free and made in the UK.
Ten Thousand Villages (USA)
Choosing Fairtrade products makes a difference in the lives of people living in poor communities overseas. Ten Thousand Villages is a non-profit that sells a range of ethically made products, including sustainable gift wraps and bags made from jute and recycled materials. All their gift wrap and Christmas presents are made by talented artisans receiving fair wages.
Wrag Wrap (UK)
Wrag Wrap has designed a selection of fabric wraps made from recycled plastic bottles. Not only does each wrap stop 12 plastic bottles from ending up in landfill, but their recycled fabric also has a 70% lower carbon footprint than polyester and 50% lower than organic cotton.
The reversible design feature means you can reuse the product on other occasions too. You can buy Wrag Wrap here.
9. Where can you buy eco-friendly tape and ribbon?
If you like supporting small businesses and want some lovely sustainable tape to go with your new recycled paper you’re in luck.
In the US:
In the UK:
Eco tape and twine at AndKeep
Piccalilly rainbow gift tape
Piccalilly joke gift tape
Ribbon made from recycled plastic bottles
My first attempt at making my own reusable paper
10. Gift wrapping on a budget
Reuse
It’s also a good idea to keep hold of any gift bags and wrapping paper you receive this year. Once you’re committed to an ethical Christmas you’ll become the slow, careful “unwrapper” in the room.
I’m afraid to say you may never rip your presents open in excitement again (but afterwards you’ll be so chuffed with yourself that there’s not much to add to the dreaded black bin bag).
DIY
Another budget idea is to make your own. Use anything you’ve got lying around the house… pillow covers, scarves, tea towels, reuse foil or cut up an old sheet.
For the last two years, I’ve been building a stash of old fabric. It’s mainly fast-fashion that is stretched out or irreparable, but I also keep anything fancy that came with something I ordered, like tissue paper and ribbon.
If you haven’t got time to build a “stash” why not browse the charity shops?
art
If you’ve got kids then I’m sure you’re used to having colouring coming out of your ears. Whether it’s your toddler painting at home or your children bringing art home from school, could you turn it into a special gift wrap for family members?
Tap to pin this to your eco-friendly Christmas board on Pinterest:
I hope you found what you were looking for today. You can help spread the word by sharing it on social media where you’ll find me on Facebook and Instagram - don’t forget to say hi!
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How are you wrapping your gifts this year? Let me know in the comments section below :) and don’t forget to check out the Christmas section on my blog.
Have a great Christmas.
Sophie xx
