5 eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas to try this Christmas

You have likely already spent a fortune on Christmas gifts, so why fuss over fancy wrapping as well?

Even the humble newspaper can serve further purpose.

With more and more people becoming conscious of the environment, the motto ‘reduce, reuse and recycle’ is a hot topic at any dinner table.

Christmas is around the corner and you may have already bought gifts for your loved ones. You have likely already spent a fortune on the gifts, so why fuss over fancy wrapping as well?

Besides, it’s the gift that matters and the careful thought behind it. Do your part and reduce your carbon footprint this festive season.

Here are five eco-friendly gift wrapping ideas for you to try:

1. Newspaper – Everyone has some lying around the house, so why not use it to wrap your gifts and create a rustic theme? You could also use newspaper to make rosettes to add that special personal touch.

2. Toilet paper rolls – For a small, precious gift, you can use discarded toilet paper rolls, by painting or wrapping them. The only limit is your imagination! Then fold the roll inwards at one end, place the gift inside and fold in the other end – your gift is now ready!

3. Brown paper/ takeaway bags – These are versatile and can be reused as a gift bag. Decorate as you wish with fancy ribbons, glitter and a variety of stickers to make them festive. This is also a great way to entice children to unleash their creativity and enjoy some great bonding time decorating the bags.

4. Scarves – You can give two gifts in one by wrapping the actual gift in a scarf, which the receiver can reuse it as a fashion statement. Two birds, one stone! Follow the Japanese art of furoshiki (wrapping with fabric) and you can create unique gift packages!

5. Cereal boxes – For a bigger gift, cut away the tabs at the top of a cereal box and wrap in old newspaper. Make sure to cover the whole box and make indents on either side to represent a gift bag. Pierce both sides of the box and secure string through the holes. A little bit of effort, but a perfect eco-friendly gift bag!

Watch below for more great ideas: