What can you do to help reduce waste this holiday season? Furoshiki wrapping is a traditional Japanese method of wrapping gifts and other goods using a square piece of fabric or cloth. Most wrapping paper and gift bags are not recyclable due to their additives such as plastic and dyes, so after they are used, their most likely destination is the landfill.

Why furoshiki

Reduce our waste around the holidays and special occasions. It is also economical as giving new life to old fabric is cheaper than buying gift bags and wrapping paper that cannot be recycled. They often wind up in landfills. It also does not require tape, which is an added waste produced by mainstream gift wrapping.

How furoshiki – Materials and ideas of where to find them

The idea of using this way of wrapping gifts is to reduce your waste. It is best to utilize fabric you already have, such as bed sheets and scrap fabric. You might also feel inclined to buy some fabrics second-hand from a thrift store or yard sale. Textile waste is also an overarching problem in our landfills; be mindful of your sources of wrapping fabric, and gift them with the intent of having them reused.

It is best to utilize fabric you already have, such as bed sheets or scrap fabric. You might also feel inclined to buy some fabrics secondhand from a thrift store or yard sale.

Furoshiki uses

Furoshiki wrapping techniques can be used to wrap holiday presents and birthday gifts. You can also use it to carry your lunch to work. It allows for the fabric to be endlessly reused and repurposed, and there is a wider range of shapes you can easily wrap with the Furoshiki technique. There are some examples and guides at the end of the slides.

Furoshiki wrapping techniques can be used to wrap holiday presents and birthday gifts. You can also use it to carry your lunch to work

Furoshiki history

Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese method of wrapping food or goods in fabric. “Furo” means “bath” and “Shiki” means “to spread” as the technique was often used to wrap clothing in bathhouses so individuals may distinguish them from others’ clothes. The custom soon spread to other areas of society, and it became popular to wrap other items such as food, books, and gifts.