| The use of gift wrapping paper is probably one of | | | | there are now a lot of trendy designs to choose |
| the most wasteful and most environmentally | | | | from. Carrier bags are sturdy and can be used |
| damaging aspects of Christmas. Each year, we | | | | over and over again for shopping and other |
| keep seeing more elaborate Christmas gift | | | | purposes. |
| wrapping paper in the market, which are usually | | | | Use Recycled Paper and Natural Gift Decorations |
| plastic laminated or coated in metal foil. Think of all | | | | If you really prefer gifts that are wrapped in gift |
| the toxic dyes and inks used in manufacturing | | | | wrapper, make sure you choose recycled paper. |
| these gift wrapping papers. In addition, you must | | | | This can either be the gift wrapping paper from |
| consider the volume of trees that are cut down | | | | the presents you received last year which you |
| every year to meet the demand for Christmas | | | | carefully smoothed out and kept for recycling, or |
| gift wrapping paper. | | | | you can buy gift wrapping paper made from |
| Latest studies estimate that it takes about | | | | recycled material. You can also choose banana |
| 50,000 trees to produce all the Christmas gift | | | | paper, which is a very pretty paper made from |
| wrapping paper needed every year. That's the | | | | the stalks of banana trees that are usually thrown |
| equivalent of 8,000 tons or an entire forest being | | | | away in the process of cropping bananas. |
| cut down for something that people are usually | | | | You can also use other paper items that you |
| too excited to even look at since they are in a | | | | may have for wrapping gifts. For example, wrap |
| hurry to see the gift inside. Christmas gift | | | | your gifts in old newspapers which you've dyed a |
| wrapping papers actually account for the 25% | | | | lovely sepia shade using leftover coffee. You can |
| increase in generated waste in the US alone | | | | also use old magazines, maps and comic books |
| between the period of Thanksgiving and New | | | | instead of buying gift wrapper. |
| Year. | | | | Make sure you use natural gift decorations that |
| We know it's our responsibility to take better | | | | are both eco-friendly and visually stunning. Don't |
| care of our planet. Here are a couple of | | | | embellish your gifts with plastic ribbons and bows |
| eco-friendly ideas for wrapping your Christmas | | | | that are non-biodegradable. Wrap your gift with a |
| gifts. | | | | bit of twine instead of using tape and use |
| Use Reusable Bags | | | | pinecones, shells, berries or sprigs of holly as |
| Instead of wrapping your gift in wasteful gift | | | | decorations. |
| wrapping paper or in paper bags that will be | | | | Use Clothing Items |
| thrown away afterwards, you can choose to put | | | | You can wrap small gifts in a pretty scarf, with |
| your gifts in a reusable shopping or carrier bag. | | | | the scarf being part of the gift. If you plan on |
| Although reusable bags are a bit more expensive | | | | giving recipe books or a box of brownies, you can |
| than regular paper bags, they are better for the | | | | wrap these in colorful tea towels made of organic |
| environment. You can just consider the shopping | | | | cotton. |
| or carrier bag as part of the gift, especially since | | | | |