Eco Tip: Reusable Bags as Wrap
If you are giving a gift to someone who lives in your home, try wrapping it in one of your reusable shopping bags. They are already hanging around, dying to be used again.
Just check to make sure there aren’t any onion skins clinging to the inside of your bag first. To give Michael his Valentine gift, I put it inside one of my Eco-Bags and used a little metal clip that came with Ugly Mug coffee to fasten his card. (Ok, I’m a sucker for paper Valentine cards.)
Or, if you are giving a gift to someone outside of your family, why not give it in a reusable gift bag? The gift recipient can use it as a shopping bag or pass it on as a gift bag to someone else.
Basura Bags use non-biodegradable juice boxes in their construction. The bags vary in color, providing unique styles. These bags help keep more trash out of landfills, and they provide jobs for a women’s co-op in the Philippines.
A reusable shopping bag is perfect for wedding or baby showers (really any kind of party). And giving your gift in a reusable bag instead of a paper one will reduce waste.
I especially love these Gecko Traders bags, available at reusablebags.com.
The fair trade bags are made from rice and feed bags, and are handcrafted by disadvantaged workers in Cambodia.
What is it about these bags I find so cool? It is the fish design? Is it that each one is unique? It is that they are supposed to last a lifetime?
Even if you like quieter designs for gift-giving, there are still plenty of options, like my natural bags above from Eco-Bags. Also, check out WrapSacks for lots of fun reusable gift bag options. They have a groovin Track-A-Sack feature that allows gift recipients to record where the bag has been before sending it on its way again.
Do you have any favorite bags you use to give gifts? Do you sew your own? Are you willing to give up paper gift bags this year?
Tags: baby showers, Eco-Bags, Gecko Traders, gift-giving, reusable gift bags, reusable shopping bags, save-paper, Track-A-Sack, wedding showers, WrapSacksRelated Stories
POSTED IN: Earth Friendly Gift Guide, Earth Friendly Living Ideas, Reuse
2 opinions for Eco Tip: Reusable Bags as Wrap
marye
Feb 17, 2008 at 10:11 am
I love these.
I want to set aside some time to make some purses and things out of koolaide packets..
Back in the day we used to cut apart beer and coke cans and make holes in them, and crochet bags, and hats and things.
Peggy
Feb 17, 2008 at 2:01 pm
Marye, that sounds so cool. I’d love to see photos if you do make them!
Have an opinion? Leave a comment: