The 6 Best Reusable Gift Bags and Wraps | Plus DIY Ideas

The 6 Best Reusable Gift Bags and Wraps | Plus 4 DIY Ideas

Wrapping paper is truly one of the most single-use items we regularly use, destined to be ripped off and usually not used again. Delivering a gift in reusable gift bags not adds a layer of sustainability to your thoughtful gesture, but it also becomes a gift in itself and one the receiver can reuse and repurpose.

Below we’ve rounded up the top six reusable gift bags and also four ideas to wrap a gift sustainably yourself.

The Top Six Reusable Gift Bags

There are many reusable gift bags on the market that won’t be destined for the landfill after one use. These are some of my favorite choices for delivering an earth-friendly wrapped gift.

Keniot | Burlap Wine Bag

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Personally, when I am in a pinch, wine is my go-to gift. This burlap wine bag is the perfect way to dress up a classic gift that the receiver can either reuse or pass on.

Pros

These particular reusable gift bags come in a set of ten pieces allowing you to keep a small stock in case of a last-minute gift emergency. I also love that it employs natural fibers and an earthy neutral feel making it versatile for any celebration.

Cons

If you only need one, this may not be the best option for a minimalist.

Nush Nush | Rose Gold Gift Bag

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Ideal for the fancy person in your life, these metallic shiny rose reusable gift bags could be a gift unto themselves.

Pros

I love these bags to fancy up an ordinary gift. They add an elevated feel to a gift that is being presented at a big celebration, landmark birthday, or dinner event. Like the burlap wine bags, these too come in sets with fifteen in each order.

Cons

While they are beautiful, they are a niche aesthetic that may not cross over to all gift-giving events! Metallic pink is a niche color scheme that may not suit all holidays of gift giving.

Baggu | Reusable Drawstring Tote

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Baggu makes a great nylon, ripstop, drawstring bag that, given a range of patterns and colors, can suit any occasion and offer limitless reuse after the gift is opened.

Pros

I love that these Baggu nylon bags can fold into themselves for easy carrying when not in use. You never know when you’ll need a reusable bag to stash your farmer’s market finds or last-minute purchases, and its compact size makes it perfect for carrying in a purse or backpack.

Cons

While these are indefinitely reusable gift bags, they are not easily recyclable. In addition, they can be a bit too roomy for smaller gifts.

Bee’s Wrap

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While Bees Wrap may not be the first thing on your mind when it comes to wrapping gifts, this reusable wrap made of organic cotton coated in beeswax is perfect for creating a unique “wow factor”.

Pros

These beeswax wraps are so versatile and multi-use that they could be the gift themselves. Not only do they “self-close” with a little help from the heat of your hands, they also smell amazing! Not only can they be reused as gift wrap, they are also great for covering leftovers or wrapping sandwiches.

Cons

These really only work for smaller gifts and can’t take a lot of jostling or the beeswax seal can loosen.

Hallmark | Reusable Fabric Wrap

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Hallmark is moving into a sustainable era with this fabric wrap. Traditional Japanese wrapping squares inspired the concept of using cotton cloth as wrapping paper.

Pros

These come in 26 x 26-inch squares, making them big enough to wrap small and medium gifts, but easily sized up or down if needed. Cotton is a sustainable material free of synthetic fibers. I love to stash these squares away and use them every Christmas.

Cons

They aren’t big enough to wrap bigger gifts. The patterns are also most holiday season themed, limiting their use year-round.

Furoshiki | Japanese Wrapping Cloth

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This is a great way to introduce a multi-use item into your sustainable wrapping collection. They aren’t only useful and versatile and feature beautiful Japanese patterns and designs.

Pros

The patterns on these Furoshiki wraps make the wrapping really eye-catching. They also give the gift a luxurious thoughtful feel you don’t get with traditional throwaway wrapping paper. They are also a bit bigger than the Hallmark wrapping fabric at 48 x 48 cm.

Cons

These reusable gift bags still aren’t big enough to wrap anything bigger than a medium-sized gift, where a gift bag might be a better fit. They also are more expensive than the reusable bag options.

Four DIY Ideas For Gift Bags & Wrapping

Some may say it defeats the ideal of minimalism to buy reusable gift bags or wrapping cloth when we have plenty of things around the house to do ourselves! Here are four fast and easy ways to create your own reusable gift bags and wraps.

Spare Cloth

If you have spare cloth in the sewing room lying around, it’s time for it to shine in a second life as wrapping cloth! Gather the fabric at the top of a gift and use a ribbon to fasten it closed.

Kraft Paper

I always keep a roll of kraft paper around for just the occasion when I need to wrap something on the fly. If the gift is from children, have them throw in the art skills to dress up the paper.

Paper Shopping Bags

In our book, this might be the oldest trick in the book. Cut open paper shopping bags, flip them inside out to obscure any advertising, and voila, reusable wrapping paper!

Magazines

I love the avant-garde look of used magazines becoming bold and interesting wrapping paper. Pick a theme that suits the giftee, National Geographic for nature lovers and Architect Digest for interior designers. The options are endless!