Give both Mom and Mother Earth the gift of green this Mother’s Day with these 10 green gift wrap ideas from Gaiam.com. Eco-gift givers with birthdays, weddings or other holidays on the horizon can use these ideas all year round - particularly between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, when there is a 25 percent increase in waste generation, according to the EPA. and let our readers know about other creative ways to give gifts while giving back by leaving comments below!

1. Eco-shiniest

Say silver bells without leaving a metallic taste in your mouth. A different twist on recycled paper, recycled aluminum foil adds shiny happiness and closes the loop on recycling. Tie on some colorful raffia or hemp twine or this beguiling recycled silk sari yarn to up the festive factor.

2. Most re-useful

Reusable shopping bags make an ingenious alternative to gift wrap, and these days they come in all manner of styles, from basic to uber-green to glam. This recycled juice pack tote might be an even bigger hit than the gift inside! Check out these luminous drawstring gift sleeves by Lyziwraps. Or if you’re a whiz with your Singer, whip up your own cloth tote bags or gift bags.

3. Best direction

Let surplus maps lead the way to sustainable wrapping. These reclaimed New York City subway maps and topographical maps give your package a hip design. Not to mention, they’re educational.

4. Brightest topper

Add a bulb instead of a bow a compact fluorescent bulb, that is. You can’t stick it on top of your head, but when you stick it on top of your gift you’ll help reduce your gift recipient’s carbon footprint (and electric bill).

5. Most appreciated

Make the wrapping part of the gift! Containers make great no-wrapping-needed packaging: A bucket or watering can is easy to fill with gardening supplies, and a mixing bowl or stockpot makes the perfect package for your favorite cook. And don’t forget soft wrapping paper alternatives that are also great gifts, like fair trade scarves, organic cotton baby blankets, and beach towels or organic cotton bath towels from Gaiam. It’ll give them a little hint as to what’s inside, but your creative wrapping will get years of use.

6. Most resourceful

Banana fiber paper turns wasted bark from banana production into a decorative eco-wrapping option. Or opt for tree-less sources of paper, such as hemp wrap and 100% recycled paper printed with soy-based inks.

7. Closest to nature

Some of the best decorations for your gifts can be found in backyards, beaches and fields. Sprigs of berries, branches, shells and pine cones are naturally beautiful and don’t require any manufacturing at all just a short hike. (Check with authorities before taking pine cones or other specimens from state or national forests or parks.)

8. Greenest (in that green thumb sort of way)

Gaiam’s Seed Gift Wrap is biodegradable paper embedded with wildflower seeds. Just plant and water. There’s no waste just beautiful blossoms that make this wrapping paper a gift in itself.

9. Recycling-friendliest

Avoid sticky situations at your recycling facility by wrapping your gifts without conventional often petroleum-based tape. Not all curbside programs accept wrapping paper. But if yours does, it should be tape-free. Try opting out of tape by making tightly creased folds as you wrap, securing it by tying up the package tightly (in two directions) with natural twine or wool yarn that can be reused.

10. Most frugal

Why spend a dime on wrapping when you already have what you need? Newspaper might have a reputation for saying cheapskate, so get a little creative. Use anything from paper bags to leftover wallpaper, and cut out images from magazines, comics, children’s drawings or old greeting cards to give your package an artistic flair.