Reuse and rewrap
Avoid waste this winter with these new ways of wrapping. Try this activity at home or use it with the girls in your unit.
With the UN Climate Change Conference, COP26, drawing to an end last week, and as we head into one of the most wonderful times of the year, it’s now more relevant than ever to try to make a difference. This time of year may be wonderful, but it can also be one of the most wasteful periods too.
Most wrapping paper is designed to be used only once, and even though many of us will try to reuse it, its life span isn’t a long one. It can sometimes be difficult for local councils to recycle wrapping paper because it’s often dyed and laminated, and can contain other materials such as glitter and traces of other plastics. This means wrapping paper ends up being burnt or in landfills - in the UK, we send approximately 5 million tonnes of paper to landfill every year.
A study from 2019 by Likely Loans showed that the average Brit would buy an average of 28 presents per year for friends and loved ones. Which means that although we’re a rather generous bunch, the average household will get through at least four rolls of wrapping paper each this year.
The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) estimates that in the UK we use 227,000 miles of wrapping paper each year, with approximately 83km2 of it ending up in our bins - that’s enough to wrap the island of Guernsey!
But being kinder to our planet, doesn’t mean giving up on the ritual of wrapping gifts and making them look special for our loved ones.
Here are some weird and wonderful ways of reusing materials for the festive season and beyond, plus a step-by-step activity to make your own gift bags from old newspapers and magazines.
Transform newspapers into gift bags
Find a new life for old newspapers and magazines by turning them into gift bags with our step-by-step activity.
You'll need:
- Old newspaper
- A pair of scissors
- PVA glue
- A piece of cardboard (which could be recycled)
- Holepunch or something to pierce holes
- Rope, ribbons or handles from old bags
- Acrylic paints and brushes, sequins, or any other decorations you can think of.
1
Grab a single sheet of newspaper and place it horizontally on your work surface, pour a generous amount of PVA glue onto the left fold, bring the right side towards it following the newspaper’s natural fold.
Make sure that both sides are well stuck together. Allow a few minutes for the glue to dry.
2
Bring the top and bottom edges of the page into its middle and glue them together. Leave the glue to dry properly before moving on to the next step.
3
Measure the width of your bag and cut a rectangular piece of cardboard that would fit inside – you may need to play around a little bit and cut the piece down so that it fits. Insert the piece of cardboard from one of the sides of the bag, placing it at about an inch from its edge.
Cut a rectangular piece of cardboard, according to the width of your bag. Insert the piece from one side of the bag. Position it, leaving a gap of 1 inch on all sides.
4
Add PVA glue on the outward facing side of the cardboard base (the shorter side). Fold the corners into triangles and seal the paper edges shut. Once the base is dried and feels secured, press the edges on both sides of the bag and make a fold in their middle.
5
Using a holepunch, or any other tool you may have to hand, pierce two holes on each side at the open end of the bag. Cut two pieces of the material you’re using for the handles and thread them through the holes and knot each end several times, making sure the handles are secured.
6
This is where you let your creativity shine, if you wish to, it’s time to decorate your bag!
Looking for more ideas? Try these...
Baskets and other vessels
Baskets, glass jars and other containers, such as plant pots can make for really good reusable “vessels” for your gifts. Whether regifting some that you already own or thrifted from your local charity shop or car boot sale, they will become part of the present and can be easily decorated with ribbons.
Usually made from natural materials such as rattan or bamboo, baskets are both eco-friendly and can be used storage in your home all year long. Glass jars can be ideal for homemade treats, such as jams and confectionary, and small items.
Furoshiki
The term furoshiki refers to both the art of Japanese fabric wrapping and to the fabric used to do it. It originated in Japan around 710 B.C. during the Nara period to protect and carry goods, and it literally translates as ‘bath spread’. This is because this was the method historically used in public baths to bundle clothes up together.
Using fabric is just as easy as using wrapping paper, the most sustainable option is to reuse fabric you already own or to source it from your local charity shop. Scarves, pillowcases and tea towels would work great for small to medium items. Blankets, bedding and tablecloths can be used for the larger ones.
This method doesn’t need any tape or pins, all you have to do is place your present in the centre of the fabric, fold it around, and tie a knot in the centre – there are many ways gifts can be tied and tutorials can be easily found online.
Give scrap paper and other materials a second life
Although a little unorthodox, empty crisp packets can also be reused to wrap gifts. The materials they’re made of make them unsuitable to be recycled. You could cut them open, wash them and use them silver-side-out instead of silver gift wrap. Old crosswords, maps, magazines and newspapers can be used too.
If you have any activities for fellow leaders that you'd like to see featured in guiding magazine please send them to yourvoice@girlguiding.co.uk, we'd love to include them!
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