How to be environmentally correct when wrapping gifts
By nanajanet
@nanajanet (4436)
United States
December 16, 2008 10:27am CST
We use mostly gift bags and I save everyone of them from year to year. I cannot remember the last time I bought a new one.
During the winter holidays, 4 million tons of wrapping paper and shopping bags are thrown away. Gift wrap is a $2.7 billion industry in the U.S., and almost none of it is made from recycled content. This year, try skipping the gift wrap and cut back on holiday waste. Use the least amount of packaging and wrapping as possible, or try alternatives to paper gift wrapping.
Newspaper, fabric scraps, scarves, reusable boxes, tins and jars are great wrapping ideas. If you do buy wrapping paper, always choose recycled and save wrap and bows for re-use next year.
3 responses
@DonnaLawson (4032)
• United States
18 Dec 08
I use as many gift bags as I possibly can, but everyone knows the rules, If the gift goes out of the house, the bag is to be saved and used again the next year, if it is for someone in the house, then I take care of it and put it away for use next year.. We have gorgeous curly bows that have been used for years, the tape is well worn on the back, I just use another small piece of tape when attaching it to the gift wrapping.. I have bows and bags from years ago.. I have used plastic bags for a few of the bigger bulkier gifts but I also reuse it for a garbage bag so that I don't just throw it away.. I haven't bought gift wrapping paper for years..
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
18 Dec 08
We have a laugh each year when someone says, "Isn't that the gift bag I gave you last year?" LOL
@bhanusb (5709)
• India
16 Dec 08
You are very conscious about misuse of money and environment.Everybody should follow your suggestions.Every waste have some utilities.We should try to best use of those things.There is a saying in our country like this:'any where you see ashes pick it up.You may find jems there'.Thank you.
1 person likes this
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
16 Dec 08
Thank you. I wish there was more that I could do, too, but some things are out of my control. I do my best. I love that quote!!
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Oh, well, I wrapped, but I keep the roomie from buying any paper and we used paper that we have had from previous years. I used up 3 rolls of paper, and we used 5 different papers - I still have a few presents to wrap, but I've got paper "open" to wrap them with.
@nanajanet (4436)
• United States
17 Dec 08
Years ago, a friend of mine, would carefully open all packages so to never ruin the paper and use it again. We used to laugh at her but now she says, "See, I was green!" We said, "No, you were cheap!" LOL
1 person likes this
@ElicBxn (63235)
• United States
17 Dec 08
I guess that if there is one time of the year that it shouldn't matter, its Christmas. How much fun is it for children to fish around in bags when they could've been peeking before? Heck, I've been known to wrap what goes in the bag just to prevent that very happening.
