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10 Best Eco-Friendly Wrapping Paper Options So You Can Gift Without Guilt

Say goodbye to all that ripped-up wrapping paper.

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sustainable holiday wrapping paper
Wrappily / flowerseedpaper

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We all look forward to opening presents with friends and family, but the leftover wrapping paper that goes directly into the garbage just a few minutes later is definitely problematic. And while you may have assumed most wrapping paper can be recycled, that’s unfortunately not the case. Luckily, there are other eco-friendly wrapping paper alternatives to use throughout the holiday season.

Our sustainability experts in the Good Housekeeping Institute — who have conducted extensive research on avoiding fast fashion and informing consumers on how to live sustainably — have vetted all of these products to ensure they live up to their eco-friendly claims. Based on their insights, we've rounded up the best reusable, recyclable and even plantable wrapping papers and accessories that will help you gift without guilt.

1
Best Overall

Hallmark Sustainable Christmas Wrapping Paper with Cut Lines (3-Pack)

Sustainable Christmas Wrapping Paper with Cut Lines (3-Pack)
Credit: Hallmark

Pros

  • Easily recyclable
  • Uses less ink than traditional wrapping paper
  • Cut lines on the reverse side

Cons

  • Doesn't use recycled material

With the classic holiday motifs you know and love, this Hallmark wrapping paper is recyclable for a more sustainable Christmas morning. On the reverse side, there are lines marked for perfectly straight cuts every time. This pick comes with three rolls for a total of 90 square feet of wrapping paper.

2
Best Value

100% Recycled Brown Kraft Paper Roll

On Sale
100% Recycled Brown Kraft Paper Roll
Now 14% Off
Credit: Amazon

Pros

  • Uses 100% recycled content
  • Easy to personalize
  • Recyclable after use

Cons

  • No designs included

If you're art-savvy, this pick comes with 100 feet of brown paper to personalize your own designs. The paper is made with 100% recycled content and can then be recycled after use (as long as you only used pens and markers to decorate).

With so much paper included, this pick offers excellent value as you can use it for birthdays and other holidays throughout the year. The GH art team recommends picking up some metallic paint pens to add your own designs to the gift wrap.

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3
Best Reusable Fabric

Wrappr Furoshiki Gift Wrap

Furoshiki Gift Wrap
Credit: Wrappr

Pros

  • Reusable furoshiki wraps
  • Made with organic cotton
  • Designs by an independent artist

Cons

  • Need to spend $100 to get free shipping

Fabric wraps, also known as Japanese furoshiki, are a sustainable way to wrap presents and then reuse the wrapping each season. These colorful fabric wraps from Wrappr are made with organic cotton with designs by an independent artist.

The brand offers a ton of different designs, including options made from different materials like silk and polyester. Our experts love furoshiki because the wrap is part of the gift itself — just tie a dishtowel, tote bag or scarf around your gift.

4
Best Holiday-Themed Patterns

Wrappily Winter Animals and Stars Wrapping Paper

Winter Animals and Stars Wrapping Paper
Credit: Wrappily

Pros

  • Brand offers a variety of holiday motifs
  • Recyclable and compostable
  • Uses recycled content

Cons

  • Need to spend $75 to get free shipping

Wrappily offers a variety of recycled holiday wrapping paper, great for Christmas, Hanukkah and winter greetings. The paper is made with recycled content and is recyclable or compostable after use. It's sold as flat sheets for easy storage without a long tube. This pick also comes with adhesive gift tags.

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5
Best Plantable

Of The Earth Seed Paper

Of The Earth Seed Paper
Credit: flowerseedpaper

Pros

  • Can be planted after use
  • Available in a holiday design
  • Sturdy, high-quality paper

Cons

  • Some say tape doesn't stick to the paper as well

Here's the perfect pick for a loved one with a green thumb! This sustainable choice can actually be planted in soil to produce beautiful flowers after it's used. According to the brand, it's embedded with a blend of wildflower seeds: Snapdragon, Petunia, Beardtongue, Poppy, Mountain Mint, Chamomile and Creeping Thyme.

6
Best for Food Gifts

Bee's Wrap Reusable Beeswax Wraps

Reusable Beeswax Wraps
Credit: Bee's Wrap

Pros

  • Reusable plastic wrap
  • Great when gifting desserts
  • Made with organic cotton

Cons

  • Doesn't provide a complete seal

When gifting cookies, pies and cakes, instead of wrapping them with plastic wrap, use reusable beeswax wraps instead. They stay tacky and in great condition after many uses as long as you follow the wash instructions closely. GH pros love these wraps from Bee's Wrap as well as making our own beeswax wraps with simple instructions.

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7
Best Reusable Bag

Standard Baggu

Standard Baggu
Credit: Baggu

Pros

  • Available in various designs
  • Under $20
  • Machine washable

Cons

  • May not fit heftier gifts

What's better than two gifts in one? Wrap your present in a reusable tote for a cute, sustainable gift-giving experience. Plus, Baggu's standard bag has a ton of prints and colors available so you can pick the one your friends or family will like the best.

