Many ways to make holiday wrapping better for environment

Many people likely have a photo somewhere of themselves or their children laying on the floor after the frenzy of Christmas morning with wrapping paper surrounding or even piled on top of them.

But all that shiny paper and bows can come at a cost beyond dollars once Christmas morning is over, says Kareina D'Souza, the sustainability manager at Dalhousie University in Halifax.

That's because a lot of wrapping material is destined for the landfill.

“It really depends on the material that things are made of, so it's good to be conscious when you're purchasing things and not just running to the dollar store and grabbing something that looks shiny and pretty,” D'Souza said.

She suggests taking a moment to consider what the wrapping paper or item is made of, and what waste stream it is part of: compost, recyclable or just plain garbage.

An even better idea is to consider something different for wrapping, such as a tea towel or napkins that can be useful after the two seconds of unwrapping is done.

It's even better if that material comes from a local producer and vendor, D'Souza said.

Brown craft paper and newsprint are other alternatives, she said, as they can be recycled.

“You don't want something that was literally used for a second and then stuck in a landfill for years and years,” D'Souza said.

A check of waste authority web sites will provide information on what kind of materials aren't sent to landfills.

D'Souza said the first step to more sustainable wrapping is to avoid items that can't be reused or recycled.

That means avoiding the glittery paper, or any made up of mixed material, or with a plastic component.

Gift bags can be a double-edged sword, D'Souza said, because even if they are reused, if they are made of plastic, they will end up in the landfill eventually because they aren't made to last forever and aren't overly durable.

“This is the time of year that people almost want to turn their brains off, but that doesn't mean that you can't recognize the impact of your day-by-day personal activities," she said. “Every small step lends itself to a bigger cultural shift, which is really important for us right now.”

D'Souza said she doesn't wrap gifts much any more, and as much as possible doesn't even give physical items.

“I think personally, experiences mean more and are better presents,” she said. “If you have nieces, nephews or small children in your life, offering to take them to a museum or something is a good way to take them out, but it's an experience for you as well.”

She said it's not as easy as just buying a plastic toy and giving it to them, but it's more meaningful and reduces the amount of waste you're going to create.

But if you are going to buy something, she suggests buying locally and supporting the local economy and craftspeople or manufacturers.

“It seems like there are six craft fairs per week right now,” she said. “That's how many people (are) out there selling things that you can give to your friends and family that may be more useful and impact a small business instead of a bigger corporation and buying a piece of plastic.”

Items in big box stores are also usually wrapped in plastic packaging and shipped long distances.

“I think buying local is a great way to reduce your environmental impact,” she said.