Consider that between Thanksgiving and the New Year it is estimated that five million tons extra of waste are generated nationwide. Further, it is estimated that one billion dollars worth of gifts were unwanted and ultimately doomed to attics, closets or the landfill. With some forethought and planning however, we can prevent much of this waste while preserving the essence of why we celebrate the holidays. Local fabric stores offer wide selections with different patterns and can cut them to the size you need. Even better, go to thrift shops and find old clothes with appealing patterns and cut them up for wrapping cloth.
Safety pins cake the place of tape.
If you use traditional gift wrapping, always buy recycled-content wrapping paper. If your store doesn't sell recycled-content wrapping paper, ask the manager to order it in the future. If you send holiday cards, buy recycled-content cards and envelopes. Or make your own cards out of last year's cards and the wrapping paper you saved. Make gift tags from last year's holiday cards.