Christmas is chasing us, and so is the annual scramble to find gifts, hide gifts, wrap gifts, and hope your sticky tape doesn’t disappear right when you need it most. But as fun as the season is, there’s one thing many of us forget. Most wrapping paper can’t actually be recycled…
South Africa (30 November 2025) – That goes for glittery paper, shiny foils, laminated textures, or anything with sparkles.
They look great under the tree, but most of them end up in landfills. And while South Africa doesn’t have exact stats, the UK uses over 227,000 miles (365,000 km) of wrapping paper every Christmas. That’s…a lot of waste for something that gets torn off in three seconds.
Interwaste, a local waste-management company, says the global shift toward eco-friendly wrapping is growing, but the price of eco-friendly options isn’t always accessible. Thankfully, sustainable wrapping doesn’t need to cost more. In fact, it can cost nothing at all.
Here are simple swaps you can make this year that are kinder to the planet and still look great under your tree.
Use That Fabric You’ve Got Stashed Away
If you have any leftover fabric, scarves, or old clothes you no longer wear, this is your chance to give them a second life. The Japanese have been doing this for centuries with ‘Furoshiki’, which is a beautiful method of wrapping gifts in cloth. It ties neatly, looks gorgeous, and can be reused again and again.
Recyclable Paper is a Winner
If you prefer something more traditional, recyclable paper is your friend. Kraft paper, brown paper packets, or even old newspapers do the trick. You (or the kids) can decorate them with paint, doodles or stamps, Old magazines or map books also make surprisingly cool wrapping paper.
Grab a Glass Jar
Glass jars are another clever option. Homemade cookies, bath salts, grooming kits, snack jars, stationery – anything cute fits in a jar. And jars get reused, which means zero waste.
Bust Out the Beeswax
Beeswax wraps are also a winner. They’re biodegradable, reusable, and can double as wrapping and a gift. Once unwrapped, they go straight into the fridge, covering Xmas leftovers. Clever!
Ditch the Sticky Tape
One more swap? Avoid sticky tape if you can. It causes issues at recycling centres. Ribbons, twine, natural string, and even paper clips look beautiful and keep things recyclable.
If you do still use paper, Interwaste suggests the scrunch test: Scrunch the paper into a ball – if it stays scrunched, it can likely be recycled. If it pops back open, it’s probably coated in something non-recyclable.
Sustainable wrapping is more thoughtful. A few small swaps can result in fewer bags of waste, and more good choices that add up over time.
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