Did you know that most glossy and glittery gift wrap isn’t recyclable? If you’ve had a second thought about the amount of paper, ribbons and bows that are tossed in the trash on Christmas morning, rest assured that there are eco-friendly options that are just as festive, fun and beautiful. Here’s how you can have great looking gifts with less waste.

1. Buy Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper: Using 100% recyclable and compostable wrapping paper doesn’t mean you have to sacrifice style. There are tons of options on Etsy to choose from, like this adorable snowman print and this green and red starry print. If you want to make your own, try picking up a roll of kraft paper. Or try this patterned kraft wrapping paper from Hallmark. Thanks to its limited ink coverage, this sustainable paper can be recycled.
2. Try Reusable Wrapping Bags: For a sustainable alternative to single-use wrapping paper, try reusable fabric gift bags. Unlike wrapping paper, it’s flexible and will adapt to any shape, leaving you with a beautiful (and zero-waste) result.
3. Swap for Biodegradable Options: Swap traditional tape with washi tape. It’s typically made from hemp and bamboo, which makes it compostable and recyclable. Here’s our guide on how to use washi tape. You can also swap out traditional ribbon for sustainable raffia ribbons.
4. Save Bows and Boxes: Our family has been saving bows and gift boxes for years. Before tearing into the wrapping paper, we pop off the bows and place them in a bag. At the end of the day it goes in the closet, and we pull it out again next year. Same with the gift boxes!