Be Eco-Friendly With Your Holiday Gift Wrapping.

Each year we say that the holidays creep up on us faster than ever, and each year it seems true. The commercial jingles, Swiss Chalet's "Festive Special", the fifth floor of The Bay decked out like Narnia a week before Halloween. For some reason the onslaught of holiday marketing seems particularly accelerated this year, but you know what they say...if you can't beat 'em, beat 'em with a stick. And if you can't do that, join 'em.

The abrupt greetings of "'tis the season" aren't all for naught, though. One item to check off the ever increasing to-do list is gift shopping and with that comes the tedious process of gift wrapping. Before you set out on the annual trek for the shiniest paper and the frilliest ribbons, consider making your gift exchange eco-friendly. All that paper goes to waste and there are some good alternatives. Here are a few ideas:

Recycle old wrapping paper - Time to raid that Christmas closet or Hannukah hutch and whip out that growing collection of leftovers you always promise to reuse but never do. Gift bags work wonders for multi-purpose gifts (come on, stuffing a bath & body wash set inside a La Senza bag has been done so often it's practically a social norm by now) and they sure save you a lot of time.

Buy recycled wrapping paper - Many companies now offer 100% recycled gift paper, such as Green Field Paper. A quick Google search will find you an extensive list of results for where you can go to purchase eco-friendly gift wrapping.

Prettier than paper - Who says you have to use paper!? The rules and etiquette of the holiday season seem stringent at time but remember the underlying sentiment: it really is the thought that counts! Create your own gift wrap with decorative fabrics, soft hem rope, glossy magazine print, whatever you can come up with.

Make it a contest - A great way to not only go green yourself but to encourage it in numbers is to propose the idea through an interactive contest. Put your collective originality to use and have your family or group of friends try to come up with the most brilliant idea for natural, re-purposed, recycled gift wrap. Choose an equally creative reward for the winner, like a gift card or first in line for the big holiday buffet table.

Courtney Gilmour
		About the author:
		Courtney is a published writer, stand-up comic, and shameless Internet enthusiast. She holds a double bachelors degree in English Literature and Communication Media Studies, specializing in semiotic theory, however she doesn't get Shakespeare and has never won a game of Scrabble. Currently she lives in Toronto and works as a writer for WOMAN.CA.
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