Joined Aug 2008
L5: Journeyman
Forum Thread
Alternatives to wrapping paper.
November 17, 2010 at
02:03 PM
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(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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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.
And yeah, I read the NPR link - they said if you use hallmark wrapping paper, you're probably okay, and at the bottom, the guy from the Advanced Chemical Safety in San Diego wasn't too concerned about it, so neither am I.
And yeah, I read the NPR link - they said if you use hallmark wrapping paper, you're probably okay, and at the bottom, the guy from the Advanced Chemical Safety in San Diego wasn't too concerned about it, so neither am I.
Well, you are the "Mistress of all Evil".
PS. If you read the fire department's warning, that is not just about the toxic inhalation but the embers that come from giftwrap burning that cause roof and attic fires.
Well, you are the "Mistress of all Evil".
PS. If you read the fire department's warning, that is not just about the toxic inhalation but the embers that come from giftwrap burning that cause roof and attic fires.
Oh good! Have you inherited the wise habit?
Well, you are the "Mistress of all Evil".
PS. If you read the fire department's warning, that is not just about the toxic inhalation but the embers that come from giftwrap burning that cause roof and attic fires.
Are you also one of those people that gets all whiny and bitchy when people have a real turkey at their holiday dinner instead of tofurkey, too?
your body of work isn't there yet.
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your body of work isn't there yet.
Are you also one of those people that gets all whiny and bitchy when people have a real turkey at their holiday dinner instead of tofurkey, too?
No need to insult what environment-conscious people do because it's too much effort for you.
200+million Americans do a lot of things that are pretty wasteful or harmful - the fact that a lot of people are doing it only makes it much much worse in the long run.
I use malnourished and underpaid children from third world countries to deliver my packages.
No need to insult what environment-conscious people do because it's too much effort for you.
200+million Americans do a lot of things that are pretty wasteful or harmful - the fact that a lot of people are doing it only makes it much much worse in the long run.
Insult?
Talk about the pot callin' the kettle black!
You should take your proselytizing to the podium, dude.
I use malnourished and underpaid children from third world countries to delivery my packages.
I'm going to wrap his beer in it. He always knows it's beer anyway, and this time, it'll say "Brewery Fresh" and have some other cute stuff. The newspaper would just have gone to waste anyway. It was almost past its date.
I'm going to wrap his beer in it. He always knows it's beer anyway, and this time, it'll say "Brewery Fresh" and have some other cute stuff. The newspaper would just have gone to waste anyway. It was almost past its date.
Thanks for posting! Glad to know the thread is makes a positive different to someone
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