Christmas, birthdays and anniversaries are just a few of the occasions we celebrate with all kinds of beautifully wrapped surprises. Unfortunately, both the wrapping and unwrapping tasks of the recipient generate a great deal of waste. Sweat pours down our faces as we try to force some more trash into our basket and begin to wonder what to do about it.

Saving wrapping paper and ribbons from the gifts you receive and reusing them for next year’s gifts is easier said than done. In the excitement of opening a present, it never occurs to anyone to do it cautiously, right? However, when we unwrap things carefully, we can cut off the torn edges and fold them for storage. Reusing these folded sheets of paper and ribbons can not only reduce but often eliminates the need to purchase more in the future. You may even find your friends coming over to see if you have any wrapping materials for a gift they bought!

We can also be very creative and have fun inventing ways to use different types of wrapping paper, comic strips, paper shopping bags, pieces of ribbon and bows. Fabric scraps from sewing projects also make wonderful gift wrapping or cover canning lids—just add a little ribbon to finish off the dazzling look. Fabric can be had for pennies at local thrift or thrift stores.

But why not make the wrapping part of the gift? Reusable baskets, plastic containers, reusable jars, and pretty cans are just a few examples of this. New tea towels, scarves and towels can become unique wrappers.

Most of us have seen and used those commercially available decorative gift bags, make sure you buy ones that are durable enough to be reused many times. Most people stuff the top with paper or cloth to hide the gift inside. Although there is an initial investment, these types of bags reduce both waste and consumerism because the recipient will reuse them. Alternatively, attach a pair of handles to a cereal box, glue the bottom down well, and then wrap the box to create a sturdy, rigid bag.

To go one step further, we have also saved and permanently wrapped boxes with recycled gift wrap. If you don’t have a box with a lid, make one. Start by taping the flaps shut and using a utility knife, cut the top of the box about 3″. You now have the lid, but it doesn’t quite fit over the box. At each corner of the box, cut V-Notches so that when the edges are brought together and taped together, they make the top of the box small enough for the lid to fit in. Now wrap the box and lid separately, making sure to overlap the edges, securing with glue. , simply secure the lid by tying it around the box.

The impacts of choosing alternatives like the ones we are suggesting today are broader in scope than you might think. Seniors and people with physical disabilities especially appreciate reusable gift bags and boxes, because they have difficulty wrapping and unwrapping gifts. Your gift recipient saves money the next time he’s about to celebrate his friend’s birthday, because he can reuse that bag and that friend will do the same. New wrapping paper and ribbons also come with their own packaging waste, so when we reuse, we eliminate this excess packaging. It really is a win-win situation.