Who doesn’t want to have a few presents to open on Christmas morning?  Once the gift is open we are left sitting in a pile of paper and plastic tidbits.  These items litter the landfills for hundreds of years because they are not biodegradable.  Here are some ideas for alternative gift wrapping this year.

There are men and women sitting eagerly at the counter waiting to get a hold of our gifts.  They are the department store gift wrappers.  They swaddle our purchases in brightly colored paper, metallic ribbon, and handsome bows.  Obviously they have some artistic talent because our home wrapped gifts never look that good.

The problem with all of this is that the person opening the gift is going to trash their careful handiwork into a million tiny paper pieces.  There are a few exceptions.  Some people carefully unwrap their gifts, folding the paper as they go.  These are the ones who reuse the paper each year for other presents.  We applaud you.

For the rest of us, the garbage can gets full rather quickly with discarded wrapping paper.  Much of this doesn’t get recycled or isn’t recycled.  Decide to end the senseless landfill waste by using other materials for gift wrapping this year.

Try recycled wrapping paper.  This paper may not look as pretty as other wrappings but the purpose of gift wrap is to conceal a present inside.  It is not the paper that is most important but the treasure within. 

How about cloth wrappings?  Stores sell fabric in Christmas colors each year.  Purchase a few yards in different colors and create reusable gift wrapping. 

If you are good with a sewing machine it will take no time at all to turn that cloth into a fabric wine bottle cover, a wrapping for flat boxes, a cloth wrapping for a square box, or a cloth bag for multiple gifts.  The wrappings can be sewn with a drawstring to cinch the bag closed. 

These decorative cloth wrappings can be used by the recipient to give a gift the next year at Christmas.  The point is that the garbage won’t be filled with wrapping paper again this year. 

Gift baskets are a fun alternative to traditional wrapping.  Baskets come in many sizes and are made from natural materials.  Fill them with items the person will love including homemade presents. 

The gift basket can be used throughout the year after the gifts are gone.  Use it to hold towels, bath toiletries, fruit and vegetables, or whatever else you choose.  The basket can continue to be used or passed on the next Christmas.

How will you present your gifts this year?  Go for the environmentally friendly approach and you will not only be giving a gift to someone you love but will be helping to protect the earth as well.