Gotta love an eco-friendly holiday!

Approximately two million tons of wrapping paper and gift boxes are thrown away each holiday season. Seed wrapping paper is a sustainable, eco-friendly alternative.

The holiday season is marked by presents wrapped in colourful paper and adorned with bright bows and ribbons. But here’s the problem: after the holidays, the majority of that gift wrap ends up in the landfill. In the United States, approximately two million tons of wrapping paper and gift boxes are thrown away each December. Coated paper, tissue paper, and paper with sparkles and glitter can’t be recycled. How wasteful! We’re always looking for ways to celebrate greener, so why not simplify your wrapping game this year with paper or cards that you can plant in the garden instead of sending to the landfill? 

Made by mixing recycled paper pulp with seeds, all you have to do is place seeded paper on top of the soil. After adding water, the paper begins to decompose, and the seeds inside germinate. It’s easy to make at home and a great DIY project with the kids. 

How To Make Seeded Wrapping Paper

1. Tear plain paper, newspaper, or cardboard into small pieces, then place them in a blender. Add twice as much water as paper. For example, if the paper reaches the 1-cup mark in the blender, add 2 cups of water. For coloured paper, you can add food dye, as long as it is non-toxic and organic. 
2. Blend the paper into a pulp and transfer it to the mixing bowl. Squeeze out the water. 
3. Lay the paper mix out flat on a dry surface or cookie sheet, about 1/8 to 1/16 of an inch thick. The thinner the sheets and the smaller the seeds, the more pliable the paper. It doesn’t matter how large the sheets are. If you would like to use the sheets for cards, make them the size of a regular gift card or gift tag. For wrapping paper, make the sheets larger.
4. Spread out the seeds. A general rule to follow is to add 12-15 seeds per square inch of paper. This gives the seeds enough space to grow once the paper is planted. Once laid out, press them gently into the paper mixture, then use a rolling pin or your hands to smooth them out. Choosing a native seed blend specific to your area is ideal, especially if it includes wildflower seeds that attract pollinators, such as echinacea purpurea, larkspur, or milkweed. Native pollinators such as ground bees are at risk, and experts agree that creating new habitats and foraging areas will help their populations grow. 
5. Find a warm spot with good air circulation for the paper to dry. Drying the paper quickly is essential to prevent the seeds from sprouting. To speed up the process, use a hairdryer on the cool setting or place a fan near the drying sheet(s). 

Once dry, the sheets are ready for use. Happy Wrapping and Happy Holidays!