And then of course there is the gift wrapping. Most wrapping paper is made from virgin paper sources (non-renewable trees) and are coated with chemicals and thus are not recyclable nor safe to burn in a fireplace since they release the chemicals.

Try making your own wrapping paper out of old newspaper (does anyone get the paper anymore?), sheet music, old maps, magazines etc. Or make wrapping paper out of old paper shopping bags and stamp pretty designs on the paper. Get your kids involved and have them paint on the paper. My book has a lot of great and (pretty) wrapping paper ideas.

Reuse wrapping paper from gifts past.  And always, always save your ribbon to reuse. I have not bought any new ribbon in over three years.

Create gift baskets with pretty bowls, crates, baskets and boxes. Get creative and have fun. Do you have any unique ways in which you wrap your gifts you give?

For more great green tips check out my book I'm Dreaming of a Green Christmas, Chronicle Books. Available at Amazon.com

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