Well, it’s almost time to bid farewell to 2020 and the season of gift giving, merry making, and eating until we can’t breathe is upon us. There’s no denying that the holidays can be glutinous (to be frank), however, there are still ways to incorporate sustainability into the age old holiday tradition of gift giving.
While we may not necessarily be able to be close this holiday season, we are still able to show our loved ones that we are thinking of them. Be it a Zoom hang, delivering food, or sending presents, there are ways to forage connection during these unprecedented times.
So if you’re planning on sending gifts to your friends and loved ones, we’ve compiled a list of some of our favourite ways to reduce, reuse and recycle your present packaging.
Corrugated (or fluted) cardboard is almost everywhere. Go ahead, check that recycling bin, you will probably find it in there. Corrugated cardboard is one of the most common boxes used to ship and mail products. It is incredibly durable and universally recyclable. This holiday season, consider hanging onto your cardboard and reusing your boxes for presents.
While it may be a bit late in the game to start collecting, it’s still a worthwhile endeavour to putter around your house and look for things that you can use to wrap and decorate presents. Some ideas for odds and ends are:
Did you know that a reusable grocery bag can double as gift wrap? Well, here’s a hot tip – it can, and also provides a lil’ extra present for your lucky gift receiver! One of my all time favourite brands, Baggu has perfected the art of wrapping with reusable bags. So skip the tape and check out this beautiful and sustainable wrapping idea that keeps on giving!
If you’re stuck for scraps, you can still personalize your wrapping paper with DIY potato stamps! All you need is a roll of craft paper (at any craft or dollar store), a potato, acrylic paint (or a good old fashioned stamp pad) and your imagination!
Kirsten Crisostomo is a freelance copy and content writer based in Vancouver, BC.
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