That’s a wrap
November 29, 2007
Greening your Holidays
On Christmas morning, many of us are used to wading through the detritus of torn-up wrapping paper, ribbons and bows that are left after a frenzied gift exchange. The virgin forest fibers, bleach and heavy-metal inks of conventional wrapping paper shouldn’t be part of holiday giving. With a little creativity and a few eco-friendly resources, it’s easy to make the gifts under this year’s tree look green and gorgeous.
Save time, save the environment, and wrap your gifts in style with Lucky Crow’s reusable gift bags, a waste-free and sustainable alternative to drugstore-variety wrapping paper. Lucky Crow is one of only 640 businesses in North America that donate 1% of their profits to a network of more than 1500 environmental organizations worldwide through One Percent for the Planet.
Here in Toronto, Grassroots can help make holiday gift-giving guilt-free with 100% biodegradable natural ribbon dyed with soy-based ink and chlorine-free hemp wrapping paper printed with vegetable-based dyes. And environmentally conscious doesn’t have to mean beige - Grassroots papers and ribbons are available in a range of festive colours and patterns. Sending holiday greetings to friends and family? Choose cards printed on recycled paper and wrapped in biodegradable cellophane or pretty 100% recycled, chlorine-free gift tags.
Wrapsacks makes beautiful hand-dyed batik cotton gift bags with a twist. Each bag is meant to be regifted, and comes with a unique code that can be tracked online. Follow where your bag goes, what gifts it’s carried, and what celebrations it’s been part of.
Even Canadian food giant President’s Choice is in on the idea. Check out their tasteful reusable gift bags made from post-consumer recycled plastic.
You could also get creative with fabric. Tie up a present in a square of cloth, a bamboo scarf, a hemp tea towel or even an organic cotton t-shirt. Recycle vintage containers like shoe and hat boxes. Use natural fillers and padding such as straw, leaves, pine needles or shredded recycled paper.
Martha Stewart never had it so good. Your planet-friendly wrapping will be as big a hit as the gift it contains.
More on greening your holidays:
[…] doesn’t suit you or you can’t use it, perhaps it is better suited to your cousin or colleague. Update the wrapping and pass on the present. It’s the thought that counts, after […]