Wrapping Paper Put in Garbage Cart Ways to Reduce Choose Recycled Instead of using paper made with virgin fibers, wrap your gifts in newspaper or brown paper with 100 percent recycled content. This reduces waste because you’re reusing the newspaper and not purchasing anything that’s non-recyclable. Use Fabric Instead of paper, try using fabric scraps, unused handkerchiefs, or store canvas bags/totes to wrap your gifts. Check out In Good Taste’s article on furoshiki, the Japanese art of fabric wrapping for ideas and tips. Use Natural Materials for Present Toppers Instead of using plastic bows or ribbons, look outside and use natural materials such as fallen pinecones, pine or boxwood branches, eucalyptus branches, plant cuttings, or dried flowers. Learn how to dry flowers here. Use Glass Jars Use leftover glass food jars or thrifted jars to “wrap” small gifts. Ways to Reuse Save for Next Year Wrapping paper in good condition can be folded neatly and stored for reuse at your next celebration or holiday. Did You Know? Gift Wrapping Waste How much gift wrapping waste do Americans generate on a yearly basis? About two pounds per person, or 40 million pounds in total, which includes paper products used to wrap, package and decorate gifts. A whopping 38 million miles of ribbon is discarded per year, which is enough to wrap around the Earth. How to Wrap Anything Using a Furoshiki
