Author: Carlie McDonald
Each year during the holidays my family and I do a Christmas gift exchange, it’s one of those games where you can either choose to open a gift or steal one from someone who has already opened one. And each year as I place my wrapped gift into the pile with all of the other beautifully wrapped gifts I hear a snicker in one corner, and a guffaw in another, all while my cousins try to mask their chuckles from the other room. I know why their laughing, it is because, as every other year, my gift is wrapped in newspaper and looks like the ugly duckling beside all of the other metallic, glittery and flamboyantly wrapped gifts beside it.
What they have always failed to see is how beautiful it is that my tape free, reused and recyclable paper is helping to ensure they have a greener environment to live in. Year after year, I have ignored the scoffing and went on minding my own business, and you would not believe my shock when my family announced that this year, 2012, is the year of mandatory eco gift wrapping! So here I am, living proof that change can happen, old dogs can learn new tricks, and you can eco-wrap Christmas!
Here are a few tips to help you this holiday season:
MAKE YOUR OWN BOWS AND BAGS
If you love to wrap your gifts with a little glitz, you still can! There are many different ways to make your own bows using a variety of reused materials. My favourite: making a bow from magazine pages. You can get so many different colours, patterns and images that can be made into a bow. You can also use paper raffia, leftover fabric, and more! If you want to get really crafty with different fabrics, you can make your own gift bags that can be used for years to come! Simply sew the fabric into your desired shape, incorporate a draw string, button or other type of closure and you’re all ready to wrap!
USE NATURE
Rather than purchasing bows and sparkly gift tags, take a walk on your local trails and collect fallen pinecones, birch bark, cedar and pine boughs. Tying these on the top of gifts adds a natural element of beauty. A piece of birch bark can be cut into any shape; hearts, Christmas trees, bells, whichever you choose, and make a great organic gift tag.
USE RECYCLABLE MATERIALS
Though I am partial to newspaper because it is convenient (read: cheap), there are so many other items available that can be given a second life as well. Try using outdated maps, leftover wall paper, your 2012 calendar, comic books, horoscopes or sport magazines. All of these items will add a colourful and unique aspect to your wrapping.
WRAP WITHOUT TAPE
There’s always that family member that uses so much tape you need scissors or a knife to help you get through the wrapping. On top of that, tape isn’t recyclable, so unless you are going through and removing the tape from all of your discarded wrapping paper, there is no sense in putting it in your blue bin. Wrapping without tape is simple, it takes a little extra patience, but once you get the hang of it, it doesn’t require any additional time. By making crisp folds, and using paper raffia (or left over yarn, twine, etc.) you can tie the package together in a seamless wrap. Check out Toronto Green Community’s YouTube page to learn how to wrap any shaped gift tape-free: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlsXEZ8fURs
GET CREATIVE
Use your imagination! Use the 4-R’s – Reduce, Reuse, Recycle and Rethink and you will come up with some wonderful creations!
About Carlie McDonald: Carlie is the Program Manager of Sustainable Communities Programs for Durham Sustain Ability. Carlie has been passionate about the environment from an early age and understands the vital importance of equality within the four pillars of sustainability. Carlie can be contacted by e-mail at carlie@sustain-ability.ca
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