Once the presents are opened, a lot of wrapping paper and ribbons end up in the trash. Americans use an estimated 4.6 million pounds of wrapping paper each year, mostly during the holiday season (Ecology Center). Instead of throwing out all of your holiday packaging this year, put it to work with simple reuse ideas that save money and reduce waste.
Confetti
Shred clean paper into colorful confetti! Use it for parties or to cushion gift boxes all year round. Make sure that any confetti thrown into the air in celebration doesn’t end up in our storm drains and polluting our ocean by sweeping it up, securing it in a trash bag, and disposing of it properly at the end of your celebrations.
Protective Packaging
Crumble wrapping paper to pad holiday decorations, fragile items, or care packages. It keeps things safe and gives the paper a second life.
Future Gift Wrapping
Save gift bags, boxes, ribbons, and bows. Roll ribbons around a piece of cardboard to prevent tangles. When the next holiday season arrives, you’ll have supplies ready to go.
Book Covers
Turn wrapping paper into a book or notebook cover. It gives your supplies a fresh look while keeping covers clean.
Little changes add up. By reusing wrapping paper, bags, and ribbons, you’re helping the planet through reducing the amount of holiday waste that could end up as roadway litter and eventually reach our ocean, and saving money.
Source: Ecology Center
