Earth-Friendly Gift Wrap: For the Ecologically Friendly Holiday Shopper

It's almost Christmas. It's time to wrap gifts. But wait: Before you run over to the local dollar store and buy that shiny wrapping paper, think of its ultimate destination: the landfill. Some of the traditional wrapping paper can be recycled, but much of it can't be because of the metal dyes used. If you want to wrap your gifts look for recyclable paper, and, even better, wrapping paper that has been made from recycled paper. Each year this becomes more and more available. You can also choose gift bags, which can be reused. Buy the nicer, more expensive bags that will actually be reused (because let's be honest, that cheap, flimsy bag you bought at the dollar store probably won't get reused).

If you're going out for gift wrap, I highly suggest skipping the drug, retail, and dollar stores altogether and heading to your local grocery store. No, not to buy wrapping paper there instead, but to buy their reusable shopping bags. This is how many of my presents will be wrapped this year. My local Wegman's offers these sturdy bags for 99 cents-even cheaper than a dollar store bag! Throw in some colored tissue paper, recycled of course, and you've got gift wrapping as festive as any other. And the bags can and will be reused. If you live in an area with multiple grocery stores who offer reusable bags (even Wal-Mart is joining the trend), visit a few different stores to get different colored bags. It's great when the wrapping can also be a gift.

Canvas bags are also available in a variety of shapes and colors-these are another way to wrap a gift with a gift. You can also put your gifts in baskets, buckets, flower pots and other pottery, and decorative boxes. Wrap your gifts with another gift, such as a scarf, handkerchief, bandanna, shawl, or blanket, depending on the size. You can also wrap your gift in fabric. The thought and time you put into this type of wrapping will make the gift even more special to the receiver, and luckily, it doesn't really take that much more time.

If you're not a fan of bags, and like the more traditional paper-based wrapping style, try the newspaper, especially the Sunday comics. The Sunday comics make great wrapping paper, colorful and fun. Tailor which section of the newspaper you use to the person receiving the gift. They'll enjoy the personal touch. Other wrapping ideas: old wallpaper (this one will get a great reaction I'm sure), and used magazines, posters, maps, and calendars.

In addition to the reusable grocery bag and Sunday comics, my third most preferred wrapping choice is paper bags. This is the perfect way to personalize a gift, and you don't have to buy gift tags (also an eco-friendly choice). Gifts can be wrapped using the paper, or can be put in the bags themselves. Decorate the bags with stamps, nontoxic markers, nontoxic paint, reused ribbon, or, my favorite, old Christmas cards. Get out the pile of old (or even current) cards and cut out the Santas, snowmen, penguins, angels, greetings, etc. Glue them to your bags and you've got a recyclable gift wrap that's better than any you'll find at the store.

For next Christmas, and for any gifts you buy throughout the year, many online stores offer eco-friendly gift bags for purchase. Some are treeless, some are made from recycled paper, some bags can be verified eco-friendly and fair trade. A Web site that offers comparison shopping for environmentally friendly gift wrapping is called Pristine Planet. They have a variety of wrapping choices, each marked with the ways in which they are eco-friendly, such as sustainable, made in the USA, biodegradable, recycled/reclaimed, handcrafted, fair trade, and resource conserving. Reusablebags.com has many unique bags that can be used as gift wrap, some that have been made out of recycled plastic! In addition, this Web site offers advice for buying eco-friendly gifts as well as wrap.

Buy from stores that offer minimal and eco-friendly packaging. For example, Leopard Forest Coffee Company in Traveler's Rest, South Carolina, offers environmentally safe gift wrapping, including biodegradable ribbons and natural pine cone decoration. Eartheasy.com offers hemp gift wrap and 100 percent recycled tissue paper. Check out Peaceful Valley Greetings as well. When Christmas is passed, recycle your tree!

This Christmas morning, aim for the recycle bin, not the garbage bag. Even better, aim for a minimally filled recycling bin because their wrapping was also a gift. These alternative choices are still decorative, and definitely contributes to the good-will of Christmas. Happy wrapping!