Is there an environmentally friendly alternative to cellophane?

[duckme]

I plan on making hampers for family this year and am hoping to fill them with lots of things from local businesses. I have managed to buy 9 used hamper baskets for £5, which I think is a bargain! And each gift inside (which isn't food) will be wrapped in plain brown paper but I need something to wrap the whole hamper up with. Ideally I want to avoid cellophane, unless there is an environmentally friendly version, so I'm looking for (cost effective) alternatives.

There is a compostable 'plastic' wrap. Where to buy it from, I have no idea.

How about putting a big fabric ribbon on it. You don't need to buy ribbon, just use any cloth (old bedsheet ?). If you have a sewing machine you could run up metres of ribbon.

How big are they? Could you use a nice pillow case or cushion case? Perhaps as an extra present.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

There is a compostable 'plastic' wrap. Where to buy it from, I have no idea.

I think that is cellophane. It's not recyclable but it's biodegradable.

Just a nice ribbon?

The hamper is the 'wrapping' for the contents. Just a ribbon should be fine.

Do you actually need to wrap it? The hamper is the wrapping for the gifts inside.

Cellophane is better, because it is made from cellulose (paper) and is biodegradeable en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellophane

You probably mean plastic film, which is made of....plastic. might be an issue with people misusing the term cellophane to mean any clear plastic film.

Cellophane is better, because it is made from cellulose (paper) and is biodegradeable https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cellophanee*

I'm not sure the manufacture of cellophane is more environmentally friendly though.

Yes, I'd read that actual cellophane is degradable. I'm just trying to avoid plastics as much as possible (I have to use sellotape though, the recyclable tape is awful to use). I'm wondering if a scarf may be an idea? I bought some stuff from Lush years ago and they gift wrapped it in a scarf.

I get on okay with the recyclable tape. I make a little loop with it and then hide between the layers of papers. I got some lovely wrapping paper from Oxfam last year (it drew positive comments) that was recycled and recyclable and I can just whack everything in the recycling.

@Hercwasonaroll

Just a nice ribbon?

This. Choose a fabric ribbon so it's reusable.

@Aroundtheworldin80moves

There is a compostable 'plastic' wrap. Where to buy it from, I have no idea.

Remember not everything that's compostable is actually compostable for the average home or business. Some things marked as compostable need the heat of industrial size compost bins and would never break down otherwise.

Vegware is home compostable.

duckme Depending on the item but you could use Beeswax Wraps to wrap your gifts as they are environmentally friendly and the recipient could use them over and over again.

A large red and white tea towel folded and placed on the top and tied in place with a red ribbon?

Paper?

Fabric? Lots of cellophanes are compostable.

I do the work hampers and don’t wrap them
But it does depend what shapebasket.
I just use either tissue, fabric or wood shaving as stuffing, maybe a bow and a tag. Job done.

a nice tea towel folded like a bow?

it doesn't really need wrapping, does it? apart from the visual effect the foil doesn't really have a purpose.

I've found some fabric that can be used as a throw once opened, I could use that.
The baskets are quite deep, so I could get away with not wrapping at all (I got them from Facebook marketplace and wasn't really sure of the dimensions until I got them home). I just think they'll look more 'finished' with some wrapping.

I love the beeswax wrap idea, I'll look into the cost of it.