7 Christmas Wrapping Paper Alternatives
Have you ever noticed how rubbish bins overflow after Christmas? That’s because our waste increases about 30% at this time of year. In fact, Australians use more than 150,000 km of wrapping paper over the Christmas period – enough to tie across our planet’s equator almost 4 times. An easy thing for you to do to ease the load on its way to the landfill is to reuse old paper, or repurpose existing alternatives in your home.
Here are 7 excellent wrapping paper alternatives to help you have a greener, more sustainable Christmas.
1. Reuse old gift wrap and gift bags
If you’re anything like me, you’ll keep a collection of wrapping paper and gift bags that you have received. These make perfect alternatives to purchasing new rolls of wrapping paper for use this year. If not, make a conscious effort to collect the wrappings you receive this Christmas so that you can reuse them next time!
2. Wrap your gifts in old scarves
Looking for a more aesthetic alternative? Presents wrapped in scarves look incredibly modern and artsy. They’re especially great for a present session around the tree, where you can easily scoop them up, ready to go again next Christmas.
3. Who Gives A Crap toilet paper
Before you scrunch up your nose, let me tell you that the wrapping paper I’m most looking forward to using this year is WGAC toilet paper! Each of their rolls are covered in Christmas themed paper, and they even have a little tag on them for you to write merry wishes to your designated loved ones!
4. Glass jars
We go through jars all the time – peanut butter, coconut oil, curry paste – you know the drill. Glass jars make amazing gifting containers. My personal favourite is to stuff them with homemade Christmas munchies – tie a bow around them and you’re good to go!
5. Boxes
Whether they’re from the last box of cereal you ate, from tissues, or from that recent pair of shoes you purchased, we all have them lying around. Best yet is that all of the above come in a range of sizes. Choose the size that is the best fit and there you have it, an eco-friendly, recycled wrapping idea.
6. Paper ‘scraps’
I’m thinking newspapers, magazines, junk mail or even old maps (you know, those things we used to navigate before smart phones). You’d be surprised how quickly these papers accumulate. There’s also nothing else you will do with them besides throw them in the trash, so why not gift them with a second life?
7. Fabric scraps
I was going to use the word ‘rags’, but I decided that ‘fabric scraps’ was a safer bet. You can use any well-loved beach towels, tees or hand towels – all make fantastically soft wrapping paper upgrades!