Khoollect tips: waste-free gift wrap ideas

The end of the year is a time for generosity, sharing and gift giving; it’s also a time when waste is at an all-time high. Unfortunately, with the silly season comes some silly behaviour: food, packaging, disposable plates, cups, cutlery and gift wrap is discarded en masse. The good news is, it doesn’t have to be this way; and there are plenty of ways we can reduce waste and be more mindful during the festive season. On that note, we’ve put together a list of ways you can adorn your gifts (maintaining your presentation standards) without creating unwanted waste. Here’s our waste-free gift wrap ideas:

• Choose fabric: make a tea towel, napkin or decorative piece of linen part of your gifts. Bundle your gifts inside the fabric and knot it at the top, or use a piece of twine to fasten your wares. You can even wrap gifts in scarves and knits for a cosy Christmas feel.
• Work with what you’ve got: a common mistake we all tend to make is storing leftover wrapping paper for the following Christmas and then forgetting it exists before buying another roll. So, before you hit the stores (and become tempted by the pretty papers) check the storage cupboard for last year’s leftovers.
• Upcycle: if you’re bored by the idea of using newspaper to wrap your gifts, why not stamp it with a bright colour or use nail polish to create fun patterns? You might like these stamped pattern ideas. If you’re hoping to throw out some old books in the near future, use the pages to wrap small items. Often, things you buy from stores (physically and online) at Christmas will come wrapped in tissue paper. Think before you throw any tissue or wrapping paper away, and see if you can make use of it first.
• Get creative: Rather than purchasing bows and one-use plastic ribbons that’ll end up in landfill, use found items to decorate your wrap. At this time of year in London, beautiful leaves and twigs sprouting berries can be found on streets everywhere. Swap a plastic bow for a pretty piece of foraged nature that’s fallen, or re-use a bit of ribbon from home. You might have kitchen items, like cinnamon sticks, dried orange slices and sprigs of lavender that could make your gifts that little bit prettier too.

Then, begin thinking ahead for next year. Choose a box where you can collect ribbons, wrapping and papers you accumulate to use next Christmas (or for birthdays throughout the year).