Waste-Wise Gift Wrapping Guide

It's estimated that Australians use enough gift paper each December to wrap around the Earth almost four times!

In this guide we cover how to make eco-friendly choices this festive season, including what to look for, what to avoid, and some other creative ideas to reduce waste.

1. Avoid or minimise wrapping paper

There are plenty of ways to avoid using wrapping paper altogether. Alongside being better for the environment, this can save you time and frustration by not having to wrap awkwardly shaped gifts! It also reduces the clean-up once the gift giving festivities are over.

• Christmas stockings look great next to your tree. Why not fill these with unwrapped gifts on Christmas Eve and make light work of last minute wrapping?
• Reusable gift bags or boxes are one of the easiest ways to wrap presents. Often these can be reused from gifts received by work colleagues or other friends prior to Christmas Day.
• Repurposing kids' artwork into gift wrap adds a personal touch.
• Wrapping gifts inside other gifts, such as tea towels or beach towels, is a creative way to present gifts without paper.
• For many kids—and big kids alike—ripping open wrapping paper on Christmas morning is all part of the fun. If you can't eliminate gift wrap entirely, consider reducing paper use by only wrapping some gifts.
• Scavenger hunts, where kids search for (unwrapped) gifts around the house, are another idea for reducing paper use but not the excitement!

2. Choose the best gift wrap

If using gift wrap is your preferred option, there are still ways to lessen your environmental impact:

• Avoid plastic and non-recyclableitems, such as:
  • shiny, metallic or foil wrapping paper
  • paper covered with glitter or metallic finishes
  • laminated wrap or gift bags that have a glossy or silky look and feel—these are often difficult to tear, or have a plastic coating visible along the tear line when you rip it
  • cellophane
  • plastic bows and curling ribbon
  • plastic or adhesive gift tags
  • tinsel.
• Choose recyclable or compostableoptions, such as:
  • gift wrap made from 100% paper (check the product label or try the tear-test described above)
  • gift paper made with recycled content
  • jute twine or reusable ribbons
  • foliage, herbs and other natural embellishments, such as gum leaves, dried rosemary sprigs or dehydrated orange slices
  • paper bows (which can be recycled in your yellow-lid bin after removing any adhesive backing)
  • recyclable or compostable gift tags
  • eco-friendly tapes that are biodegradable, compostable or recyclable. Washi tapes are an excellent alternative to regular sticky tape that add some artistic flair to your wrapping.
• Consider Furokoshi, a Japanese method of wrapping using fabric that’s fun, creative, and looks great. There are plenty of free online instructional videos to help get started. To avoid buying new fabric you could visit a local charity store or repurpose an old scarf.

3. DIY gift wrap

Repurposing existing household items into gift wrap is one of the most sustainable options of all, whilst being a cost-effective alternative to store-bought varieties. See below for some creative ideas, but your imagination is the only limit!

• Brown paper bags can be converted to a Christmas theme by stamping or drawing on them.
• If you’re gifting homemade food, package it in a glass jar or container than can be reused.
• Add a personal touch to your wrapping by cutting up old cardboard into reindeer ears, Christmas canes, or stars.
• Use some foliage from the backyard to add a touch of nature .
• Kids artwork can make for great wrapping paper, particularly for family members.
• Old toilet paper rolls can even be a creative wrapping option! There's plenty of ideas available online on how to repurpose them into cute pillow boxes for those smaller-size gifts.