Green Wrap and Gift Bags

You've made your list and checked it twice. It's a veritable catalog of gifts to cover the young and old alike, but what about the environment? All of those lovely gifts can translate into a large pile of boxes, gift wrap and plastic packaging destined for the landfill. Luckily, there are alternatives to traditional holiday packaging. In 2001 Americans threw away 73.5 million tons of packaging, making up 28 percent of all solid-waste landfill. From recycled paper wrap and raffia ribbon to thrift store finds and creative minds, here are a few ways to lessen your environmental impact this holiday season.

Wrapping Paper

A vast array of colors, textures and sheens await holiday shoppers looking for the ideal way to wrap their gifts this holiday season. However, you needn't consume virgin resources to cover your wish list this year. Alternatives to traditional wrapping paper include materials like hemp, flax and organic cotton, as well as recycled newspapers and maps. With a variety of products to choose from, it's increasingly easy to meet your holiday needs.

Paporganics' line of hemp-blend wrap is made from 90 percent post consumer fiber with 10 percent hemp and comes in both holiday and traditional designs ($4.50 for 2 sheets of holly or snowflake wrap, www.paporganics.com). Tree-free gift wrap made from hemp or flax fiber can be ordered from Granola Groovy ($1.99 Canadian per sheet; info@granolagroovy.com, 250-477-0146).

Wrapping paper can be as creative as you are. Try using old calendar pages, Sunday's comics, or even old maps. Mapwrap is made from surplus New York City subway maps ($3/2 sheets, www.forestsaver.com).

Worried your gift just won't look the same without a beautiful bow on top? Raffia from the wetlands of Madagascar makes for festive knots ($4.95/8 oz. bag; www.papermart.com). Organic cotton tape will also tie things up nicely ($.85/yard; www.pmorganics.com). Hemp twine can be bought in bright colors ($2.39/325 ft.; www.globalhempstore.com). Local craft stores are a great resource for hemp and raffia string and ribbon, and thrift stores offer an array of reusable bows.

Gift Bags

Gift bags come in all shapes, sizes and colors. But unless you're reusing last year's bags, you're contributing anew to the holiday waste stream. Instead of buying a traditional gift bag, try one made of natural fibers or recycled content, or make your own.