Every year, the stylish and photogenic pile of gifts under the Christmas tree is replaced by a stack of colorful paper and ribbons. Does that bother you too? Would you like to do things differently this year? Perhaps more eco-friendly? We have some inspiring ideas for you on how to wrap gifts without unnecessary waste, chemically dyed paper, and a basement full of gift bags.
Christmas used to be a sign of peace, moderation, and modesty. In the last half-century, however, it has become more of a holiday of shopping and abundance. There is nothing like seeing the joy in the recipient's eyes; that is certainly not unnecessary. But what is unnecessary? Single-use wrapping paper, plastic gift bags, or ribbons.
Christmas according to the Far East
In Japan, gifts have been wrapped in an eco-friendly way for centuries. Fabrics called furoshiki are used for this purpose. They come in various shapes, patterns, and sizes. You can comfortably wrap even round objects in them. Anyone who has struggled for many Christmases to wrap a mug in stubborn wrapping paper has now won! The advantage is that the fabrics can serve as a gift themselves or as packaging for other recipients. And if you are creative and skilled yourself, you can find fabrics with nice Christmas motifs at a haberdashery and sew your own at home.
The end of odd socks
We can be inspired by Japan; those who are clever can invent or find their own packaging materials. Fabrics and cloth bags can, of course, be easily used every year; kitchen towels, scarves, and watch out - odd socks work great!
If there is a shortage of fabric packaging, head to the basement to search for old newspapers or visit an antique bookstore. And what to look for there? Old maps, posters, or comics. You couldn't have wished for a more stylish look under the tree... And what about scraps of various papers? Create an interesting collage from them!
Cleaned jars from jams or honey, which almost everyone has at home, also work very well for gifts. They are great for small items such as jewelry, concert or theater tickets, paper vouchers, or edible gifts. There are many ideas for decorating them; in this case, there are really no limits to your imagination.
Can't give up paper?
If we haven't convinced you to use fabrics and jars, you still have a chance to act at least partially eco-friendly when it comes to wrapping paper. You can either buy recycled paper without a pattern, or you can reuse wrapping paper from previous years. When it's worn out, you can put it in the recycling bin! Just be careful with problematic colors; some may be contaminated with chemicals.
At first glance, you can recognize recycled paper by its brown or gray color. Even so, read the description, as color alone does not guarantee recyclability.
Wrapping papers may bear the FSC certificate mark, which guarantees that the paper was made from wood originating from environmentally friendly and sustainably managed forests.
Pine cones and bast? Very hipster!
Okay, I have recycled paper and a lonely sock, but what next? For most gift shapes, bast or ordinary jute twine is enough. And if you don't have anything on hand that could be used, you can simply draw a ribbon on the paper with a pencil or crayon. Short ribbons that you cut from the shoulders of sweaters and shirts also work great for small gifts. Yes, that's what 100% usability looks like!
Sometimes, however, help in the form of adhesive tape is more than necessary; even adhesive tape is made from paper and natural rubber-based glue or other recycled or recyclable materials! Just ask, and in a stationery store or directly in an eco-shop, they will surely be happy to help and advise you.
Do you like to decorate in a natural way? You will find the cherry on top in the forest! Twigs, bark, and pine cones are a real revival for unconventionally wrapped gifts, and the recipient will be twice as happy, you'll see!
Master the gift tags
Every gift has its owner, that's clear. But how to ensure that gifts don't get mixed up when they are all wrapped in the same paper? In addition to classic pencil writing, you can use, for example, Christmas gingerbread cookies. Choose one single shape for each loved one, which you tie to their gifts, and you will have clarity. In addition to gingerbread, you can also use twigs from various trees and bushes or other treasures from nature. Suitable alternatives will also be pictures, drawn on wrapping paper, small decorative clothespins, or perhaps mini chalkboards on which you can write initials with chalk.
Did any of the mentioned alternative wrapping methods appeal to you, or have you tried any yourself in the past? Share your experiences with us and others in the comments.
Photo source: flickr.com, pixabay.com, honestlyyum.com
