Cleansing Blog

’Tis the season for living rooms around the country to be covered in a sea of crumpled paper and tossed-aside bows. Yup, wrapping paper from holiday gifts is largely to blame for a 25 percent spike in waste generation between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, according to the EPA. (And if Grandpa’s just tossing everything into the fireplace, that’s even more harmful. Many inks and foils contain chemicals that are toxic when burned.)

What is the eco-minded gift-giver to do? Here are our favorite ways to give a thoughtfully wrapped present without taking more than your fair share of earth’s many gifts.

» 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. The funky recycled Cambodian rice bags from Ecobags.com might be an even bigger hit than the gift inside. Check out the luminous drawstring gift sleeves by at Lyziwraps.com. Or if you’re a whiz with your Singer, whip up your own cloth tote bags or gift bags.

» Let surplus maps lead the way to sustainable wrapping. Reclaimed city maps, subway maps or topographical maps give your package a hip design. Not to mention, they’re educational.

» Add an LED lightbulb instead of a bow. This bright idea will help reduce your gift recipient’s carbon footprint (and electric bill).

» 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 the beguiling recycled silk sari yarn from Nearseanaturals.com to up the festive factor.

» Make the wrapping part of the gift. Containers make great no-frills 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. It’ll give the giftee a little hint as to what’s inside, but your creative wrapping will get years of use.

» 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.

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

» 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 percent recycled paper printed with soy-based inks.

»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 artsy oomph.

going green