If this is your idea of gift wrap, you really need to read on.

‘Tis the season we generate entirely too much trash. The EPA and Use Less Stuff estimates that from Thanksgiving to Christmas, the garbage we toss out increases by more than 25%, including food waste, shopping bags, packaging and – you got it – wrapping paper. Not to mention the bows and ribbons and frills, all of which add up to an additional 4 million tons in our landfills.

Here’s another option: go outside and source your trimmings from nature.

Stock up on recycled craft paper for the basic wrap-up, and use natural elements to provide the bling-factor. (Side note, old newspaper can fill in nicely here as well.)

Leaves and a bit of velvet ribbon adorn this bag, and the tag was made from a chop saw and birch log.

Invest in some baker’s twine and it will last you a forever.

If you could only smell this one, wrapped in craft paper, ribbon, raffia and rosemary.

My personal favorite: a bark wrapped gift, with acorns fixed to a black velvet ribbon and craft paper.

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See also…

DIY Alternatives to Traditional Holiday Gift Tags
11 DIY Alternatives to Traditional Christmas Trees
The Perfect DIY Gift: Mason Jar Photo Candles

Images: meddygarnet

While we generally avoid traditional paper gift wrap these days, a Berkeley MBA and mom has developed a line of more responsible coverage for those gifts: reusable, recycled bags.

Josie Gaillard’s Living Ethos made its debut in San Francisco this summer in selected boutiques. Now, the versatile and vivacious eco-chic wrap is available on the web.

What makes this attractive paper one to chase?

The sustainable gift bags come in 30 varied prints that are as attractive as upholstery fabrics. But instead of being assembled with cheap cotton, they are a high quality fabric born of recycled plastic bottles (hurray) and come with coordinated grosgrain ribbons also made of the same PET materials (hurray, again!).

They can be reused countess times – for gift-giving or storage – which is the goal when it comes to paper products. Just yesterday, I presented a bottle of wine in one, and the recipient returned the bag to me to use again. That was special.

The bags come in four sizes – mini, small, medium and large to fit small items like books and trinkets to larger gifts such as wine, clothing and toys. $28 for set of four. They are sewn locally in the Bay Area and the shipping envelopes also are reusable.

It’s all part of Gaillard’s effort to make it easier for consumers to “live their ethos.” Gaillard, a solar energy marketing professional turned entrepreneur, has a passion for product design and promises more stylish, sustainable goods to come.