Green gift wrap ideas

Reusable shopping totes and gift baskets

These come in a variety of sizes and styles and are a much greener alternative to wasteful paper bags and wrap. Consider lining your totes and baskets with something also reusable, like a kitchen or bath towel. If you can sew, make your own cloth totes and bags to pack your gifts in. It will be crafty and green.

Aluminum foil

Put the bling back into green by sprucing up raffia or hemp twine with strips of recycled aluminum foil. It will be a shiny addition to all the holiday décor.

Bright idea

Instead of a bow, use a compact fluorescent light bulb to top off your gift. You can even find them in holiday colors like red and green and silver and gold. This gift will make the holidays shine extra bright.

Map it out

Everyone has a map lying around, but when's the last time you've really used one? Put it to good use to wrap a gift or two. You may even theme your map around the gift--for example, if you are gifting your spouse with a trip, find a map of your destination.

Practical packaging

Containers and crates make fantastic no-wrap-needed packaging. For your friend with the green thumb, put gardening supplies into a bucket or watering can, or fill a mixing bowl with spices for the chef on your list.

Save a tree

Opt for tree-less sources of paper like 100% recycled paper printed with soy-based inks, which can be found at most retail stores. Have the kids decorate it to add a special touch of holiday spirit.

Take it outside

Seashells, pinecones, or sprigs of berries and branches show that many of the season's best decorations can be found in your own backyard. Show your appreciation for nature, as well as the recipient of your gift.

Headlines

What's black and white and read all over? Newspaper! Not only is it a fun punch line, it's also a great way to wrap a gift. Put that mountain of magazines to good use by using its pages to wrap stocking stuffers.

Color me mine

Most families with children probably have drawings, sketches or writings lying around from the their childhood. Grandma and Grandpa will truly appreciate their gift if it's wrapped in their grandchildren's one-of-a-kind artworks.

Sticky situations

Wrap your gifts without huge amounts of conventional tape by making folds as you go along and tying with natural twine or wool yarn.

Become a minimalist

Not every gift needs to be coated in a wrapping paper. Bottles of wine do well with just a bow, and large gifts, such as bicycles, fare better with just a tag. Sometimes, simple is best!

The wrap of Christmas past

If you're a saver who has hung onto wrapping paper from last year's gifts, try reusing it where you can.

The average family will have a living room full of Christmas wrapping paper this year. Use these alternatives to start a greener, more frugal holiday tradition where creativity and the idea of giving back are the only materials required.

More Christmas tips

Don't forget the stocking stuffers!
Holiday traditions explained
Quiz: What's your gift-giving style?