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Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas for Your Christmas Gifts

Posted On : Dec-17-2009 | seen (814) times | Article Word Count : 531 |

The use of gift wrapping paper is probably one of the most wasteful and most environmentally damaging aspects of Christmas. Each year, we keep seeing more elaborate Christmas gift wrapping paper in the market, which are usually plastic laminated or coated in metal foil.
The use of gift wrapping paper is probably one of the most wasteful and most environmentally damaging aspects of Christmas. Each year, we keep seeing more elaborate Christmas gift wrapping paper in the market, which are usually plastic laminated or coated in metal foil. Think of all the toxic dyes and inks used in manufacturing these gift wrapping papers. In addition, you must consider the volume of trees that are cut down every year to meet the demand for Christmas gift wrapping paper.

Latest studies estimate that it takes about 50,000 trees to produce all the Christmas gift wrapping paper needed every year. That's the equivalent of 8,000 tons or an entire forest being cut down for something that people are usually too excited to even look at since they are in a hurry to see the gift inside. Christmas gift wrapping papers actually account for the 25% increase in generated waste in the US alone between the period of Thanksgiving and New Year.

We know it's our responsibility to take better care of our planet. Here are a couple of eco-friendly ideas for wrapping your Christmas gifts.

Use Reusable Bags

Instead of wrapping your gift in wasteful gift wrapping paper or in paper bags that will be thrown away afterwards, you can choose to put your gifts in a reusable shopping or carrier bag. Although reusable bags are a bit more expensive than regular paper bags, they are better for the environment. You can just consider the shopping or carrier bag as part of the gift, especially since there are now a lot of trendy designs to choose from. Carrier bags are sturdy and can be used over and over again for shopping and other purposes.

Use Recycled Paper and Natural Gift Decorations

If you really prefer gifts that are wrapped in gift wrapper, make sure you choose recycled paper. This can either be the gift wrapping paper from the presents you received last year which you carefully smoothed out and kept for recycling, or you can buy gift wrapping paper made from recycled material. You can also choose banana paper, which is a very pretty paper made from the stalks of banana trees that are usually thrown away in the process of cropping bananas.

You can also use other paper items that you may have for wrapping gifts. For example, wrap your gifts in old newspapers which you've dyed a lovely sepia shade using leftover coffee. You can also use old magazines, maps and comic books instead of buying gift wrapper.

Make sure you use natural gift decorations that are both eco-friendly and visually stunning. Don't embellish your gifts with plastic ribbons and bows that are non-biodegradable. Wrap your gift with a bit of twine instead of using tape and use pinecones, shells, berries or sprigs of holly as decorations.

Use Clothing Items

You can wrap small gifts in a pretty scarf, with the scarf being part of the gift. If you plan on giving recipe books or a box of brownies, you can wrap these in colorful tea towels made of organic cotton. GP

Article Source : http://www.articleseen.com/Article_Eco-Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas for Your Christmas Gifts_7204.aspx

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