The holidays are a time that allows us to thoughtfully show how much our friends and family mean to us, whether through sharing a meal, attending a gathering, or exchanging gifts. A great way to show how thoughtful you can be is to keep in mind the impacts our wrapping choices can have on our coastal ecosystems and the global environment.

While store-bought wrapping paper and gift bags add to the beauty of gift-giving traditions, the bulk of these materials are immediately discarded as waste. According to San Diego State University, an estimated 2.6 billion pounds of wrapping paper are thrown away each year in the United States alone. A large portion of these materials are unable to be recycled due to additives like dyes and glitter, so most gift wrap ultimately ends up filling up landfills and contributing to the release of methane gas.

Thankfully, there are alternatives to single-use wrapping paper that capture the sentiment of the holiday spirit while reducing one’s environmental footprint. Wrapping supplies like gift bags and boxes provide a more sustainable alternative to wrapping paper and can be reused year after year, along with reusable nametags for gifts.

Additionally, consider repurposing materials you already have on hand such as newspapers, old maps, or fabrics. Shoe boxes, metal tins, glass jars, or the original packaging a gift arrived in serve as great options as well. These materials not only help protect the environment from added stress but can provide a personalized touch to gifts for loved ones.

The type of plastic that wrapping supplies like bows and ribbons are made of is usually difficult or impossible to recycle and often ends up discarded in landfills. Small pieces of plastic from these supplies can enter the environment during the disposal process, becoming hazards to wildlife like turtles and shorebirds.

Consider materials like flowers, shells, or natural twine that can provide the finishing touch to gifts without the harmful environmental impact of plastic. Small changes to how we reduce our individual impact can lead to significant changes when compounded, showing that we care not only for the recipient of the gift but also for the protection of the ecosystems and species in our backyards and beyond.