Can we go green for Christmas? There are some environmentally friendly ways to prepare for the holidays. One really good way to do so is by recycling things you have around the house as you package gifts for shipping. Start by using boxes you have instead of purchasing new boxes for shipping. Then, try these tips:
Plastic Grocery Bags
Use clean plastic grocery bags between items in a shipping box to cushion gifts and keep them from bouncing around. Bunch them up and stuff all the empty spaces full to help protect gifts and keep wrapping from becoming damaged, as can happen when packages bump together. If you don’t like the look of bunched up bags, take the bags apart, cut them into strips and then use them for packing material.
Paper Bags
If you have paper grocery bags, or the smaller “keep cold” bags made of brown paper, these can also be cut up and used as packing material. Large bags can be used to wrap packages, depending on the shipping service. Make sure the print isn’t facing outward, and wrap as you would a gift. It’s best to use clear tape rather than string as some shippers will not accept string wrapped packages. Check with your favorite shipper for packing instructions.
Junk Mail
This great idea was inspired by Woman’s Day Magazine. Shred junk mail and use it as filler inside shipping boxes. I would also use it inside gift boxes for fragile items and I would note that it’s best to avoid using items with personal information on them. Yet, colorful pages from catalogs and solid colored envelopes will make pretty filler. If necessary, simply cut away areas that contain personal info, pop these items into your paper shredder, and toss them in a box. Another thing I’d add is trying this with wrapping paper scraps that are too small to wrap gifts in. It will also work for scraps of construction paper from those paper chains and other Christmas crafts so nothing goes to waste.