Many of us feel a bit anxious when we see wrapping paper piling up on Christmas morning as big as the Christmas tree. But few of us have ever looked into finding a good alternative. Someone once suggested to me that the best eco-friendly gift wrapping paper is newspaper. That must have been a long time ago!

Besides newspaper, there are other sustainable gift wrap options to turn to this Christmas season.

The sad and unfortunate truth is that ordinary wrapping paper is not sustainable. It ends up in landfills every year and is often made up of glitter and shiny plastics that cause the paper to become un-recyclable. This applies to bows and ribbons too. Eventually, this glitter and shine break down into microplastics, which are a major contributor to environmental toxicity and human cancers. Agh! Not good.

Fortunately, there are plenty of delightful alternative options out there for your gift giving extravaganzas. If you’re looking to enjoy an authentic Christmas this year, filled with mindfulness and intentionality, you can start with your gift wrapping under the tree! Here are 12 eco-friendly wrapping paper ideas for your Christmas gifts.

12 Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper Alternatives for Christmas Gifts

1. Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap

This one is my favorite option, so I have it listed at the very top! Reusable Fabric Gift Wraps are gifts that keeps on giving—literally.

Reusable Fabric Gift Wraps are made from materials like linen, cotton, or recycled fabrics. Oftentimes, they’re soft and beautiful. Not only are they an eco-friendly alternative to traditional wrapping paper, but you can use them again and again every year.

That means you won’t have to keep buying wrapping paper every Christmas for your own family’s gift exchange. Instead, you can use the same Reusable Fabric Gift Wraps, avoiding the environmental toxins, wasted money, and unrecyclable paper. And, if you purchase a gift for a friend and wrap it in sustainable packaging, your friend can pay it forward too, using that same cloth or fabric to give another gift.

Companies like FabRap, Wrappr, Veo, and Etsy sell great options for Reusable Fabric Gift Wraps.

2. Stone Paper

Before researching eco-friendly wrapping paper, I had actually not heard of Stone Paper, but I’m so glad to have discovered it!

Stone Paper is primarily made from calcium carbonate and is collected from mining waste, usually meaning limestone or marble. Interestingly, the waste is ground down into a fine powder, making it an eco-friendly option since it is derived from waste and is not made from trees. It is reported to be waterproof, recyclable, and tear-resistant.

While I personally can’t vouch for the “waterproof” aspect as of yet (Waterproof paper? Sounds like magic!), I can confirm that Stone Paper comes in all sorts of beautiful themes and colors, even for the Christmas season. It is also used for journals, notebooks, and plenty more paper products. Paper from stone—how cool!

If you’re looking to buy some Stone Paper for your Christmas gifts this year, Paper Source is a wonderful paper store that has a beautiful collection of Stone Paper Christmas Wrapping.

3. Furoshiki Japanese Wrapping Cloth

Similar to the Reusable Fabric Gift Wrap, Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese Wrapping cloth that stems from ancient Japan & Japanese tradition. The artistic cloths come in all different beautiful colors and designs, even for Christmas, and the art of Furoshiki is found in the art of wrapping the gift in a special way. Here is the description from this website that I thought was beautiful and I couldn’t have said it better myself:

“A simple square cloth called Furoshiki is one of traditional Japanese culture. There are customs from a long time ago in Japan. When we hand gifts to someone, wrapped it with seasonal design of Furoshiki. These behaviors imply that your gift is handled importantly. Nowadays, Furoshiki is versatilely used in many different ways… You can wrap and tie each corner or Furoshiki in different kind of ways to suit the size and shape of contents within. It is very useful to carry items and if you wrap your gift with Furoshiki, it will be helpful for you to express your feeling to someone. Their number of uses stretching as far as your imagination. You can use it as shawls and mats. Of cause, when not in use, it folds up compactly. Why don’t you start an exciting Furoshiki life.”

If you’re looking to use Furoshiki as your Christmas wrapping cloth this year, there are some great options online. Type in “Furoshiki Gift Wrap Christmas” on Etsy and you’ll come up with some great results! There’s also a website called Veo. that sells options as well, though I have not bought from them personally.

Please note, however, that this cloth is quite pricier than other eco-friendly alternatives for Christmas gift wrapping paper.

4. Recycled Paper

If you’re looking for eco-friendly Christmas gift wrapping paper, what better option than using recycled paper?

Unfortunately, recycled Christmas wrapping paper is not typically sold in stores like Walmart, Michael’s, or T.J. Maxx (where I have frequently purchased Christmas wrapping paper in the past). However, a quick search online for “Christmas recycled wrapping paper” can provide some beautiful options! Per usual, I found some beautiful recycled Christmas wrapping paper for sale on Etsy.

