It’s hard to fathom the amount of single-use gift wrap used during this time of year.

Australia alone uses enough of it to wrap our planet four times - all for a few weeks sitting pretty under a tree and then mere few seconds of surprise.

Now, we’re not suggesting you turn into the Grinch and give up on gift wrapping altogether. However, we do want to share a few of our favourite eco-friendly wrapping tips that will impress your friends and family, all while wiping your conscience!

Furoshiki is a divine traditional Japanese method for wrapping or protecting goods by using a square piece of fabric and folding it in various ways to suit its purpose.

Furoshiki is not only practical, but it is also the perfect wrapping method for instilling an extra sense of thoughtfulness to a gift, as the fabric that is used be re-used in a multitude of ways. You can find an in-depth how-to guide on the art form of Furoshiki and the different styles of folding here.

The inks and shiny foils found in mass-produced gift wrap can make recycling it impossible. So, if wrapping with paper is your style - make sure you opt for something that can be recycled. 

Brown or white paper is a great choice for those who like to accessorise with other decorations or prefer a cleaner look. Using your local newspaper is perfect for those unprepared folk, as you don’t even need to leave the house! Plus it gets double points as you are giving it a second life. It's surprising how good a newspaper can look when you dress it up a little!

Just make sure you’re not undoing your good work by using unrecyclable tape. Instead, try string, paper ribbon or biodegradable tape as alternatives

Last but certainly not least, decorations! The images above have probably sparked some inspiration, but when thinking of eco-friendly decorations a good rule of thumb is - the closer to mother earth the better. Flowers, plants, dried or fresh are the best place to start! Forage around in your garden or closest nature outlet and see what you can find.

You can also DIY dried fruits, such as orange, grapefruit and lemon. Just pop the slices or whole fruits straight on a lined baking tray on a low temperature for 2 hours, then turn them over and pop them back in for another two hours. You can learn more here. 

And for those finishing touches, paper ribbon and twine (jute or cotton) are perfect! 

Recycled wrapping doesn’t have to be naf. In fact, it’s quite the opposite! Implementing small changes this holiday season truly makes a difference, so give this a try and see what you can rustle up.

So, to wrap up (excuse the pun) on behalf of the team here at Sanctum, we wish you all a joyous Christmas!