Over 2.3 million pounds of wrapping paper end up in the landfill each year...
While the thrill of tearing through wrapping paper to the treasures that lie beneath is great, the piles of garbage going to landfills is not.
Fortunately, there are ways to retain the fun of opening gifts AND reduce your contribution to the holiday trash heap! Follow these tips to reuse and repurpose what you can, and recycle everything you can't.
Tip #1: Give the Gift That Keeps on Giving (Reduce)
Of course, our very favorite way to give (and receive) gifts is wrapped in something beautiful that can be used again. Save time and energy and slip your present in one of our recycled silk drawstring gift bags! These reusable bags are made from recycled silk sari material in India, come in beautiful colors and styles, and fold up really small– perfect for throwing in your purse or your pocket when you're on the go. Most importantly, they will help reduce your gift recipient's footprint, and will prevent excess trash far beyond the holidays!
If you want to fashion your own gift bags we suggest checking out our Bulk Sari Silk Fabric, keep reading for more inspiration!
Tip #2: Furoshiki - An Ancient Japanese Wrapping Art (Reuse)
You may be asking yourself... "What is Furoshiki?"
If you love wrapping but still want to reduce your holiday footprint, have no fear. Furoshiki is an ancient practice that originates in Japan, using cloth wrapping for transport of goods, aesthetic design, and gift wrapping, transforming textiles into sustainable wrapping alternatives.
We suggest using our bulk repurposed silk sari seconds as they are a DIY-doers dream. Give these recycled silk sari textiles another life to wrap your gifts, or give them as a gift to create homemade clothing, bags, curtains, drapes, valances, flags, bandanas, or whatever you can think up!
Read more about the story of our silk sari fabric
Tip #3: The Power of Paper (Repurpose)
Magically transform ordinary newspaper into dreamy gift wrap. Get creative and dye it with food coloring, or paint on it with watercolor or tempera paints. Make collages by cutting out pictures from magazines, comics, or old greeting cards and gluing them together to make newspaper-wrapped gifts look a little more special. Use environmentally friendly glitter to make it extra festive, or make a bow out of some repurposed string or fabric.
Brown paper bags or boxes can be repurposed in a similar way. This solid brown wrapping can be decorated just like newspaper, or leave it as is to have a nice rustic look that is complimented by a simple, earthy ribbon like cotton or hemp twine. Home-made gift wrapping is not only better for the environment, but its fun to make and adds a special uniqueness and personalization to your gift!
Tip #4: Traditional Gift Wrapping Practices (Recycle)
If more traditional wrappings are more your style, gift bags and tissue paper can be a more environmentally friendly option than wrapping paper. When opening your gifts, do what you can to save your favorite paper so you can reuse and regift it for another occasion. If you receive a lot of paper wrapping, make sure you separate it from your trash and responsibly recycle it. Bows and string can also be recycled and reused for the next time around, and are a perfect way to spruce up a newspaper or paper bag gift for next season!
*Regular and glossy wrapping paper can be recycled unless it contains non-paper additives such as metallic flakes, colored shapes, glitter and plastics. Wrapping paper with foil, metallic finishes, or heavily laminations should be discarded rather than recycled. Additionally, items like foil, plastic coating, ribbon, bows and glitter should not be placed in recycle bins.
If someone gives you the gift of Furoshiki, be sure to save the fabric and pass on the power of a greener gift giving alternative.
Together, let’s do what we can to reduce our dependence on disposability this holiday season, and say Happy Holidays to not just our friends and family, but to our planet as well! ✌️❤️🌏
How do you upcycle your sari silk fabric? Show us @mexicaliblues ✌️
