Our Favorite Eco Friendly Gift Wrapping Ideas For Every Occasion

This post is all about the best eco friendly gift wrapping ideas.

Once you find the perfect eco-friendly gift the next step is figuring out the best eco friendly gift wrapping! Even if it is in small ways like this, reducing the amount of trash we create can make a big difference. Don’t doubt that! 

This is one of the zero waste topics that is actually pretty second nature for me and my family. We have always saved wrapping paper to reuse! Once you get into the habit of it it will be pretty automatic for you too. I have a special place in my closet where I specifically store my extra wrapping paper so that I am prepared for gift wrapping and I don’t have to run out and purchase gift wrap in a pinch! 

After reading this article you will feel fully prepared for the holiday season or the next birthday and have your own stash of ready to go wrapping materials for all of your approaching celebrations! 

The Best Zero Waste Gift Wrapping Ideas

1. Furoshiki Japanese wrapping method as reusable gift wrap

Furoshiki is a traditional style of gift wrapping from Japan that involves folding cloths in a specific way around your gift. 

There are plenty of tutorials for this on YouTube and Pinterest! 

You can reuse the cloth again and again and so can the person that you’re giving your gift to!

*A tea towel, old scarves, or old t-shirts work great for this method as well!

2. Mason jars rather than traditional wrapping paper

Mason jar gifts are super popular and are a great option for teacher gifts, co-workers, and neighbors.

You can fill them with yummy treats (cookies, trail mix etc.) or self-care items (DIY sugar scrubs, homemade candles etc.). Check out some easy mason jar gifts here!

*any glass jars work and can be easily upcycled or thrifted.

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3. Recycled brown paper bags and kraft paper/butcher paper

Hold onto those paper bags from the grocery store! You can easily repurpose a brown paper bag to use as wrapping paper. Use plenty of stickers, markers, paint etc. to spruce them up! If you don’t have grocery bags kraft paper made from recycled materials is also a great option!

4. Reuse gift wrapping from previous gifts

So this one takes a bit of preparation but make sure to save all of the gift wrap that comes from gifts you receive. 

Sometimes when opening a gift the paper gets torn and thrown out which is fine but if you think of it, try to carefully unwrap gifts so you can save the wrapping paper. 

It’s a bit easier with gift bags and tissue paper to salvage them!

This can save pounds of wrapping paper!

5. Newspapers (specifically the comic section!) or magazines for wrapping presents

Not many people read physical newspapers anymore. But if you are one of the rare few that do (or know someone that does!) try to save it for when you need to wrap things! 

Other than saving clippings from memorable articles, most newspapers just end up in the trash. Instead, you can wrap up your gifts and they will have a bit of character. 

Personally, I love to use the comic section because they are more colorful and fun! 

If you are worried about germs you can always lay them out in the sun or hang them on your clothes line to sanitize. 

6. No wrapping paper is the most eco-friendly way

This might seem really strange at first but not all gifts need to be wrapped!

Of course, part of gift giving is the surprise element and the action of unwrapping it. Gifting is a ceremony in a way so in no way am I trying to strip that from you and your celebration. Just something to think about! 

Not using any kind of gift wrap can save a bunch of waste. 

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7. A cute tote bag that can be reused for a personal touch

Two gifts in one! Finding a colorful tote bag and wrapping up your gift in it is a great way to keep the surprise element of gift giving but also a way to give them an eco friendly product too! 

I love using tote bags for grocery shopping to reduce the plastic bags I have to use so for me it is a zero waste must have. 

Some people really appreciate more practical gifts! 

8. Random boxes from online shopping

Save all of your boxes!

From online orders, gifts that are given to you, bulk food boxes etc. These work great as gift boxes. It is also a nice surprise when someone unwraps their gift and they think they are getting a new toaster ha! 

9. Recycled wrapping bows and fabric ribbons

Strings and bows are really challenging to recycle. You could always make a bow out of paper if you are crafty like that or just opt for store bought bows made from recycled materials.

Your best bet for more earth friendly wrapping string is to use natural items like twine. This can actually be really cute if you add some greenery (or flowers!) under the twine. It adds a little bit more spice to the gift since you aren’t using traditional colorful wrapping string. 

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10. Gift wrapping made from recycled materials for a rustic look

If you prefer a traditionally wrapped gift, (no shame!) there are companies coming out with wrapping paper made from recycled materials.

They may end up being a bit more pricey than normal wrapping paper but it is a great option if you want a pattern or holiday theme on your wrapping paper.  

11. Use natural materials as gift wrapping decor

To finish off your gift wrapping, don’t forget a bit of decor. You can forage items in your backyard or head to your local park to find items as well.

• Colorful leaves
• Evergreen sprigs for Christmas
• Wildflowers
• Rosemary or other beautiful herbs
• Pine cones for the festive season
• Cinnamon sticks and dried oranges are perfect for the holidays!

Bonus: Zero Waste Gift tags

I wanted to add this as a bit of a bonus to really round out this zero waste gift wrapping guide!

A super easy way to make gift tags is to cut out tags from cardboard and use twine to secure it onto your gift. Getting creative with paint or stamps can make the gifts look more festive and complete. Like I mentioned before, a little bit of preparation and creativity goes a long way in the zero waste living world. 

How to give a gift without wrapping it

Although this post is all about eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas I did want to include the fact that physical gifts aren’t the only kinds of gift! 

A great way to reduce waste when it comes to gift giving is to share an experience. Here are a few ideas of ways to give a meaningful gift of your time or expertise that has no wrapping paper involved! 

• Cooking someone a nice meal
• Taking someone to a movie 
• Helping them with a task they have been putting off completing 
• Going on a hike or spending time together outdoors doing another hobby

I hope this list of sustainable gift wrapping ideas Gave you some inspiration to wrap your gifts mindfully! I love DIY gift wrapping because it really elevates the look of the gift and makes it feel extra special.

Have you tried any of these eco friendly gift wrapping ideas? I would love to hear about your experiences or ideas in the comments below and hopefully, it helps other readers as they are navigating sustainable gift wrapping too! 

Stay well, 

Maggie 

This post was all about the best eco friendly gift wrapping ideas. 

Other posts you may like: 

7 Amazing Eco Friendly Christmas Tree Alternatives To Consider

19 Last Minute DIY Mason Jar Christmas Gift Ideas

26 Fun Experience Gifts For Kids They Will Love

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