by Raven Lebeau

Created on: March 19, 2009   Last Updated: January 30, 2010

"Going green" is a smart idea from both an ethical and a financial standpoint. When you find ways to reduce consumption, you not only decrease your carbon footprint, but you shrink your expenses too. Finding "green" ways to wrap Christmas gifts will help the environment as well as cut your holiday budget. Here are a few ideas for environmentally conscious gift wrap:

1. Buy gift wrap made from recycled paper.

This is a simple way to make your holidays a little greener without changing your gift-wrapping habits. All you have to do is look at the labels when you shop for wrapping paper.

2. Recycle wrapping paper for next year.

As you and your family open gifts, try to keep the paper as in tact as possible. When you are done opening gifts, save the paper in a box instead of wadding it up and throwing it in the trash. Next year, get out the box and use the old gift wrap on the new gifts. You may have to cut out pieces that are torn or damaged, but any paper you can use will save you money and help save the environment.

3. Buy re-usable gift bags and boxes.

Gift bags don't need tape and won't be torn when opened, so they can be reused indefinitely. The same goes for holiday-themed, collapsable boxes. These boxes and bags are easy to store away for next year.

4. Use the Sunday color comics.

If you still take a newspaper (or if you know someone who does), save the colorful Sunday comic section and use it as gift wrap. Because the paper was going to be thrown away or recycled anyway, using it to wrap a gift is carbon-neutral. It's also free, so you can't go wrong.

5. Use a brown paper grocery bag.

Plain brown wrapping paper has an old-fashioned appeal, especially if combined with a raffia bow and a sprig of greenery. Instead of purchasing brown wrapping paper, choose paper bags on your next visit to the grocery store. After you unpack your groceries, cut the bag open and use it to wrap a gift. For a more festive look, decorate your brown paper with rubber stamps, drawings, or calligraphy.

6. Fold your own easy origami boxes.

The boxes you fold can easily be reused, just like commercially purchased gift boxes. You can find origami box instructions online. Making origami boxes is a great way to recycle; you can use wrapping paper, news paper, grocery bags, or magazine pages.

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