A guide to mindful gift-giving

Furoshiki is the traditional Japanese practice of wrapping and carrying objects in a square of cloth | Photo from Getty Images/Unsplash+

If you aren’t thinking about your Christmas list now and getting your gifts together, this is a little reminder to start mindfully doing so. While the spirit of giving is in the air, there is a lot of waste that comes with it. Every holiday season, a mountain of wrapping paper is torn open in seconds and thrown away, which makes my heart ache on Christmas morning.

Every year, I tell myself I’ll do better next year and find something truly reusable, and this year, I think I can finally commit to it.

The art of gift-giving

When it comes to giving gifts, I have always erred on the side of practicality. I always think, “What would I like to receive, or what will this person not throw away?”

My favorite gifts to receive are extremely useful things, like candles and hand soap because I don’t have to buy them myself and I will actually use them. My least favorite things are generic home decorations because each person has their own tastes, and unless you are very close to the person you are gifting the homeware item to, that bowl, candlestick, or decorative item you give will go to waste.

While it seems like a good idea, I also find food to be tricky. This is because you also have to guess what people will like. And while bulk-buying jams or spreads for gifts is convenient, you can’t guarantee the recipient will actually eat and enjoy it. It seems inconvenient to have to think of each person you are giving a gift to, especially when you have a long list, but a little thought goes a long way.

Wrap it well

Conventional wrapping paper is designed to be used once. Much of it is laminated, foil-coated, glittered, or dyed in ways that make it hard or impossible to recycle. What’s more, it is usually held together with plastic-based tape. Ribbons, plastic bows, and sticker labels add to the pile.

A quick check: Scrunch the paper into a ball. If it holds its shape, it is probably plain paper and is recyclable. If it springs back, it likely contains plastic, foil, or glitter, and belongs in the bin.

Sustainable wrapping rests on three simple habits:

Reuse first. Choose wrapping that can be used again, by you or by the person you give it to.
Use what you already have. Fabric scraps, old maps, newspaper, and shipping paper all work.
Choose materials that can go back to nature or the recycling bin. Plain paper, string, and natural trims break down or recycle easily.

Furoshiki: The Japanese art of cloth wrapping

Furoshiki is the traditional Japanese practice of wrapping and carrying objects in a square of cloth. It’s referred to as “bath spread” because during the Edo period (1603 to 1868), people in public bathhouses are said to have wrapped their clothes in a cloth and stood on it while undressing.

The cloth took the name from the bath, and its use spread to merchants carrying goods and to everyday errands.

What makes furoshiki a good sustainable choice is how simple it is:

No tape, glue, or scissors. The wrap is held by folds and knots alone.
One cloth, many shapes. The same square wraps a book, a box, a bottle, or an awkwardly shaped item, and it can be reshaped into a bag.
It is part of the gift. The recipient keeps a scarf, a tote, a table cover or a hair wrap, and can pass the cloth on again.
It lasts. A well-made cloth can be used for years, so the wrapping never becomes waste.

In the mid-2000s, Japan’s Ministry of the Environment began promoting furoshiki again as part of its effort to cut down on disposable plastic bags and packaging, and the practice has since gained a following in Europe, North America, and Southeast Asia.

How to wrap with furoshiki

Start with a square of cloth. Cotton, linen, and silk-blend scarves all work, and a light, non-stretchy fabric knots best. Furoshiki are commonly sold in sizes from about 45cm to 105cm per side, but you can also hem a square from fabric you already own, or use a large bandana or scarf.

45cm cloth is good for small gifts, books, a single bottle
70cm cloth is good for boxes, several books, a bag-style carry wrap
90 to 105cm cloth is good for large boxes, a basket, a picnic bundle

As a rule of thumb, the cloth should be about three times the width of the item you are wrapping.

The basic box wrap (otsukai tsutsumi)

Lay the cloth flat like a diamond, with one corner pointing toward you.
Set the box in the middle, with its sides parallel to the edges of the cloth.
Fold the corner nearest you up and over the box, then tuck it under the box.
Fold the far corner over the box in the same way and tuck it under.
Pick up the two remaining side corners, pull them snug, and tie them in a firm double knot on top of the box.
Smooth the folds and tuck the knot’s loose ends neatly, or leave them as a decorative bow.

Wrapping a bottle

Lay the cloth flat and place the bottle at one edge, standing it on its side.
Roll the bottle up in the cloth until it is fully wrapped.
Stand the bottle upright and gather the two loose ends of cloth at the neck.
Tie the ends in a knot around the neck, and fan out the cloth tails for a finished look.

A wrap that doubles as a bag

Place a box or several small items in the center of the cloth.
Tie opposite corners together in a knot over the items, then tie the other two corners together the same way.
Slip the two knots onto your forearm or shoulder, or hold them as handles. The recipient can reuse the cloth as a tote.

Practical tips for waste-free gifting

Skip the sparkle. Glitter, metallic foil, and plastic-coated paper cannot usually be recycled. Choose matte, plain paper instead.
Go easy on tape. Plastic tape contaminates paper recycling. Use string, a knot, paper tape, or fold-and-tuck wrapping that needs none.
Save what you receive. Unwrap carefully, then fold and store the cloth, bags, boxes, and ribbon for next time.
Right-size the wrap. Cut paper to fit the gift so there is no excess to trim away.
Tell the recipient. A short note such as “please keep or pass on this cloth” helps the wrapping travel on instead of being discarded.
Match the wrapping to the gift. A scarf, tea towel, or reusable bag can be both the present and the packaging, with nothing left over.

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