8
Most Versatile

Flannel Gift Wrap

Flannel Gift Wrap
Credit: BENEstudio

Pros

  • Available in a range of patterns and sizes
  • Durable and easily reusable
  • Video tutorial available in listing

Cons

  • May have to use pins in some cases to secure wrap

Love nothing more than wrapping yourself up in a cozy flannel? Give a gift the same treatment this holiday season. All you have to do is tie up the edges or secure the fabric with pins and you're all set! Available in a range of different designs and sizes, this fabric gift wrap is perfect for any gift, regardless of the occasion.

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9
Best Goodie Bags

BagDream Kraft Paper Bags

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Kraft Paper Bags
Now 10% Off
Credit: BagDream

Pros

  • Made with 100% recycled content
  • Three different sizes included
  • Reinforced bottom and sturdy handles

Cons

  • No designs available

Made with 100% recycled paper that's entirely recyclable, this pack comes with three different sizes (25 bags included in each size) to accommodate all types of gifts.

With over 2,000 5-star Amazon reviews, online reviewers love the sturdy handles and versatile design, great for all holidays and special occasions throughout the year. While they may not come with designs, our GH art and design team recommends tying them with velvet ribbon and greenery (you can even go snip some from your yard).

10
Best for Wine

Tirrinia 2 Bottle Wine Tote Carrier

2 Bottle Wine Tote Carrier

Pros

  • Padded carrying straps
  • Insulated interior
  • 11 color and pattern options

Cons

  • Not fully leakproof, according to some reviewers

Make the gift of wine even more special with a wine tote carrier too. This two-bottle wine tote from Tirrinia has a padded shoulder strap and a durable top handle for easy carrying. The interior is insulated to keep bottles chilled. Since the interior divider is removable, you can also use this bag as a small cooler to carry other beverages and snacks.

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How we chose the best eco-friendly wrapping paper

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Using our sustainability expertise, GH Lab pros vetted the above products for having sustainable attributes to help decrease your environmental footprint this holiday season. While no product can be sustainable in every single way, these are some of the criteria we looked for when making these picks:

✔️ Recyclable: Using recyclable materials ensures that any leftover waste doesn't end up in a landfill. Just make sure all of the wrapping paper actually ends up in the proper recycling bin at end of day to ensure it's properly recycled.

✔️ Recycled content: In addition to being recyclable, options that use recycled content are ideal, especially if it features a high percentage of recycled content since the paper is reusing previous materials in its creation.

✔️ Reusable: Make the gift wrapping actually part of the gift by opting for reusable items like a chic bag, a cooler or fabric.

Why should I use eco-friendly wrapping paper?

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Not only is traditional wrapping paper not usually recyclable, but it's often coated with plastics and covered with glitter (a.k.a. microplastics) that ends up in our water supply.

While the holiday season is joyous, it's also more wasteful with estimations that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day, more than 1 million tons of additional waste is generated each week nationwide. Opting for eco-friendly wrapping paper is one small choice to help reduce your environmental footprint while still enjoying gift giving.

Remember that although these options are better than traditional wrapping paper, the most sustainable wrapping paper choice will be something you already have. Reuse old magazines or newspapers with twine (instead of tape) or repurpose old tote bags you are no longer using to create the least amount of waste. After enjoying the most recent issue of Good Housekeeping, many GH pros use the pages to wrap presents!

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Why trust Good Housekeeping?

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At the Good Housekeeping Institute, we've built a unique expertise on the topic of sustainability that shows up in how our experts test and recommend products. From launching the Green Good Housekeeping Seal in 2009 and GH's Sustainable Innovation Awards in 2019, helping readers make more sustainable choices is a top priority for us.

Emma Seymour has a Bachelor of Science in Fiber Science and Apparel Design from Cornell University and has been testing clothing and footwear for more than five years at the GH Institute. Emma has written multiple features on sustainability issues, including stories about fast fashion, sustainable denim and greenwashing. Assistant Lifestyle Editor Laura Millar worked with Emma to make the most recent updates to this article.

Headshot of Emma Seymour
Emma Seymour
Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director

Emma Seymour (she/her) is the associate director of the Good Housekeeping Institute's Textiles, Paper and Apparel Lab, where she has led testing for luggage, pillows, towels, tampons and more since 2018. She graduated from Cornell University with a bachelor of science in fiber science and apparel design and a minor in gerontology, completing research in the Body Scanner Lab on optimizing activewear for athletic performance. 

Headshot of Laura Millar
Laura Millar
Assistant Lifestyle Editor

Laura Millar (she/her) is the assistant lifestyle editor for Good Housekeeping, where she covers home design. Prior to joining Good Housekeeping in 2024, she wrote for NBC's TODAY.com, where she covered everything from entertainment news to pop culture updates. 

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