Re thinking wrapping - any good ideas to reduce waste / what are the alternatives ?

[iwantavuvezela]

In my efforts to reduce overall waste, i am thinking of buying boxes that I can use yearly for birthdays and christmas. So instead of going through mounds of wrapping paper that is then immediately recycled, buy a set of differnet size boxes to put the gifts in. (where possible)
I have used some fabric this year to wrap birthday giflt follwoing the Japanese wrapping method which i might also try for Christmas. But it is quite hard and mine were a bit messy!
Has anyone done this succesfully and have any good ideas or links to boxes that can be reusued or other wrappiing ideas?

[KingLooieCatz]

I suspect the key will be re-using something that has already served a purpose. I gave this business some thought a couple of years ago and I heard somewhere that fabric wrapping has to be used a lot more than it's likely to be before it becomes more environmentally friendly than paper. I can't produce any evidence to back that up.

Second hand scarves wouldn't be creating any additional impact, or gift bags you've previously been given.

I've focused efforts on the gift themselves.

If someone comes along with some tips I'll be very interested.

[iwantavuvezela]

I was thinking of something like this
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and then using differnet ribons or fabrics to decorate them - that way no cellotape is used, and then to keep on re-using the boxes for birthdays / christmas.

I might look at some charity shops to see if there is any clothing i could buy to cut up for wrapping ...... as most fabric can be recycled it is hopefully a good option ....

[TheFurryMenace]

Could you try cutting up old clothes/bed linens etc and tying them with garden twine or ribbons that can be re-purposed themselves? if you cut the fabric with pinking sheers it wont fray.

[iwantavuvezela]

Yes that's a good idea. If I manage to do a half decent job I'll post some pics!

[PrincessTwilightStoleMyToddler]

I’m mostly giving quite small in size gifts this year (at least for the adults). I have been wondering if I could wrap the gifts in beeswax food wraps that the recipient can then use (instead of cling film etc) through the year. I think I am going to do this, there is a lovely small local business that makes wraps in a variety of Cath Kidson style fabrics (but organic cotton) which are very pretty.

[FrankUnderwoodsWife]

This may be too late as a suggestion for you, but like you wanted to reduce my “wrapping waste” so I have bought an FT on the birth date of each of my recipients this year, and will wrap their Christmas presents in that.
I will then use different colored ribbon for each person.

Or you could just buy a newspaper (the weekend ones would work well for this) and wrap the section that is most relevant to them. So DH world be either sports or markets, MIL gardening, DF travel etc
I am trying to be as creative and thoughtful as possible with minimal outlay!

[FrankUnderwoodsWife]

Argh! Sorry - just realised you wanted to reuse wrapping annually. Ignore me

[Flashingbeacon]

We got a cardboard snowman from m and s 2 years ago. Basically 3 boxes on top of each other. So the presents go in that unwrapped + stocking. For everyone else we go experiences (theatre tickets etc) or food.
Not sure how ethical the cardboard boxes are but got to be better than loads of individual wrapping.

[Rainbowqueeen]

I use tea towels which then form part of the gift for adults.

[colouringinpro]

I'm going for wrapping paper made from recycled paper, unbleached twine/ends of balls of wool from charity shops as a start this year, pretty good and also necessarily economical...

[elQuintoConyo]

I have big squares of festive fabric that i have hemmed, i wrap them around presents as i would paper then tie ribbon around them.

I have also made drawstring bags of varying sizes for the same purpose.

I have bags/wrappings for both birthdays and Christmas, my friends like seeing the same fabric come out and so does the 7yo.

I have been doing this for about 4 years now, ever since i saw the Japanese scarf tying stuff on MN.

However, i don't wrap gifts in fabric/bags if they're being posted (various customs will often rip them open to check dodgy contents), or for other people's children. I will use fabric where i know i will get it back.

I have stashes of stuff going back years, from family and friends (1960s curtains, 1970s bedcovers, 80s kids stuff, off-cuts from the market etc). Theyvall look really jolly under the Christmas tree.

This year i may also make some little 3D folded bags out of felt - i'm up to my eyebrows in felt!