Zero Waste Gift Wrap Ideas for an Eco-Friendly Christmas

The Best Zero Waste Gift Wrap Ideas

‘Tis the season for wrapping gifts. But if all that waste from traditional wrapping paper makes you cringe, consider one of these excellent zero waste gift wrap ideas.

Best of all, not only are these sustainable gift wrap ideas perfect for the holiday, but you can also use them to wrap birthday gifts, Mother’s Day gifts, Father’s Day gifts, and more!

Why Choose Zero Waste Gift Wrap?

Your presents always look so beautiful when they’re sitting under the tree all wrapped up in their shiny paper and sporting their bows and ribbons. But then Christmas morning comes along, and all that wrapping paper ends up in the trash can because it’s only good for one use and you can’t recycle it.

In fact, nearly 4 MILLION TONS of wrapping paper and shopping bags end up in the trash every year in the USA alone.

If you’re trying to create a more eco-friendly Christmas, cutting back on the amount of excess waste that ends up in the landfill is a great place to start.

Thanks to these top zero waste gift wrap ideas, your presents can still look lovely under the tree, and you won’t have a huge bag of torn up wrapping paper going to the dump.

Even better, if you select one of the reusable options, you can save money since you won’t have to purchase new wrapping paper every single year!

Once you’ve picked out some of these zero waste gift wrapping options, don’t forget to check out these lists of amazing eco-friendly gifts for everyone on your list:

• Top 15 Eco-Friendly Gifts Under $25
• Best Eco-Friendly Gifts for Men
• Excellent Eco-Friendly Gifts for Women
• Awesome Eco-Friendly Gifts for Kids
• Unique Upcycled Christmas Gifts
• Eco-Friendly Stocking Stuffers for All Ages
• The Best Eco-Friendly Greeting Cards for Every Occasion

1. Newspaper

Newspaper is a great zero waste gift wrap option because it’s so easy to get. If you don’t have a newspaper delivered to your house, ask friends and family if they can save any newspapers they get. You can also check the recycling bin at your office.

You can stick with the black and white print for a traditional look. If you want to add some color, choose the advertising circulars or comics section.

When Christmas is over, you can simply toss all that newspaper into the recycling bin.

2. Reusable Gift Wrap

Reusable gift wrap is stretchable fabric that’s easy to use and can fit over boxes of all different sizes. This 11-piece reusable gift wrap set is perfect for Christmas because it has a fun and festive print.

All you have to do is put the bottom sleeve on one side of the box, the top sleeve on the other side, and then adjust the built-in bow so it covers up the seam. You don’t have to deal with tape or scissors, and it takes less than 20 seconds to wrap a present!

My family already knows to save their gift boxes because I reuse them year after year. Simply remind your family to do the same thing and you’ll have no waste to throw away this Christmas.

3. Reusable Fabric Bags

If you have gifts that are an unusual size or you don’t want to use gift boxes this Christmas, then pick up some reusable fabric bags.

I absolutely love these reusable gift bags because the red and white pattern is so festive. You get five bags of various sizes, which makes it easy to find the right size to hold your gifts.

Plus, using the bags couldn’t be easier. Simply put the present in, tie the ribbon closed, and you’re done!

4. Organic Cotton Bento Bags

These organic cotton bento bags are an outstanding zero waste gift wrap option because they’re so versatile.

You can use them to wrap up gifts, to pack your zero waste lunch, or to carry your food when you’re doing some zero waste grocery shopping. Each bag is handmade with thoughtfully sourced organic cotton, which means no harsh chemicals come into contact with anything in your bag.

Related: What You Need to Know About Zero Waste Grocery Shopping

Even better, they come from one of the best zero waste online shops, so you know you won’t receive any plastic or excess waste when you order them.

5. Kraft Paper

If you’re looking for a budget-friendly zero waste gift wrap option, kraft paper is the way to go. This roll of kraft paper is 100 feet long, so you’ll be able to wrap plenty of presents with it.

It’s also made from 100% recycled materials. When Christmas is over, you can either recycle or compost the paper.

If you enjoy the natural and classic look, simply leave the kraft paper the way it is. On the other hand, if you want to add some color, you can really get creative.

Related: The Best Safe and Non-Toxic Eco-Friendly Art Supplies

One option is to pick up some natural paints and let the kids create their own designs on the paper. These paper gift ribbons offers a traditional touch and is both recyclable and compostable.

You can also get some red and green cotton twine or this biodegradable hemp cord to wrap around the packages. You can then tuck sprigs of pine, cinnamon sticks, or berry twigs between the twine or cord for an extra festive touch.

6. Seed Gift Wrap

If you like the look of wrapping paper, another great option to consider is seed gift wrap. Seed gift wrap is wrapping paper made with 100% recycled paper embedded with wildflower seeds.

When Christmas is over, you don’t throw away the wrapping paper. Instead, you plant it in a pot or in the ground so beautiful wildflowers can grow.

Related: Where to Find the Best Tree-Free Christmas Cards

7. Recycled Wrapping Paper

Recycled wrapping paper from Wrappily is another fantastic zero waste gift wrap to consider if you like the look of traditional wrapping paper. This beautiful wrapping paper is printed on recycled newspaper using soy-based ink. When you’re done using it, you can simply recycle it!

Not only does this cheerful wrapping paper feature a reversible design that mixes and matches perfectly, but it also comes in a variety of styles that are perfect for birthdays and other special occasions.

8. Scarves

Scarves make an excellent zero waste gift wrap idea because they can be a gift and wrapping paper at the same time.

If you’re interested in giving a scarf as a gift, I highly recommend one of these gorgeous NOVICA silk scarves.

NOVICA works in association with National Geographic to connect artisans from around the world to the global marketplace. In doing so, they empower these artisans to create a sustainable business and make a living.

Every NOVICA product comes with a special booklet that gives you some information about the creator of your item and the inspiration behind their work.

9. Fabric

Fabric makes beautiful and affordable zero waste gift wrap. You can either repurpose some fabric scraps you have from previous projects, or you can pick up some assorted Christmas fabric to reuse year after year.

If you want to wrap your presents with fabric, you can use a Japanese fabric wrapping technique called furoshiki. There are so many different ways to wrap that you’re sure to find a lovely option no matter how oddly shaped your gift might be.

10. Mason Jars

If you have small items that are hard to wrap, skip putting them in a gift bag that will just get thrown away and stick them in a glass mason jar instead. You can then decorate the jar with fabric or ribbon to give it some festive cheer.

Even better, your gift recipient now has a glass jar they can take home and use in place of plastic storage containers in the kitchen.

Enjoying an Eco-Friendly Christmas With Zero Waste Gift Wrap

This Christmas, you can dramatically cut down on the amount of waste you produce when you make the switch to one of these awesome zero waste gift wrap ideas.

More Eco-Friendly Holiday Tips

Now that you see how easy it is to make the switch to zero waste gift wrap, are you interested in making all of your holidays more eco-friendly? Then be sure to check out some of our other popular posts:

• 14 Amazing Eco-Friendly Valentine’s Day Gifts
• How to Have an Eco-Friendly Easter
• The Best Eco-Friendly Mother’s Day Gifts
• How to Have an Eco-Friendly Halloween
• Celebrating an Eco-Friendly Thanksgiving