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A Gift for Mother Earth: Environmentally Friendly Gift Wrap and Holiday Card Ideas



Have you ever looked at the pile of holiday wrapping and gift boxes, horrified at the trash that has been created by your holiday celebrations? You can help save natural resources and landfill space by following some of these waste-minimizing tips this holiday season:



1. Minimize waste when packaging and wrapping gifts.

2. Buy unpackaged and minimally-packaged gifts and toys.

3. Instead of wrapping gifts, present them in gift bags, baskets or reusable tins, which can be used for storage or future gifts.

4. Or, wrap your presents in “alternative materials.” Wrapping gifts in the Sunday comics accomplishes all three "R's" - you reduce by not buying wrapping paper, you reuse, and it's easy to recycle the paper after the presents are opened. You can also use leftover fabric, lightweight wallpaper, and colorful scarves, aluminum foil and maps to wrap presents.

5. Another way to reduce the impact of using traditional wrapping paper is to buy wrapping paper and holiday cards with post-consumer recycled content, which "closes the loop," and helps create a market for recyclables. Additionally, instead of buying holiday paper that might get trashed if left partially unused, instead buy solid or striped paper, which can work for Christmas, Hanukkah and Kwanza, as well as birthdays and other gift giving occasions.

6. Avoid wrapping larger gifts, and instead hide them in another room, cover them with a sheet or blanket and then leave a card with clues or a riddle as to their whereabouts.

7. Have your children decorate empty paper towel rolls and oatmeal or cereal containers to use as gift boxes.

8. Send a paper-free electronic greeting card by e-mail rather than a traditional paper holiday card.

9. Reuse the front cover of the greeting cards you received last year and send them out as holiday postcards. Reuse holiday cards that you received the previous year by using the front cover of the card as holiday postcards or name tags for gifts.

10. Use newspaper and popcorn instead of foam plastic packaging to make great packing material. Biodegradable packing peanuts, which are available from most office supply outlets, are also a good alternative packing material.


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