Wrap a gift with reused newspaper or fabric

Impact data

Conventional gift wrap is one of the great invisible wastes of celebrations: it takes around 17 trees to produce one tonne of paper, and most gift wrap is coated with plastic laminates or glitter that make it non-recyclable. Wrapping with reused newspaper, old maps or fabric not only avoids that waste, but reusing paper contributes to conserving natural resources, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and cutting the amount of waste ending up in landfill.

How to overcome the challenge

Choose your material — Use newspaper, magazine pages, old maps, kraft paper, a piece of fabric or a scarf: anything works if it gives a second life to something you already had.

Wrap creatively — Fold, tie or use the Japanese furoshiki technique with fabric; decorate with jute twine, small twigs or a recycled cardboard tag.

Tell the recipient why — Explain the choice: the gesture has more meaning when shared, and it may inspire the person who receives it.