Why do I love reusable holiday gift bags? Let me count the ways:

One, they save me a lot of time. It could take five minutes to wrap a gift the “normal” way: cutting paper to fit, folding and taping it, then swirling some ribbon around it to make it look extra pretty. With a gift bag, I just open the bag, put a little tisue paper in, plop in the present, and put a little more tissue paper on top. Ta-da!! It’s wrapped.

Two, they save me money. How? Because I re-use bags I’ve gotten in the past. I have always been one of those annoying people who tries to save and re-use wrapping paper. But let’s be honest – reused wrapping paper tends to be wrinkled and a bit torn. While it CAN be re-used, it’s not the prettiest way to wrap. On the other hand, most gift bags are pretty durable, whether they’re made of cloth, thicker paper or cardboard, or recycled plastic. I never throw away a good bag. Plus, most places where I shop credit me a nickel for every reusable bag I use in place of one of the store’s plastic bags. It’s not a lot of money, but still, it makes me feel good!

Three, reusable bags save trees, in the form of paper. Sandra Ann Harris of EcoLunchBox reports that, “When it comes to paper waste over the holidays, keep in mind that a whopping half of the paper consumed in the U.S. annually is used to wrap and decorate consumer products.” Whew! When you think of all the natural resources that went in to growing the trees, turning them into pulp, printing the paper, and shipping it all over the country, doesn’t it seem a little ridiculous to waste all that on wrapping that will be ripped up and thrown away?

Fourth, because they can be used over and over again, reusable bags can take the place of lots of plastic bags. I have a tendency to wrap gifts in bags that can actually be used for shopping regardless of the season. And that’s a great gift in and of itself. Take a look at this graphic, produced by reusable bag manufacturer Factory Direct.  It shows just how many states have banned plastic bags. Even if you live in a community that hasn’t yet banned plastic bags, it’s probably only a matter of time before they do. Here’s more info on why plastic bags are a big environmental non-no.

REUSABLE HOLIDAY GIFT BAG: OPTIONS

As for the bags themselves, yes, you can buy sturdy paper bags printed with colorful holiday designs. The downside is that then the bags can only be used during December!

I prefer to buy reusable cloth bags people can use any time of the year. Here are some of my favorites:

Chico Bags – These bags, made from recycled soda bottles and other plastics, come in a variety of sizes, colors, and designs. They’re particularly popular because they fold up into a small pouch that’s easy to throw in your purse or clip on a backpack. You never need to be without a reusable bag again.

Apple & Bee – The 100% organic cotton tote bags (seen left) can be used for the holidays, but they’re versatile enough to use year round. They have zippered and open inside compartments, can be washed in cold water, and line dried.

EnviroSax – These colorful and stylish bags can be chosen to match the present you’re giving. Afterwards, they make a great bag to take clothes or shoe shopping, as well as to the grocery store.

OmniSax – Each bag (left)  holds the equivalent of 2 grocery bags. They can be hand washed in warm water, and line dried. Roll them up to fit in your purse, briefcase, backpack or pocket.

Want more ideas? We’re selling lots of options in our own Amazon store right here.

What other ideas do you have for wrapping without paper? Let us know.

The post Reusable Holiday Gift Bags Make Wrapping a Snap – and Reduce Use of Plastic Bags, Too. appeared first on Big Green Purse.

1) Don’t buy anything that requires a throwaway battery. Batteries leak cadmium, lead and other heavy metals when they’re thrown away. They usually come wrapped in plastic and cardboard, creating more trash as soon as you buy them. Plus, you have to keep replacing them; in some cases, the cost of batteries over the life of a product ends up amounting to more than the product itself.  Avoid toys, gadgets and appliances that require short-lived, throwaway batteries. If you must give a battery-powered gift, include rechargeable batteries and the recharger to go with it. One of my favorites is a reuseable AAA battery you can recharge in the USB port of your computer.

2) Green Shopping Solution: Buy solar- or hand-powered. Among your options: hand-cranked flashlights, coffee grinders, blenders and juicers. Vintage-style razors with replaceable razor blades. A French-press coffee pot. More interested in solar? Try solar-powered chargers for cell phones, flash drives, and radios.

3) Don’t buy synthetic fragrances and air fresheners. Ironically, even though these products are supposed to make things smell better, they actually make it more difficult for many people to breathe, especially those who suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems. Want your home to waft Christmas? Simmer a small pot of water, cloves and cinnamon sticks over the stove. Need to smell better yourself? Dab a drop of essential oil from your favorite flower (mine is lavender) behind each ear and on the inside of each wrist.

4) Green Shopping Solution: Buy phthalate-free. Phthalates are often the building blocks for synthetic fragrances. They’re also found in nail polish and many other personal care products. The downside? They’re nasty chemicals considered a reproductive hazard in Europe and the state of California. Luckily, you can find a wonderful variety of phthalate-free nail polishes, perfumes, make-up and other personal care products in stores like Whole Foods and the Body Shop or online here.

5) Don’t buy BPA specifically and plastic generally. Bisphenol A, or BPA, is like phthalates – an “endocrine disruptor” that could be toxic to your reproductive system. It’s usually found in plastic, especially plastic water bottles, some baby bottles and nipples, and rubber and plastic toys. If what you want to buy is plastic or rubber, check the label for the words “BPA Free.” Better yet…

6) Green Shopping Solution: Buy stainless steel, aluminum, glass, or wood. Instead of plastic water bottles, choose stainless steel, aluminum, or glass bottles that come with a protective sleeve to reduce the chances of breaking. Choose glass or stainless steel food serving and storage containers, too. You can find wonderful toys made from wood and decorated with lead-free paint from many American companies.

7) Don’t buy wrapping paper, even if it’s recycled. Why does it matter? Because Americans throw away 25% more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year’s holiday period than at any other time of year, reports the Stanford Recycling Center. The extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage, or about 1 million extra tons per week! If every family reused just two feet of holiday ribbon, the 38,000 miles of ribbon saved could tie a bow around the entire planet. Plus, if every American family wrapped just 3 presents in re-used materials, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.

8) Green Shopping Solution: Buy reusables. Can you wrap it in cloth? Try decorative towels, large napkins, festive scarves and bandanas, tied up with shoelaces or ribbons. Use reusable shopping bags, lunch boxes, and cookie tins, too.

9) Don’t buy “natural.” Everybody likes the idea of “natural” – which is why marketers slap the words on products that couldn’t be farther from their natural state. Don’t get sucked into buying something just because the packaging claims it’s “natural.”

10) Green Shopping Solution: Buy certified. While “natural” doesn’t mean much, products whose environmental attributes have been certified to meet rigorous standards by organizations independent of the manufacturer can more readily be trusted. Look for companies whose claims that their goods are organic, Fair Trade, humane, non-toxic, or designed to help protect forests and wildlife have been independently certified. You can find a list of labels you can trust here.

Buy:                                                                       Don’t  Buy:

Solar- or Hand Powered                                           Battery Powered

Phthalate-Free                                                       Synthetic Fragrances & Air Fresheners

Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Glass                             BPA specifically, Plastic generally

Reusable towels, scarves, bags                              Throwaway wrapping

Certified                                                                Natural

Want more holiday tips? Look here for info on …

Eco-Frirendly Christmas Trees

Energy-Saving Holiday Lights/LED Holiday Lights

Holiday Candles Made From Soy and Beeswax

Safe Toys

The post Ten “Buy/Don’t Buy” Rules for Green Shopping appeared first on Big Green Purse.