Joined Aug 2008
L5: Journeyman
Forum Thread
Alternatives to wrapping paper.
November 17, 2010 at
02:03 PM
in
Chat
(14)
elf Cosmetics
Posted this last year and too old to bump, but wanted to remind people to try and think of the earth this holiday season. I added a few more things in here, some more inexpensive and less wasteful alternatives to wrapping
From an article: "Wrapping paper, from an ecological point of view, is a pretty worthless use of trees."
"In the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holidays. Four million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags."
I've always disliked using wrapping paper... for many years now, I've wrapped gifts in the comics, newspaper, grocery store brown paper bags, magazines, reused giftwrap I've taken from others, or reusable gift bags. I find a way to make it still look attractive, and anyway - it gets ripped off in a few seconds!
Why use alternatives? Incredibly wasteful. My mom is a teacher and on a school trip they visited a dump.. they were told that wrapping paper is one of the most wasteful and plentiful things they see in a dump - and VERY slow to decompose. It can often be difficult to find a location to recycle your wrapping paper because of the materials are typically non-recyclable.
"People in the trash business will tell you: Wrapping paper is just solid waste with a pretty face."
For those of you who need pretty wrapping... how about trying this:
Use a very pretty envirosax reusable bag - which then also becomes part of of the gift!:
This video and blog [envirosax.com] inspired me to create this post:
Wrap your presents in an envirosax reusable bag [youtube.com]
Here is a thread for envirosax bags
(FYI I personally LOVE my envirosax bags... they're tiny, I keep 2 in my bag and use them for groceries, department store purchases or an extra bag. They're VERY pretty and I get tons of compliments. So they make a very nice gift, in addition to very pretty, environmental wrapping).
Or wayy cheaper, these ELF bags. [eyeslipsface.com]
Envirosax cute kid's bags for $3 at Target (when added to another order with free shipping over $50, plus 20% off $75)
Red one [target.com]
Pink one [target.com]
Just suggestions - there are many very attractive reusable bags at all kinds of stores one can use. I just saw some really pretty ones at homegoods.
Another article about wasteful wrapping paper. [earth911.com]
Please remember this holiday season: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Anyone else have more earth-friendly ways to wrap?
From an article: "Wrapping paper, from an ecological point of view, is a pretty worthless use of trees."
"In the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holidays. Four million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags."
I've always disliked using wrapping paper... for many years now, I've wrapped gifts in the comics, newspaper, grocery store brown paper bags, magazines, reused giftwrap I've taken from others, or reusable gift bags. I find a way to make it still look attractive, and anyway - it gets ripped off in a few seconds!
Why use alternatives? Incredibly wasteful. My mom is a teacher and on a school trip they visited a dump.. they were told that wrapping paper is one of the most wasteful and plentiful things they see in a dump - and VERY slow to decompose. It can often be difficult to find a location to recycle your wrapping paper because of the materials are typically non-recyclable.
"People in the trash business will tell you: Wrapping paper is just solid waste with a pretty face."
For those of you who need pretty wrapping... how about trying this:
Use a very pretty envirosax reusable bag - which then also becomes part of of the gift!:
This video and blog [envirosax.com] inspired me to create this post:
Wrap your presents in an envirosax reusable bag [youtube.com]
Here is a thread for envirosax bags
(FYI I personally LOVE my envirosax bags... they're tiny, I keep 2 in my bag and use them for groceries, department store purchases or an extra bag. They're VERY pretty and I get tons of compliments. So they make a very nice gift, in addition to very pretty, environmental wrapping).
Or wayy cheaper, these ELF bags. [eyeslipsface.com]
Envirosax cute kid's bags for $3 at Target (when added to another order with free shipping over $50, plus 20% off $75)
Red one [target.com]
Pink one [target.com]
Just suggestions - there are many very attractive reusable bags at all kinds of stores one can use. I just saw some really pretty ones at homegoods.
Another article about wasteful wrapping paper. [earth911.com]
Please remember this holiday season: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Anyone else have more earth-friendly ways to wrap?
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What!?
I love paper!
We aren't allowed to take our work out of the office. But that would be neat to wrap presents in blueprints!
Maybe ask someone nice that would have authority if they're getting rid of any if you could recycle them as wrapping paper
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"In the U.S., an additional 5 million tons of waste is generated during the holidays. Four million tons of this is wrapping paper and shopping bags."
Another article about wasteful wrapping paper. [earth911.com]
Please remember this holiday season: REDUCE, REUSE, RECYCLE
Maybe ask someone nice that would have authority if they're getting rid of any if you could recycle them as wrapping paper
But we do recycle the drawings
Although - I did grab some blank paper for gift wrapping that was left over from one drawing I printed. Sometimes we plot stuff and there's all this excess paper left over.
Some ways I cut down on waste:
For pretty gift boxes, I just leave them in the box and tie a reusable ribbon around it, or maybe a bow to make it look pretty. Then I collect afterwards to reuse it again.
I also just reuse everything I can possibly get my hands on. It is best for the environment but it is also super slick not to have to buy wrapping paper, gift bags, etc!!
ALSO-we use an artificial christmas tree every year-that was handed down from my MIL. That saves the wasted pine christmas trees.
Or, now you can buy a live christmas tree with the roots attached and plant it after you are done with it!!!
Notice from fire department to "remind you that it's not only improper - but highly unsafe - to burn holiday gift wrap and other waste items in a residential fireplace." [facebook.com]
From Washington Post: "Wrapping Paper: Using It Is Bad, Burning It Is Worse" [washingtonpost.com]
NPR - "Don't Burn the Giftwrap" [npr.org]
Hope that saves you some mishaps!
But we do recycle the drawings
Although - I did grab some blank paper for gift wrapping that was left over from one drawing I printed. Sometimes we plot stuff and there's all this excess paper left over.
Some ways I cut down on waste:
For pretty gift boxes, I just leave them in the box and tie a reusable ribbon around it, or maybe a bow to make it look pretty. Then I collect afterwards to reuse it again.
I also just reuse everything I can possibly get my hands on. It is best for the environment but it is also super slick not to have to buy wrapping paper, gift bags, etc!!
ALSO-we use an artificial christmas tree every year-that was handed down from my MIL. That saves the wasted pine christmas trees.
Or, now you can buy a live christmas tree with the roots attached and plant it after you are done with it!!!
Awesome ideas on how to be more environmental at christmas!! The live christmas tree you can plant sounds so nice!!
And do you know how many sunday comics you'd have to collect to do all your holiday wrapping in those?! You'd have to start saving them sometime in August!
It's just not practical.
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And do you know how many sunday comics you'd have to collect to do all your holiday wrapping in those?! You'd have to start saving them sometime in August!
It's just not practical.
Comics - start saving in August then! It's a few sheets a week, doesn't take up much space
Wrapping paper isn't so pretty when there is 4 millions tons of it every year getting added to a landfill!
If you want to talk about being practical - just use regular newspaper - save money, save the earth, stop filling up landfills with stuff that does not decompose easily and is ripped open in a few seconds
Hope you saw the post above about the dangers of burning giftwrap in the fireplace too - seems like there are a lot of warnings against it, seems dangerous.