Here at TakePart, we enjoy seasonal decorations as much as the next world-saving company (just ask us about the 10-foot inflatable chimney we had in the office last year).
But now and again, between glasses of egg nog and kisses under the mistletoe, we take pause and ask if we're doing all we can to live seasonally and sustainably. And the truth is, we see some room for improvement.
In the name of a waste-free holiday, we focused on one of the most excessive festive offenders—wrapping paper—and found a way around it. TakePart presents: 10 alternatives to wrapping paper.
Old calendars. Slick, bold, and symmetrically shaped, old calendar pages are ready-made wrap in waiting. Don't have old calendars lying around? Pull yours off the wall. There's only a couple of weeks left in the year, and some distant relative is sure to pull through with a replacement calendar come Christmas.
Waxed paper. The kitchen can be a great place to nab supplies for wrapping. With waxed paper, you can personalize your gift by following these steps: First, lay out a sheet of waxed paper and place a few leaves, blades of grass, flower petals, or colorful paper shapes on the paper. Next, cover with a second sheet of waxed paper. Finally, cover both pieces of waxed paper with a pillowcase and iron across them until the waxed sheets fuse together. Set aside to cool. Presto—all that's left to do is wrap!
Clothing. Handkerchiefs, socks, and T-shirts all make great gift wrap. You won't find a store-bought wrap as textured, colorful, or ready-to-wear anywhere. Bonus points if you use a garment that will fit the person you're gifting.
Newspaper. This one's been around for ages, but there's more than one way to do it. Grab the comics section for a more colorful package, or cut out letters from bold headlines to address the gift to your beloved.
Brown Bags. If you're already conscious of your carbon footprint, you probably have a stash of brown paper bags threatening to take over your pantry. Now's the time to put them to use as more than trashcan liners. Cut off the base (and handles, if applicable), and you have sturdy, classic-looking wrapping paper.
Too dull? Add twine or ribbon, or take a tip from this mom, who decorated her brown bag wrapping with stamps she made from potatoes.
Pamphlets or Maps From Rest Stops. We all have them: the touristy take-aways that we handpick at rest stops, only to resign them to their final resting place—the glove compartment.
Use them for wrapping paper, and you'll have a clean car and a clean conscience.
Doilies or Coffee Filters. These are good for round objects in particular, but work with just about any small item; you can trim the edges as you see fit. Bonus: the doilies end up looking like snowflakes.
Reusable Shopping Bags. Who says wrapping has to be used just once? Opt for a reusable tote, and you're giving two gifts in one. Your pal will think of you every time she says, "No paper or plastic, thanks."
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