To wrap Christmas presents in newspaper?

[fairynick]

My family seem to think so! 😂 I read an article about how wasteful Christmas is, and one of my New Years resolutions is going to be about reducing the waste I produce because I do think that I mindlessly produce quite a lot. In the article it said how wrapping paper is non recyclable and really damaging. I am living back at home atm and my mum buys a newspaper everyday so I have decided to wrap my presents in her old newspapers. My mums response was “well they’re not going under MY tree”. The rest of my family seem a bit miffed too. I should add that my family is all adults, I’ve not bought for any children whatsoever so surely grown adults can deal with wrapping paper that isn’t very pretty and shiny?

The only thing that would worry me is the ink transfer on to carpet / sofa etc (and fingers when opening but that's not the end of the world!)

I think newspaper wrapped gifts look fine.

Could you use recyclable brown paper as a compromise?

Very on trend. If you want to pretty them up add some reusable ribbon. I am doing brown paper and reusable gift bags

@rainywinterday thankfully we don’t have a carpet and presents are always unwrapped on the floor. I didn’t think about people’s hands hahahahaha 😂😂😂

@Confusedbeetle wow where can I get reusable ribbon from? That sounds great!

@StrawberryGoo I suppose I could actually, but they’re already wrapped now! Maybe I’ll see if they come round to the idea first!

YANBU. The only thing is that my mum does this and a few times Christmas present opening has been delayed because someone has got distracted by an article

I think it's fine but if they are going to huff is it worth the hassle. Wrap them up in 'proper' wrapping paper and fuss about how awful all the waste is for the environment as they unwrap their presents

I use Christmas fabric. Bought meters of the stuff in different designs several years ago then cut them into big rectangles and hemmed them. Now I just wrap the gifts up (sometimes need to roll the item in the fabric a few times over) and tie closed with ribbon. Family all give me the fabric back to use again but if they didn't then I guess it wouldn't be much better than paper.

No, I've been thinking about what to do about wrapping this year too. I still have paper from last year so I will probably use that but I won't buy wrapping paper new now.
Brown paper might have been better, because you can recycle that. Also some etsy stores sell recyclable wrapping paper, if you search for it on there.

Seropsily? Go to a fabric shop and buy proper ribbon. "Reusable ribbon". Honeslty. Its just normal bloody ribbon.

Britain throw away 277,000 miles of wrapping paper every year. A shocking amount as most can't be recycled! Do the scrunch test on the paper. If it stays scrunched up it can be recycled. If it starts to open out even slightly it cant he recycled.

Im doing brown kraft paper this year with different coloured ribbon for each person.

Except for MIL - I ll use wrapping paper I already have.

*be not he

You need to iron the paper with waxed paper before to stop the ink transferring iirr. They used to do it 'in the olden days' when the servants would get the breakfast tray ready for the maser of the house.

I have recycled and recyclable brown paper and string, and cardboard no glittery/coated Christmas tags.

Isn't most ribbon reusable? When dd was small i'd buy strips of ribbon for her hair and use that lots of times.

I buy re-usable fabric ribbon from the John Lewis haberdashery dept. Red or green satin ribbon, or tartan.

It's only reusable if relatives elsewhere give it back to you though!

And you have to iron it if using the following year. (I do.)

I'm wrapping all mine in brown paper this year. I thought I'd miss my glittery wrapping paper but they actually look awesome

I bought the brown wrapping paper from ikea. It can be recycled (I think it already is but not sure on that).

Magazines might be better another time.

I don't believe all wrapping paper is non recyclable btw, just the sparkly sort. Just coloured paper with a design printed on should be OK. I guess the Sellotape would be a problem.

Good idea.
Bet you next year they’ll all be doing it
Stand your ground.

@CroissantsAtDawn oh to add I’m too scared to wrap MILs in newspaper so have gone with a gift bag 😂
Thanks for all the ideas everyone, they’re really useful and have made me feel not so bat shit!

I’m doing brown paper from the post office with raffia.
Get me

I'm still sitting here totally agog at someone saying the phrase "reusable ribbon" as if it's a new idea. It's just ribbon!! Never been in a fabric shop before?

I've just bought a roll of brown paper from ebay. I've pointed out to people who I've already given presents to that I'm not crazy and that its recyclable

I'm loving the idea of fabric wrapping 'paper' though, I shall keep my eye out for fabric bargains.