“Did you know that if every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet?! Or that if every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields?” -Stanford University

How can you reduce your carbon footprint this holiday season? Here’s a few tips!

1. Colorful pages from magazines make beautiful wrapping for smaller gifts
2. Old maps, Sunday comics, or brown packing paper are perfect for wrapping larger boxes
3. Let kids color on paper grocery bags for a personal touch to your gift wrap
4. Avoid using paper entirely by utilizing reusable decorative tins, baskets or boxes.
5. If you do buy wrapping paper, look for ones made of recycled paper.
6. Get super eco-friendly by carefully opening gifts this year and saving the wrapping paper for next year
7. Cloth ribbons can be used in place of plastic bows and saved for next year

How you wrap them is only the first step! Check out some gift ideas that can help reduce waste:

1. Gift certificates for things like babysitting, taking out the trash, doing the dishes, or cleaning the car are perfect for kids to give to parents or to their siblings to take over a chore.
2. Memories are always great gifts! Give your loved one a trip. It can be anything from a tropical vacation to a picnic in the park.
3. Handmade gifts are unique, thoughtful, and require less waste! Create a basket full of baked goods, compile your favorite recipes to share, make a video of family members telling their favorite holiday memories, craft ornaments, or make a photo album.
4. Tickets to a sporting event, play, concert or movie make for fun gifts that you can see together.
5. Go super green by giving green (aka money!) Starting a savings account, give a bond, or simply a card with cash is always appreciated.

There are so many ways to reduce waste this holiday season-have one that we missed? Let us know on social media!