Reducing Santa's Carbon Footprint with Green Wrapping

You may have thought that driving a sleigh with reindeer was enough to cut Santa's carbon footprint during the holidays, but there's always more that can be done to protect the environment. 

For many, the most exciting part of giving and receiving gifts is tearing open the wrapping paper . . . Uh-oh, an eco-dilemma?

It doesn't have to be.

With most commercial wrapping paper, composting is NOT an option because it is usually glossy and colored with toxic dyes.

But there are compost-able and recyclable options and there is recycled wrapping paper. If you're willing to pay the price for recycled paper, go right ahead, but there are better options for the penny-pinching gift givers.  

Here are come creative ideas for wrapping that you can compost:

Cardboard rolls: Use them as boxes to fit any cylinder type shaped item.

Printer paper:  You can even use the back of already used paper.                                                                                                                  

Take out menus: These you can compost as long as they aren't glossy.

Packing paper: Use like wrapping paper and decorate with soy-based crayons, paints or attach sprigs of trees or flowers.

Non-greasy paper bag paper: Make sure there is no food residue and use like the packing paper.

Woven baskets: Make great gift-holders, if you decorate them, just not with cellophane! Try loosely netted hemp with a compost-able ribbon.

Fabric made from natural fiber such as cotton, burlap, linen, silk, hemp and rayon:  Use items you may find around the house (washed) for wrapping such as unwanted curtains, bandannas, t-shirts, pillowcases, scarves, etc. If you have nice fabric or would want to buy some, organic of course, you could use the Japanese technique of Furoshiki, which is a folding and knotting technique.

As for options to recycle: 

Magazines and other glossy printed material: These can be recycled, but also attractive and interesting.

Jars: These can be great for foods or any small gift that needs to be seen.  Of course, they're also reusable.

Drinking glasses or mugs: A great option especially if there are graphics on it already, then seal it with some fabric help or even a rubber band (which is rubber and will decompose).

Tins: Are always useful and non-breakable unlike the two top options.

Food boxes:  Decorative (like mac and cheese, tea bag boxes, jello boxes): You may be able to match the gift with the theme of the box.

For filler or tissue never use those Styrofoam peanuts!  Try these instead: 

• shredded newspaper
• non-Styrofoam filler
• dried flowers
• cut up fabric
• cut up paper bags.

Remember for next year to save what you can for reuse if items are not compost-able, recyclable or edible. What you don't want or use donate to local schools, shelters, houses of worship, town offices or non-profit organizations.

Be creative, have fun, save money, downsize, save gas from another trip to the store and tell Santa not to leave his carbon footprint no matter what you celebrate!