The holidays are a wonderful time of the year full of family gatherings, good times and gift giving. ‘Tis the season to be consciously creative and eco friendly. Think of all the cards, gift wrap, presents, tags and mailed gifts that will travel across the country and internationally. According to the National Retail Federation Gift giving is the largest component of a shopper’s budget. The average consumer will spend $466.13 on gifts for family, $94.52 on friends, $26.70 on co-workers and $43.50 on other gifts. This doesn’t include gift warp, ribbons and bows.
Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s holiday festivities, Americans throw out 25 million tons of extra garbage. To keep this season environmentally friendly lets think of conscious creative ways of keeping with traditions we have come to love, with less waste, and save some money along the way.
The best part of the holidays for most, is the giving and receiving of gifts. Gift giving originated with ancient pagan celebrations. The Roman festivals of Satumalia and Kalends celebrated the harvest and winter solstice and gifts of small figurines, food, jewelry, and candles were a part of this celebration. The tradition of gift giving at Christmas time is associated with the gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh delivered to the Christ child by the Three Wise Men.
Nineteenth century gift wrapping was simple thin tissue-like paper, evolving to sturdier brown paper. It was not until the 1890’s with the invention of the color-inked printing press did wrapping paper become decorative. In 1903 Hy-Sill Manufacturing Inc., founded by Eli Hyman and Morris Silverman, became the first American gift wrap company. Gift wrap was still secured with wax seals and twine until scotch tape was invented in 1932.
Newspapers, magazines and merchant's paper shopping bags can substitute for wrapping paper. If every family wrapped 3 presents in reused materials, (or avoided wrapping paper altogether) enough paper would be saved to cover 45,000 football fields.
Save your magazines or parts of the magazines that may make colourful wrapping paper. Save the comics, they are colorful and fun to read. The sports section is great for sports fans, Sudoku, Scrabble, or word games, makes for a unique one of a kind wrapping paper. aper bags from merchants can be used in two ways. Either open up the package and wrap the gift, and decorate or leave blank, or use the bag as is, logo and all. This idea is recycled from the Victorian era when brown paper bags were used as gift wrap. 
There are many alternatives to wrapping paper. Articles of clothing, towels, tins, baskets, and chests, are all substitutes. Tea towels, or beach towels are bright and cheerful. A couple of safety pins, skirt pins or diaper secures an excellent gift wrap, and will be used all year long. The possibilities are endless.
Think of ways to wrap a gift that doesn’t involve using paper at all. For the ladies in the house, wrap your gift in a woman’s tote, purse, or a cloth bag that can be used over and over. For the seamstress, wrap a gift in an old pattern and a bow from a fabric measuring tape. Both of these items may be found at Goodwill, and other second-hand or consignment stores. Preschoolers and young children would benefit from a gift from the heart. A big trunk, (the best trunk would be from someone in the family) and fill it with adult clothes from other members in the family for a trunk full of dress up clothes for days of entertainment. If you do not have any suitable old clothes, Goodwill, Salvation Army and other Thrift Shops are perfect for this. Think of the savings to landfills. There are so many ways to avoid the red tape of paper, ribbons and bows; all it takes is a little imagination and a lot of heart! If every family re-used just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet.
As you open your gifts this year, set a box a side, and fill it with reusable gift wrap, ribbons and bows. Save magazines, newspapers, and all those that might make great gift paper for all occasions.
Happy Eco Friendly Wrapping!
Karen Langston 1-877-215-6824 karen@iamworthit2.com
www.iamworthit2.com
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