A low-cost guide to sustainable Christmas decorations and gift wrap
It is easy to assume that to make Christmas presents special, we need to go to the shops and buy expensive shiny wrapping paper (which may not be recyclable), when in fact, there are creative workarounds you can use to save money and materials.
The easiest way to be sustainable is to use what you already have around the home. The ‘buyerarchy of needs’ encourages us to prioritise using what we already own, before resorting to borrowing, swapping, and making, as the most cost-friendly way to serve our needs. Re-using doesn’t have to be dull; for instance, think of repurposing paper, wood, string, ribbon, old clothing, and scraps of fabric – how can these existing materials be reused in creative ways?
In the UK, we will throw away the equivalent of 108 million rolls of wrapping paper, use more than 40 million rolls of sticky tape and bin 100 million bin bags full of packaging from toys and gifts. Our celebrations can be kinder to the environment by cutting back on the amount of plastic-filled tape, packaging, and paper that we use. By doing so, we can look back on the season with joy and positivity, rather than recounting the waste accumulated.
The same goes for decorations. It is great to have trinkets that you can bring out year-on-year, and if you already have old baubles and tinsel, go ahead and give them another go – they can be tricky to recycle and are better used than in the bin. However, if you’re looking for new decorations, there are many ways to make ethical, low-cost decorations, using what you already have or materials you can easily source.
Use what you have
Watching somebody unwrap the gift that you have selected for them is one of the most awaited moments of the festive period, as they finally tear the wrapping paper off to unveil the surprise inside. Shiny wrapping paper may look pretty, but its purpose is often whittled down to concealing your gift, being torn off and then discarded.
We have been thinking of ways to keep this meaningful tradition intact whilst using more sustainable options:
Old gift bags and packaging paper
Re-use, re-use, re-use! It is likely that with gift giving, comes an abundance of gift bags, and it is not uncommon to stock-pile these bags in a spare cupboard, knowing that one day they might come in handy. Any old gift bag can be used to wrap a present, instantly becoming festive with the addition of old ribbon, a snippet from your Christmas tree, or even a vintage bauble.
The same goes for scrap paper, which can become a creative canvas – whether it’s old newspaper, discarded packaging, or paper found around the house, all can be transformed into wrapping paper. If you prefer a colourful design, you can easily achieve it by using pens, coloured pencils or ink stamps to add a festive touch. Just remember to avoid paint, crayons, or glitter as they can hinder recyclability. For a more straightforward approach, embrace simplicity and use the paper to wrap your gifts as is.
Additionally, if you receive gifts in the run-up to Christmas, try not to tear the wrapping paper off. Keep the paper intact and give it a new lease of life by adding twine, ribbon, or brown paper tape to rewrap your gifts, reducing plastic and extending the lifetime of the paper.
Fabric wrapping or ‘Furoshiki’
Wrapping gifts in fabric is part of a long-standing Japanese tradition called Furoshiki. It can be used as a sustainable alternative to wrapping paper, using an old scarf, a tea towel or a scrap of fabric which can then be reused by the recipient or passed back to you for future use.
Have a rummage through the fabric that you have lying around. Do you have old clothing that you no longer use, anything that can be chopped into a square and used as wrapping? Perhaps you have an old scarf, with a pattern rivalling gift wrap? Furoshiki techniques mean that you can use fabrics to wrap gifts in several ways. Check out the steps below to see the various ways that you can do it:
Try with a bottle…
Or a box!
2. Make
Gift tags: In the spirit of repurposing old bits that you already have, you can make sustainable gift tags by using cuttings from old Christmas cards. Repurpose classic designs by cutting out intricate patterns or pictures from your collection of old cards. Ensure the back is blank or cover it with a blank cutting, add a hole punch at one end, then thread a piece of twine through and affix it to your gift. The result is a unique gift tag, adding a handmade charm to your gift.
Eco-friendly decorations
Decorating your home can coexist with reducing plastic use and saving money. In fact, foraging natural materials and using bits and pieces that you have lying around makes for creative and endearing ornaments.
Natural baubles
Have a rummage in the garden or the park for fallen branches and twigs. Or check your cupboards – do you have any cinnamon sticks? With a bit of string, you can assemble them into various shapes and patterns, such as stars or snowflakes. Stick with the natural look by adding other cuttings of plants or pinecones, or just use them as they are. They make appealing ornaments, table decorations or hangings on your tree.
Christmas wreaths
Rather than buying a wreath from the shop, why not make it a Christmas tradition to craft your own? This can include foraging outdoors for twigs, willow (it is bendy and less likely to snap), holly leaves, rosehips and other foliage, and twisting them into, or through, a circular fixing. You could even add cuttings/fallen branches from your Christmas tree. Use ribbon or wire to hold it together and hang it from your door or a place of your choosing. The wreath should last for a good period of time, and when it is time to take it down, you can easily disassemble it and compost the natural materials.
3. Swap
The lead-up to Christmas can often result in two different problems, not having enough bits to feel prepared or over-buying in fear of being unprepared. This can lead to waste and an unnecessary pressure to overspend. A fantastic compromise is to organize a 'gift bag amnesty'. This concept, featured in the Moral Fibres blog, is an excellent way for workplaces or community groups to share resources. Participants can bring in unused items like gift bags, tags, and cards and place them on a designated table. Those in need can then take what they require, leading to a reduction in waste all around.
Propose a different approach to the traditional Secret Santa with friends, family, or colleagues. Organizing a buffet, fuddle, or potluck, where each person brings a dish to share, can shift the emphasis from purchasing to sharing, making memories, and reducing expenses on gifts and wrapping. After the challenges faced by many this year, it is important to remind ourselves that the festive season does not have to be all about spending. Hopefully, these handy tips mean that everyone can embrace the celebrations and find joy in the traditional and untraditional.
From everybody at NEP, we thank you for all your enquiries and support this year. We hope you have a happy and healthy Christmas and New Year.