Zero-waste gift wrapping

When you are trying to keep your ecological footprint small, wrapping gifts can become a problem. Gift wrapping paper is used only once and has no purpose beyond its visual appeal.

But that does not have to be the case! We are going to suggest 4 alternatives to gift wrap — just as lovely, but far more ethical — so you can wrap your presents the zero-waste way.

Alternative No.1: Reusing a gift bag

We have all received gifts in gift bags at some point. If they are in good condition, we can absolutely reuse them to give a gift in return. The advantage is that they fold flat and can be stored away easily until they are needed for another gift. This is undoubtedly the easiest and least costly solution. That said, these bags have a fairly limited lifespan. If stored poorly, they can easily get damaged. Moreover, not everyone thinks to keep them, and a perfectly good bag might end up in the bin. For all these reasons, beyond recycling these gift bags, we would not particularly recommend them.

Alternative No.2: Drawstring pouches

Practical and genuinely long-lasting, drawstring pouches are perfect for wrapping gifts. Afterwards, they can be used for bulk shopping, for organising belongings when travelling, for storing small children's toys, and much more. The possibilities are endless! They can also be reused for future gifts. There are even very large models that can be used as a sack for Christmas.

Alternative No.3: Boxes

This is the alternative that requires the largest financial outlay, but a box is always useful! Once your gift has been given, the box can be used to store all sorts of things. It also makes for a very elegant presentation if you are giving unwrapped items or something handmade.

Alternative No.4: Furoshiki

The furo... what?!

Furoshiki is an ancient Japanese technique that involves folding and tying fabric to wrap gifts or carry objects. Traditionally, the patterns and colours vary according to the occasion, but it is the zero-waste aspect rather than its symbolism that interests us here.

Indeed, the fabric squares can be reused to wrap other gifts, or used as bags.

To show you how to wrap this toy box, we used one of our maxi muslins measuring 1m20 on each side in cotton muslin. You can use other fabrics too, such as silk, viscose, or nylon. There is no need to buy fabric squares especially — a muslin, a scarf, a sheet, or a curtain can all be repurposed as Furoshiki.

How to wrap a gift with fabric?

1 - Lay your fabric flat and place your box in the centre, along one of the diagonals of the square.

2 - Fold one of the edges over (if your fabric is smaller, skip this step)

3 - Cover your box with the folded edge

4 - Fold the opposite edge over (if your fabric is smaller, skip this step)

5 - Fold it over a second time (if your fabric is smaller, skip this step)

6 - Cover the gift with this edge

7 - Bring up the sides and tie them together. All that remains is to adjust your parcel so nothing sticks out.

If the edges are long enough, you can tie a beautiful bow.

There you have it — your Furoshiki is ready!

This is just one of many ways to do it. There are numerous folding methods that can be adapted to suit the item being wrapped.

What is your favourite alternative to gift wrap? Feel free to share your zero-waste wrapping tips in the comments!