Finding the right recycled Christmas wrapping paper this year will be a matter of shopping online, but I know it’s worth it.

5. Kraft Paper

You’ve likely encountered Kraft Paper a million times up to this point—at the grocery store when you’re checking out, in to-go boxes, paper sacks, and all different types of package carriers. But did you know that Kraft Paper is not only versatile but is also eco-friendly too?

Kraft Paper is made from wood pulp, specifically by using the kraft pulping process. As this website puts it, “Kraft paper, frequently produced from recycled kraft paper or sustainably sourced wood pulp, rises as an eco-friendly paper beacon. Its organic origins, coupled with biodegradability and recyclability, resonate deeply with businesses striving to lessen their carbon footprint. Moreover, its production demands fewer resources, amplifying its green credentials. In essence, it’s akin to having your cake and eating it too—unyielding durability paired with an environmentally conscious soul.”

There are so many options for Kraft Gift Wrapping Paper for Christmas. Yay!!

6. Bee’s Wrap Reusable Gift Wrap

Turn to Bee’s Wrap® Reusable Gift Wrap! Bee’s Wrap has a simple mission: “make it easy to cut down on plastic and store food sustainably”. Bee’s Wrap is an amazing company with an eco-friendly heart. Besides their Reusable Christmas Gift Wrapping Paper, they create all sorts of environmentally mindful products, including food cloths, like bread and cheese cloth wraps, and paper products for wrapping foods like sandwiches, breads, and lettuce. Pretty awesome! Go check them out!

If you’re looking for eco-friendly wrapping paper alternatives for your Christmas gifts, here are a few more!

7. Gauze Gift Wrap

Look at this beautiful gauze gift wrap! These wraps are perfect for delicate or small gifts, or even adornment for your Kraft Paper. Get creative and combine some of your eco-friendly gift wrappings!

8. Totes

Have a cute tote you don’t need anymore? Or a Christmas-themed tote? Use it as a container for your next gift! If your gift recipient likes a certain brand or company, you can even pick up a tote you know they’ll be sure to love. That way your “wrapping paper” i.e. your tote, is also a part of your gift.

9. Reusable Flannel Gift Wrap

These Reusable Flannel Gift Wrap are sooo cute! If you don’t want to use wrapping paper this holiday season, these look like a sweet, affordable, great option. Reusable, easy-to-use, and unique flannel wrapping cloths are perfect for small to medium sized gifts. Simply wrap and tie the corners – no tape, no waste!

10. Last Year’s Christmas Wrapping Paper

Growing up, the Christmas wrapping paper was rarely repeated from one year to the next. And while I love ingenuity, there’s something to be said about using up all that you have before buying something new. If you need to use up last year’s wrapping paper, dress it up with new ribbons, or use it for gifts to coworkers or those outside your family. And if you start turning to cloth or felt wrapping paper, you better get used to using the same ones each year…because…that’s the whole point!(:

11. Burlap

Burlap is a great choice if you’re looking for beautiful minimalist looks for your Christmas gift presentations. Burlap is a strong, coarse fabric made from natural fibers such as jute or hemp, and it’s celebrated for being both durable and eco-friendly. Because it’s biodegradable and produced from renewable resources, burlap is a great sustainable alternative to synthetic materials. Burlap bags and wraps can easily be reused, reducing waste and promoting a more environmentally conscious lifestyle. Add flowers, greenery, or berries to your gift for a beautiful organic look for Christmas!

12. Baskets

Using a basket as an alternative to traditional Christmas wrapping paper is a wonderful eco-friendly choice that adds charm and sustainability to holiday gifting. A reusable basket can beautifully hold presents while serving as part of the gift itself. Made from natural material like wicker or seagrass, baskets are durable and can be reused year after year for storage, décor, or future gifts.

You’re Making a Christmas Difference!

Christmas wrapping is a central part of the gift giving experience at Christmastime. Many people love the gift wrapping process as much as they love the shopping because gift wrapping can be an art form.

And with eco-friendly Christmas wrapping paper, you can present your gifts to your recipient with loving pride, knowing your presentation is not just good for your recipient, but it’s good for the earth, too.

I would like to note that while doing my research, this blog really inspired me and challenged me to find alternative options for regular Christmas gift wrapping paper. It’s filled with more amazing ideas, like Seed Paper, Honeycomb Paper, and Hallmark Recycled Wrapping Paper. Additionally, here’s some ideas for great places to shop for eco-friendly Christmas paper!

I hope this blog inspired you to think outside the box this year too with your gift giving habits. While doing my research, I was truly inspired by how many eco-friendly options are out there. Let’s do this!