To be considering using tin foil as gift wrap?

[daphine2004]

I wasn’t aware yesterday that a lot of wrapping paper can’t be recycled and with Christmas coming up I don’t want to use the stuff I’d normally get. The person who told me will be using brown paper and ribbons, which I’ll probably do and have already been saving ideas from Pinterest. However, I also wondered about in foil as this can be recycled too and would be more eye catching to my three year old. It also means no sellotape required. I’d make it look pretty with gift tags and ribbon.

So AIBU to use this and not just brown paper?

Thanks.

Just buy wrapping paper which can be recycled. Presents wrapped in tin foil will look ridiculous.

I use tissue paper and string. However we have received a tin foil wrapped gift and it was very imaginatively done and made us laugh. It’s probably not as environmental as using paper due to the processing involved to make and then reuse the foil.

I think it will look like leftovers under the tree, and it tears very easily too.

Can the gift tapes and ribbon be recyclable? Otherwise I don't see the point. Cheap printed Xmas paper can be recycled.

yes I don't think tin foil is very good for the environment op even if it can be recycled

I can’t think that it is financially or environmentally sensible to use foil. Just for wrapping, and then all the energy that goes into recycling, melting it down, re-making it etc.

Or use scraps of fabric which can be subsequently recycled. I think it is the fancy wrapping paper with glitter and fancy inks and glazes which cannot be recycled. Lots of paper is available which can be recycled

My dear mum used to wrap presents in tin foil. We used to tease her mercilessly. She now wraps things properly, in wrapping paper because the tin foil looked shite. We still bring it up, oh look Mum you've wrapped that present in actual wrapping paper.
Please don't use foil.

Foil isn't cheap, would you re-use it?

Surely you can buy recyclable wrapping paper?

Foil rips pretty easily, isn’t environmentally friendly and doesn’t look great.

I have a friend who wraps presents in the financial times and I always think that looks great

I’m glad I asked as I was sat on the fence about it! I think I’ll stick with the brown paper.

Thanks for your replies.

Brown paper packages tied up with string.

That's the way to go :)

Cheap printed wrapping paper is not recyclable Infanta.

This is why people are being asked to consider brown paper, which is.

I'd always have one or two presents wrapped in foil on Christmas morning...because during the Great Christmas Eve Wrap, mum would inevitably run out of paper. It'd be for a silly "last minute" present and I'd have to be careful unwrapping it because the foil would need to be rinsed and used for the turkey resting or whatever!

Just thinking about it now makes me smile.

Foil is bad for the environment too. Something about where and how it is mined. Sometimes I go to charity shops and buy scarfs and wrap gifts in those. Then the person gets an extra gift.

It was good enough for Smithy in Gavin and Stacey

@Jezzifishie I thought exactly the same 😂

When I was young we used to open presents carefully as the wrapping paper was saved, put away for next year and used again. Might not work for very small presents, but certainly for larger ones, and I remember some paper being reused for many years

Consider also less gifts. I know it seems bah humbug, but that’s the most environmental option of all.

Are you Smithy?

Xmas gift bags used in our family, then put away ready to be used next year!

Labradoodliedoodoo

Our local authority recycles practically anything. But not tissue paper.

It's a bloody minefield!

Foil can be really sharp on the edges too so I wouldn’t for that reason. I was thinking about brown paper too this year too but I think I may have wrapping paper in the loft I got last year. Every year I put it in the recycling bin and had no idea you weren’t meant to.

Brown paper with Xmas stamps on it to decorate and buy Xmas fabric and make drawstring bags or just use to wrap up directly.

Use gift bags. I have a stack in the loft that come out year on year, we all keep them and reuse. I quite like seeing the old faithfuls doing the rounds. Some have been going for about 12 years!