Plain gift wrap vs. fancy stuff: what's better for the planet?

Angela Martin · 2026-03-04T08:31:57.835215+00:00

I swapped to plain brown paper for presents last year. My niece said it looked like a package from the old days. One view is that less flashy wrap means less trash. The opposite side is that gifts should feel special with bright paper. I'm torn and want to know what you all do.

anna4587mo ago

Ditch the fancy paper. It just turns into trash right after opening. Plain brown paper does the same job without the waste.

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jamie1307mo ago

Good presentation makes gifts feel as special as they are, that's worth considering too.

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skyler_nelson107mo ago

Ever notice how many things we do just because it's what everyone expects? I see the gift wrap debate as part of that. We're told a gift needs shiny paper and a bow to be special, so we buy it and make trash without really thinking. I use brown paper now and tie it with string, and it feels more honest, like the gift itself is the focus. That quick thrill of tearing off flashy paper is gone in seconds, but the trash lasts forever. Your niece calling it an old-time package proves the feeling still gets across, just in a better way.

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