Waste-Free Christmas Wrapping

 

Guest Blog

Green Okanagan | December 13, 2019

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The holidays are a joyful time of year to spend with family, friends, and enjoying one another's company. To show your appreciation, it's natural to want to give presents to your loved ones. This holiday season we invite you to consider greener gifting options like doing an activity together or DIYing a present. For those following a wish-list, you can still reduce your gift-giving impact by wrapping your presents in a way that is sustainable!

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As most wrapping paper is a combination of plastic, paper, and sometimes foil all mixed together, it makes it difficult to separate during the recycling process. Don't worry - you can still show people you care while caring for the planet too!

 

PAPER

Paper is a simple and effective option for wrapping gifts in a way that is environmentally mindful. Being 100% recyclable, paper can be placed into regular curb-side collection for proper disposal. Personalize the packaging using homemade stamps or messaging.

  • Newspaper

  • Brown Kraft Paper

To secure paper in place, use washi tape, a plastic-free alternative and typically derived from bamboo or hemp.

 

REUSABLE BAG OR BOX

Give your friends and family the gift of reusing! Boxes have many great uses, like storing items in your home or they can be re-used and gifted to someone else in the future. Tote and cloth bags also make for a fun and uniquely-wrapped gift that can be reused for shopping, groceries and produce, bulk buys or snacks on-the-go. See some of our favourite locally-made reusable bags below:

 

CLOTH

For wrapping without paper you can explore the Furoshiki technique, using cloth to bundle gifts. Preloved material, an old bandana or other fabric cloth will do the trick!

 

JAR

If secrecy for the gift isn't a concern, consider upcycling a container or jar to enclose your present. The simplicity of a jar offers a minimalist approach to wrapping, while giving the gift of reuse!

 

ACCESSORIES

To finish off your wrapping, you can spruce up the look by adding a few accessories! Here are our sustainable suggestions:

  • Twine + string

  • Burlap

  • Greenery

  • Pinecones

  • Cinnamon Sticks

  • Dried Orange Slices - learn how to make them here!

  • Lace

  • Wooden Buttons

 

This holiday season, we encourage you to indulge in giving the gift of green! Use these sustainable alternatives to minimize your wrapping waste and to inspire others to do the same.

For more eco-friendly holiday fun, check out our blogs that explore Real vs. Fake Christmas Trees, Green Gifting, and hosting a Low-Waste Party.

43 Experiences to give as Christmas Gifts

IN PAID PARTNERSHIPS

Christmas-shopping season is upon us! And We challenge You to not buy a heaping pile of stuff that will make a short journey to the dumpster.

Consider:

  • how much packaging an item comes in.

  • say NO to the plastic bag!

  • quality… will this thing break right away?

  • appreciation… will they even like or use this?

  • wrapping… how about a nice towel, re-usable bag or compostable paper?


Here are some awesome ideas to help you win at gifting this Christmas with amazing Okanagan experiences!

💡 Make a fun little booklet for 2023 experiences or buy enough for you to enjoy together.

And hey! If tickets or passes aren’t available before Christmas, you can always make a DIY version and then purchase them later.

