Instead of disposable Christmas wrap, tape and disposable ribbon, try an eco-solution.

[mod mom]

I am a mother of two kids who love to wake up to the sight of brightly colored gifts under the tree. For the third year, our Christmas morning will include beautiful gifts under the Christmas tree but no disposable material will be used. I would like to suggest to others here to consider adopting this idea. I use an assortment of scarves, pillowcases, sheets, and fabric pieces tied up with beautiful ribbon I have collected over the years. I have also bought a few decorative boxes (which store ornaments in the off season). Several years ago I got tired of that huge bag of wrapping paper garbage and decided enough of the wasteful packaging that lasts for such a short time.

Anyway, if just a few of you adopt this idea, there will be less landfill.

ps the ribbon I used was purchased after Christmas when things are really marked down so this is also a cost efficient way to wrap as well.


If anyone else has eco-friendly ideas for the Holidays, please share.

[Vilis Veritas]

1. Great idea. Thanks!!!

I love DU'ers...

I buy eco-friendly wrapping paper, it is out there...

http://www.kidbean.com/regiwr.html

edited to add...your idea is also WALLET-FRIENDLY!!!!

[PDJane]

2. I like the stores that provide logo-free shopping bags.........

There is a coffee shop here which has fair trade coffee (The Second Cup), and their coffee mugs and teapots and so on come home in these bags...this year, they've added a gift tag to the bags, so it means that all it needs is the name. They also have packed their gift coffees this year in re-usable decorative tins.

Other stores here are following their lead; the needlework shop I frequent has been packaging their stuff in project bags this year, which is grand, IMHO....

[mod mom]

4. also consider BYO-bag. I always keep cloth bags in the car which I used instead

of store bags. I even purchased more to wrap my kids' teacher's gifts in with a note suggesting their use has an effect on the environment.

I had my own store for years (until bu$h stole the election in '04 and I became an activist). It was a natural fiber clothing boutique and I used kraft shopping bags/boxes for gifts, tied with raffia. I also included a dried flower for extra appeal.

[PDJane]

10. I have done that for a long time.........

As have a great many folks in this city. Has to do with having to find some way to get rid of the things once you have them. Paper bags are easy, and can be easily recycled. The plastic ones can't....which is a PITA.

[China_cat]

3. Another idea

second use for something that would normally get thrown out anyway

Sunday comics...colorful, and likely to be gently removed to be read or reread.

[Grey]

5. An idea I used.....

Back when we had the kids at home or when the grandkids came for Christmas, I used newspaper and colourful ribbons.
I now have boxes that I covered with brown paper on the bottom and gold foil lids, I also like cotton gift bags...

[Clark2008]

6. I burn the wrapping as kindling for our fireplace.

I burn junk mail, too.

And, the fireplace keeps us from using so much gas heat.

:hi:

[orleans]

14. i don't have a fireplace--but i was doing some research on various

eco friendly things and this was one of them

you might want to research this a little bit

one of the things i have read is that you want to be careful about what you burn--inks used on papers can emit toxic fumes and create indoor air pollution

it's best to recycle papers (junk mail & wrapping paper) and burn something that will not create pollution

i read that the best thing to burn is well seasoned wood (it burns clean)

also, i also read in several places that you might not want to use the fireplace too often as heat from the house also escapes through the chimney--and when the fire is out you have to crank the heat up higher to make up the difference in the rest of the house. so, basically--it wastes heat.

like i said, i don't know this firsthand but i've done some research for a project i was working on

[backscatter712]

7. You can get brightly colored gift bags.

I think you can get them at Hallmark & such - just a paper bag, but bright and glossy and with bright colors and what not - they're for putting gifts in.

My mom has a bunch of them, and I've reused them for years because you don't have to rip them up to get at the contents.

[dbackjon]

8. Or, you could just save and re-use the paper next year.

That is what we did growing up. We were not allowed to tear open packages (except small ones). The paper was then carefully folded and saved for future use. Some paper got used for years.

And yes, Christmas was just as fun...in many ways, it helped build the anticipation of the gift.

[RaleighNCDUer]

9. My family has been doing this for years -

Mom & sisters got fabric remnants together, salvaged from worn-out cloths and such, and made dozens of gift bags, ranging from cigarette pack size to pillowcase size. The only disposable items are the name tags, and we make those from the previous years' Christmas cards.

[uppityperson]

11. Colored comics section of Sun newspaper too.

We used this especially for birthday presents, growing up in 50's/60's. I gave an in-law a present wrapped in funnies and they took offense at my "cheapness". Oh well.

[Gormy Cuss]

12. Paper grocery bags recycled,

turned inside out and stamped with Christmas designs are fun. For ribbons, cloth ribbon can be used for years. Likewise the gold and silver elastic ribbons from other packaging.

Sometimes glossy magazine pages can be used for small gifts too.

[AndyTiedye]

13. Works Really Well if You Tiedye the Fabric

[AnnieBW]

15. Buy gift bags

Then reuse them from year to year. It used to be called "cheap". Now it's called "eco-friendly". ;-)

[Raine]

16. That's what I use

I LOVE them cause they are so easy to use, just slip the stuff in and then you can use them again and again.