“According to the National Environmental Education Fund, we toss 25 percent more waste—an extra one million tons of trash per week—between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. And it’s not just fruitcakes and other food waste. Wrapping paper is a massive problem.”1
This holiday season consider using an alternative to single-use gift wrapping. Gifts haven’t always been wrapped in shiny paper. In Japan, Furoshiki—a square piece of cloth—has traditionally been used to wrap gifts and carry everyday items.
Don’t know how to get sustainable gift wrap? No problem! Here are some easy local suggestions on how to mindfully source them:
Pick Up a Free Kit LexZeroWaste and Cary Library have teamed up to collect and distribute cloth gift wrap kits, including instructions on how to wrap with them. Just visit the Cary Library during the month of December and ask the librarian for your FREE “Take and Make” kit. Supplies are limited, so it will be on a first come, first served basis.
Find or Make Your Own The most sustainable way to source your gift wrap is to use what you already have. You may not have a furoshiki, but you can repurpose other household items to wrap your presents. Consider using old magazines, newspapers, scarves or bandanas to wrap your gifts.
Buy Local You can also support local businesses like Center Goods purchasing their ethically sourced and beautiful cloth gift bags and wraps that you can use again and again!Making this small change to your holiday habits can make a huge impact.
“If every American family wrapped just three presents in reusable materials, it would save enough wrapping paper to cover 45,000 football fields. By making small, incremental changes, we’re not only acting on our values, we’re also creating new traditions.”1
Alternative Wrapping this Holiday Season
Posted: November 28, 2025 by Janet Kern
“According to the National Environmental Education Fund, we toss 25 percent more waste—an extra one million tons of trash per week—between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day. And it’s not just fruitcakes and other food waste. Wrapping paper is a massive problem.”1
This holiday season consider using an alternative to single-use gift wrapping. Gifts haven’t always been wrapped in shiny paper. In Japan, Furoshiki—a square piece of cloth—has traditionally been used to wrap gifts and carry everyday items.
Don’t know how to get sustainable gift wrap? No problem! Here are some easy local suggestions on how to mindfully source them:
LexZeroWaste and Cary Library have teamed up to collect and distribute cloth gift wrap kits, including instructions on how to wrap with them. Just visit the Cary Library during the month of December and ask the librarian for your FREE “Take and Make” kit. Supplies are limited, so it will be on a first come, first served basis.
The most sustainable way to source your gift wrap is to use what you already have. You may not have a furoshiki, but you can repurpose other household items to wrap your presents. Consider using old magazines, newspapers, scarves or bandanas to wrap your gifts.
You can also support local businesses like Center Goods purchasing their ethically sourced and beautiful cloth gift bags and wraps that you can use again and again!Making this small change to your holiday habits can make a huge impact.
“If every American family wrapped just three presents in reusable materials, it would save enough wrapping paper to cover 45,000 football fields. By making small, incremental changes, we’re not only acting on our values, we’re also creating new traditions.”1
1Litke, Megan. “Which Is Worse: Wrapping Paper or Gift Bags?” American University Magazine. December 2022.
Category: News & Events