Furoshiki is the beautiful Japanese way of wrapping gifts with fabric. It’s an awesome zero-waste idea, the reusable cloth becomes part of the present! Furoshiki inspires us to relook gift wrap. Traditional wrapping paper can be quite wasteful (and expensive), but there are lots of eco-friendly, inexpensive AND glamorous alternatives! That’s why we’re sharing our top green wrapping paper ideas, so you can enjoy a mindful holiday season, and still give gorgeous gifts from the heart.
Furoshiki
In Japanese culture, there is a strong belief that everything has value and shouldn’t be wasted. Furoshiki is the traditional Japanese way to wrap presents. The fabric is reused again and again. In fact, furoshiki is more than just gift wrap. It’s also a zero-waste way to take things on the go and avoid using single-use plastic. In Japan, furoshiki is the popular way to pack your lunch!
Image: Julep
Furoshiki is simple and beautiful. Want to make it especially festive? Tuck in some foraged sprigs of evergreen/rosemary/eucalyptus and then add a pine cone!
Image: The Glitter Guide
There are lots of different knotting styles in furoshiki, which means you can wrap presents of all shapes and sizes. It’s not the traditional method, but if you want to, you can use a piece of string or twine to help secure the fabric.
Image: The Glitter Guide
In furoshiki, the gift wrap becomes a valuable part of the present. Here’s an awesome idea: wrap your present in a pretty dishcloth or tea towel. It’s like a bonus treat!
Image: My Poppet
You can also find lots of furoshiki options when you’re thrifting. Scout out lovely vintage scarves and hankies, and then wash and repurpose them as furoshiki wrapping paper.
Image: Those Northern Skies
If you want a really glamorous furoshiki, combine a silk scarf with a gorgeous fresh flower.
Image: Simone LeBlanc for Sacramento Street
Other Green Wrapping Paper Ideas
There are lots of other impressive ways to upcycle your gift wrap. We really like reusing brown kraft paper or paper shopping bags. It doesn’t stop there though. Add a clipping of evergreen to make a ‘mini tree’. You can even add snow by flicking white paint off an old toothbrush!
Image: A Piece of Rainbow
Magazine Bow
One of our favorite ways to jazz up brown kraft paper is with a homemade magazine paper bow. It’s so easy to make a bow. You’ll never need to buy one again!
Book Page Gift Packets
This is a really sweet wrapping idea: Make your own gift bag with an old book.
Image: Craft and Creativity
Here’s more book page gift wrap inspiration:
Newspaper Gift Wrapping
What’s black and white and red (read) all over? The newspaper of course! Tried and true, newspaper is an easy and effective way to gift wrap. I’m pretty sure my dad gets the original credit for this idea. Take it next level by adding some pretty bows and ribbons. Good thing upcyclers save these bits and bobs. Reuse them and gift them on!
Image: Becky Luigart Stayner for Southern Living
Brown Paper Bags
Brown paper bags are a great option if you want to give lots of little presents. Doing some holiday baking? Try brown-bagging your treats and then wrap the parcels with a bit of twine and some fine pine.
Image: Kristen Lindsay
Thanks for featuring us Greenmoxie and for inspiring us to get into furoshiki!
I find the racist verbiage on the print on the “book page gift packets” offensive and reflective of ignorant historical perceptions. I would like to see it removed.
Thanks so much for bringing this to our attention. We hadn’t read what was printed on the book page. This image has now been replaced.