{"id":7507,"date":"2019-12-21T10:56:30","date_gmt":"2019-12-20T21:56:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/?p=7507"},"modified":"2025-06-25T01:44:15","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:44:15","slug":"never-buy-gift-paper-again-the-ultimate-guide-to-zero-waste-wrapping","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/never-buy-gift-paper-again-the-ultimate-guide-to-zero-waste-wrapping\/","title":{"rendered":"Never Buy Gift Paper Again: the Ultimate Guide to Zero Waste Wrapping"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

At this time of year, New Zealanders generate a lot of extra waste, from Gift wrapping and shopping bags. <\/a>Most gift wrapping is made out of hard-to-recycle mixed materials and so goes straight to landfill.<\/p>\n\n

Over the Holidays, our waste volume\u00a0often goes up \u2014 hardly a surprise to anyone who has ventured out into the streets on the rubbish day after christmas. The footpaths become an obstacle course of overst\uffed rubbish bins and bags nearly exploding with old wrapping, ribbon and packaging.<\/p>\n\n

But if everyone wrapped gifts in upcycled materials rather than buying wrapping paper new, we could save a lot of waste! So for those looking to reduce their waste this Holiday season, gift wrapping is an easy and simple place to start. Here are 12 techniques to rethink how you wrap up your gifts the wasteless way this year.<\/p>\n\n

1) Furoshiki Wrapping<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

A series of wrapping techniques for wrapping gifts in cloth, this is a go-to for gifts of all shapes and sizes.<\/p>\n\n

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from journal.rikumo.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

But before you rush out and buy brand new cloth just to wrap gifts, remember that textile waste is a significant issue in and of itself \u2013\u00a0massive quantities of textiles already go to landfill<\/strong><\/a>\u00a0each year.\u00a0It\u2019s far more sustainable to use pieces of fabric you already have or check out local thrift stores to find second hand fabrics to use.<\/p>\n\n

Check out this guide<\/strong><\/a> for an amazing list of the different furoshiki folding techniques you can try.<\/p>\n\n

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2) Stop using tape<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

We\u2019ve all grown up with tape as a staple in the gift-wrapping experience. But what if I told you \u2013 you don\u2019t need it to wrap gifts? <\/p>\n\n

It\u2019s just as simple \u2013 maybe simpler, actually \u2013 to fold up your gift the same as you would with tape, and then fasten it together using string. And again, bonus points for reusing string you already have. <\/p>\n\n

If you absolutely feel you must have tape, opt for paper washi tape<\/strong><\/a>. <\/p>\n\n

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from trashisfortossers.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

3) Use natural greenery and foraged sprigs<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Skip the plastic bows and ribbons and go foraging for leaves, pine cones, berries, cedar or pine branches instead! These are truly biodegradable and can be returned to the Earth when the unwrapping is complete.<\/p>\n\n

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from unsplash.com<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n

4) Use old maps<\/strong><\/h4>\n\n

Do you have any old maps lying around? If you don\u2019t have a use for them anymore or anyone to pass them on to, consider using them to wrap up your Holiday gifts. <\/p>\n\n