Picking the perfect holiday gift is essential, and so is the way you wrap it.
Thankfully, a video posted on Reddit's r/sustainable forum is showcasing a handy hack to wrap spectacular-looking packages — without fumbling around with tape.
The 20-second clip demonstrates a simple, envelope-like folding method to carefully and beautifully wrap your presents, sans tape (a note: this trick works only on rectangular or square gifts).
As one Reddit commenter pointed out: "All those years learning to fold notes in junior high are going to pay off in spades, baby!"
"This should be taught in school," wrote another user.
Ditching the tape not only helps cut down on nonrecyclable plastic but also makes it easier to reuse or recycle your wrapping paper, since wrapping paper cannot be recycled until tape is removed.
And as it turns out, cutting down on holiday waste is kind of a big deal.
Did you know Americans throw away 25% more trash than usual between Thanksgiving to New Year's? That's a lot of extra garbage. The good news is, in a survey of 2,000 people who celebrate a winter holiday, 65% said they're working to be more sustainable.
If you find yourself in that 65% of people looking to reduce, reuse, and recycle more this season, then there are a few things to keep in mind when wrapping gifts.
As many commenters pointed out, not all wrapping paper is created equal. More decorative wrapping paper, which often contains glitter, foil, or plastic coating, can't be recycled. But there are many types of 100% recycled wrapping paper on the market. Commenters also suggested newspaper, fabric, or a gift bag, which is truly the package that keeps on giving.
And don't worry, if you're like Redditor u/Mini_Squatch and "can't wrap a gift that nicely even with tape," you can always twine, paint, washi tape, fabric ribbon, or reusable bows to keep your wrapping paper in place.
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