Alternative Holiday Gift Wrap Ideas

Hi! I am a resident of Cedar Rapids, Iowa. I am interested in making eco-friendly choices because my faith tells me that I am a steward of the Earth, and also as a human being and citizen, I want to help keep the world in good shape for others. So, I take advantage of the curbside recycling the city offers to help keep materials out of our landfills.

I recently learned that unfortunately, gift wrap and tissue paper are not recyclable! The Cedar Rapids city website explains on their website: "As paper is recycled, the quality of the paper fibers degrade.  The fiber used to make paper towels, gift wrap and tissue paper is not good enough to turn into another product." Therefore, we must either reuse it, throw it away, or avoid it altogether! Since I learned this, I decided to avoid purchasing new gift wrap in the future. (I already never buy tissue paper because I save it and reuse it over and over again!) I thought I would share some of the alternative ideas that I came up with!

1. Look to nature! Real clippings from a tree branch or bush are charming AND compostable!

2. Save pretty papers throughout the year to use as wrapping paper! This map came from a mailing from Doctors Without Borders. Magazine pages and calendar pages might be a good place to look.

3. Wrap packages in beautiful handkerchiefs or scarves (thrift stores always have lots!). Sew or purchase cloth bags that can be reused year after year.

4. Use your child's drawing! This would be especially fun for a grandparent to receive. The example pictured is not drawn by my child, but by me as I was trying to demonstrate how to use crayons. He hasn't gotten into it yet! Bonus, this paper has 3 lives: It was covering a Holiday Fair table at church. I took it home for drawing. Now it is wrapping paper!

5. Make origami boxes! I made this one using two pages from an Art Nouveau Tiles calendar. My grandmother used to give small gifts in these boxes made from greeting cards and magazine pages. To make a box with lid, I just started out with one of the squares of paper 1/4" or 1/2" smaller than the other, so that one fits inside the other. There are many instructions available online. Here is one example that I found: http://www.instructables.com/id/Classic-Origami-Box/

There are lots more ideas out there! Be creative!

Thanks for reading!

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Read the city's webpage on recycling paper to learn more about what paper items can and cannot be recycled: http://cms.revize.com/revize/cedarrapids/residents/utilities/paper.php

Marion, Iowa, also does not take gift wrap in their curbside recycling. Here is a city webpage. Click on the link "Public Service Collection Information" in the second paragraph to read what they do and don't accept: http://www.cityofmarion.org/departments/public-service/solid-waste/curbside-recycling