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Sure, it is what's inside that counts, but what you wrap all your holiday purchases in matters too. All of those lovely gifts can lead to a pile of boxes, gift wrap and plastic packaging destined for the landfill. In 2007 Americans threw away 78.5 million tons of packaging, making up roughly one third of all solid waste in landfills.

From recycled-paper wrap and raffia ribbon to thrift-store finds, here are a few ways to lessen your environmental impact this holiday season.

Wrapping Paper

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 jute, lokta or banana fiber can be ordered from Paper Mojo ($1.40-4.25 per sheet; www.papermojo.com).

Wrapping paper can be as creative as you are. Try using old calendar pages, Sunday comics, or even old maps.

Dress up your packages with raffia, responsibly harvested from the wetlands of Madagascar ($4.85/8 oz. bag; www.papermart.com). Hemp twine can be bought in bright colors ($5.99/400 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
Reuse last year's gift bags if you can, but if you're low on supply, try one made of natural fibers or recycled content, or make your own.

Global Exchange offers Native Leaf Gift Bags made in the Philippines using certified less-toxic dyes. They come in small, medium and large sizes ($3.95–$5.95; store.gxonlinestore.org). Global Exchange will also wrap any of its socially conscious gifts in a 100 percent recycled box, tied with a raffia ribbon and accompanied by a recycled rice-paper greeting card for $3.95.

And where would a gift bag be without flowing tufts of paper to disguise its contents? White tissue paper made from 90 percent recycled paper and colored tissue made from 75 percent recycled fibers are available through Nashville Wraps ($11.50/480 sheets colored and $11.95/960 sheets white; www.nashvillewraps.com).

Handmade gift bags can be made from scarves, fabric scraps or vintage doilies tied with hemp, raffia or recycled hair ribbons. Or try recycled-fabric gift bags from Patagonia ($2 each; 800-638-6464).

Cards

According to the Greeting Card Association, Americans spend $7.5 billion dollars on greeting cards each year. With the holiday season accounting for a large portion of  annual sales, it seems a fitting opportunity to put your money where your values are.

Holiday gift cards made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled paper are available from Doodle Greetings ($4.95/5 cards and envelopes; www.doodle-greetings.com). Global Exchange offers embroidered holiday cards made in India from recycled-cotton rag paper ($15/6 cards and envelopes; store.gxonlinestore.org). Or support fair trade while helping a local school or nonprofit raise funds. Purchase gift cards that are hand embroidered on recycled paper by Burmese women, and 20 percent of the profit goes directly to the participating school or nonprofit of your choice ($3 each; www.globalgoodspartners.org).

Alternatives

Try making your wrapping paper a gift itself. Wrap kitchen and baking goods in an organic hemp or organic cotton apron from Rawganique ($24 and $49 respectively; www.rawganique.com). Or check out your local thrift store. Vintage hatboxes or picnic baskets are ideal packaging for antiques and new gadgets alike.