How To: Sustainable Giftwrapping Made Easy

For a truly sustainable option, peruse your home for paper that can be reused to wrap gifts, such as brown paper bags and newspapers. If you don’t have any paper to reuse, kraft paper can be purchased in many different colors (all of which are recyclable) and decorated using markers or stamps! Children can create their own giftwrap pattern to make the holidays even more special, and the paper can go right into the recycling cart after use.

If you want to lessen your waste even further, opt for washi tape, which is also recyclable. However, if you use a few pieces of traditional tape, know that this will not prevent your kraft paper from being recyclable in our curbside carts.

Person placing a snowflake stamp on brown wrapping paper
Source: Spruce Crafts

Materials:

• Paper – shopping bag, newspaper, etc. 

• Scissors 

• Ruler 

• Double-sided tape 

Cut your paper into nine strips, each ¾ of an inch wide. Next, measure and cut the length. You’ll need three strips that are 11” long, three strips that are 10” long, two strips that are 9” long and 1 strip that is 3 1/2” long.

Using one strip of paper at a time, twist each end toward the center until they meet in the middle and create a loop. Secure the ends in place with double-sided tape. Repeat with the remaining eight strips, apart from the 3 ½” inch strip; loop that one into a circle.

Start with the three longest strips of paper and begin stacking in descending order by size: largest on the bottom. Secure each loop in place with tape. Finish with the circle loop in the center. Attach your bow on top of your gift wrapped in recyclable paper.

If you’re looking for a beginner-friendly bow, try out this simple tutorial to make the red bow seen below. 

Green paper bow and red paper bow on a light green background

Materials:

• Card stock  

• Scissors 

• Ruler 

• Hot glue or double-sided tape 

Trim two pieces of card stock into a square that is 12” wide and long.  

For the top: Draw a line 2” wide on each side. For the bottom: Draw a line 2 ¼” wide on each side. Press firmly to score lines but not too hard or you might cut or tear the cardstock. See image below. 

Square with lines roughly 2 inches in to create the desired box height and side height

Use scissors to lightly score along the lines. Cut alternating flaps as marked on the image below. Fold along all four scored lines on each piece of card stock. Use glue or tape to secure each corner flap inside the longer, side piece of the box.   

Square with dotted lines marking where to cut and glue to achieve the desired box size

Tip: use clothespins to secure corners while glue is drying.

Once glue dries or the corners are secured with tape, you have a custom, upcycled box to fill with a special gift for friends, family or the holiday gift swap at the office. 

Multiple paper boxes filled with crafting supplies
Source: Cardstock Warehouse

Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese technique for wrapping items with fabric. You can use a tea towel, pillowcase, scarf, or any appropriately sized piece of fabric.  Once you get the hang of this technique, you’ll never need to buy wrapping paper again! Follow along with an easy tutorial to get started.

Person holding a gift wrapped with brown and pink fabric

If the above doesn’t fit into your schedule, or if you are simply hoping for a more convenient path to sustainability, we’ve got you covered! Many online and in-person retailers now sell reusable holiday gift bags in various shapes and sizes, including ones with a cinch top to eliminate any tissue paper needs. If desired, newspapers and magazines can make for great alternative tissue paper, or you can simply keep this year’s purchased tissue paper for reuse next year.

Person wrapping gifts in reusable bags in front of a Christmas tree