  1. Winter Wine Tour with Sip Happens (19+)

  2. Goddess photo shoot with Vixen Studios

  3. In-home personal Chef service from Chez You

  4. Professional Home Organization with Organize My Space

  5. Gift certificate at Kelowna Comedy Lounge (19+)

  6. Tickets for Fireside Music Festival (19+)

  7. Make your own silk scarf with Colour Drop Design

  8. Splashdown Waterslide passes with VIP cabana (kiddos + youth)

  9. Gift certificate for a Nice Restaurant

  10. Tickets for Amuse food tasting event (19+)

  11. Subscription to Ballet Kelowna

  12. Tickets for the Great Okanagan Beer Festival (19+)

  13. Dance workshop with The Kore Dance Project

  14. Indoor Rock Climbing passes

  15. Gift certificate for EnergyPlax (kiddos + youth)

  16. Tickets for Armstrong Metal Festival

  17. Tickets for Ososyoos Oyster Festival (19+)

  18. Gift certificate for the Armstrong Tulip Festival

  19. Tickets to an upcoming event

  20. Gift certificate for their favourite Golf Course

  21. Tickets for Altitunes Music Festival (19+)

  22. Gift certificate for Don-O-Ray Farms (kiddos)

  23. Escape Room passes

  24. Tickets for Dinner en Blanc (19+)

  25. Gift Certificate for a massage

  26. Hockey tickets for the Kelowna Rockets

  27. Zipzone ziplining adventure

  28. Ski Hill passes

  29. Indoor Pool passes

  30. Season Tickets for the Kelowna Falcons Baseball

  31. Bowling passes

  32. Skydive Okanagan jump

  33. Membership to the Okanagan Science Centre

  34. Movie Theatre passes

  35. Voice lessons with Vita Artes

  36. Gift certificate for Airhouse trampoline centre

  37. Classes at a Pottery Studio

  38. Yoga Membership

  39. Tickets to Okanagan Symphony

  40. Cooking classes at The Okanagan Table

  41. Gift Certificate to stay at Sparkling Hills (19+)

  42. Gift Certificate for the Davison Orchards tractor train (kiddos)

  43. Private Whiskey experience at Okanagan Spirits

Fresh To You fundraiser - Vernon Montessori Society

The Vernon Montessori Society is making a healthy choice in fundraising by selling top quality fruits and Vegetables from BC. In partnership with the School Fruit and Vegetable Nutritional Program, 40% of the proceeds go directly to the Silver Star Elementary Montessori program!

Do The Okanagan is supporting this fundraiser by collecting orders and offering free delivery within 25km of Downtown Vernon.

Please help us meet our program’s fundraising goals by purchasing a bundle.

To Order:

  1. fill out the form below and

  2. send an etransfer to dotheokanagan@gmail.com

By October 21, 2022.

Deliveries will be out between November 7 - 26, 2022.

Your information is safe with us. We never sell or share your contact information with another party unless we have specific permission to do so.

Kindergarten Shopping Guide

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The back-to-school is a big deal for kids and parents alike, regardless of what grade is coming up. But for first-timer, it’s an extra special - and daunting - few weeks. We know, because DTO’s oldest kid checked Kindergarten off her to-do list last year. And with first grade just around the corner, she’s helped us compile a list of must-haves for first-timer kids and their parents.

1. BENTO BOX LUNCH KIT

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We love bento-style lunch boxes! They let you pack a variety of foods for lunch, adding variety and fun to school meal time. Plus, most products on the market these days are leak-proof!

Shop local: Scallywags Kids

Scallywags Kids on the Pandosy strip is one of our favourite kids’ shops in Kelowna, and it always has a great selection of products, including the amazing OmieBox. The divided tray lets you serve your entire meal in one place, with insulated side compartments to keep fruit & veggies cool, and a vacuum-insulated bowl for warm entrees. Plus it’s easy for little hands to open.

Elsewhere: Can’t make it to Scallywags? You can also find leak-proof bento boxes in Kelowna at Superstore, the Independent, Indigo, Justice, TJs, Baby and Me, and Chicken Little.

2. THE ULTIMATE BACKPACK

 
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Parkland backpacks are made from 100% recycled plastic water bottles, plus they come in a ton of super cool patterns. And they come in two sizes, so your kindergartner will be carrying a bag that actually fits.

Shop local: Baby and Me

Baby and Me has these amazing backpacks, and tons of other amazing back-to-school accessories. It’s one of our favourite kids’ shops in Kelowna, conveniently located right on Harvey.

Elsewhere: We’ve seen these awesome backpacks locally at several Orchard Park Mall (Kelowna) stores, including Indigo, Bentley, and SportChek, as well as at Scallywags Kids on the Pandosy strip.

3. RECESS-PROOF OUTERWEAR

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Recess happens rain or shine, and if your kid doesn’t have good quality outwear, they are going to be miserable. We love Hatley. With adorable patterns and great quality product, it’s worth the splurge.

Shop local: Baby Station

Have you discovered Baby Station? Located in Kelowna in the plaza near Staples, it has a great selection of outerwear, dining gear, and baby and toddler accessories - including Hatley gear for back-to-school!

Elsewhere: Check out Baby and Me, Scallywags Kids, Carter’s, Joe and MEC for great rain gear.

5. EASY-OPEN THERMOS

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Send your little to kindergarten with a warm lunch with a steel Skip Hop thermos. They are cute, easy to open and close, and they come with a spork that attaches to the outside.

Shop local: TJ’s The Kiddies Store

Your one-stop baby and kid dining stop. TJ’s The Kiddies Store - near Banks and Baron - has it all (and not just dining gear, might I add). Grab an insulated thermos, and then shop around for other great lunchtime products.

Elsewhere: You can also find Skip Hop thermoses at Baby and Me and Carter’s. Superstore also has a great selection of kid-friendly thermoses.

5. ACCESSORIES YOU’RE WILLING TO LOSE (d’oh!)

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We became well acquainted with the lost and found department this year. Invest in multiple pairs of mitts and toques, and visit your local second-hand store to pick affordable gently-used gear without sacrificing quality.

Shop local: Little Plum Children’s Boutique

We love Little Plum Children’s Boutique! This consignment store in downtown Vernon features an amazing selection of high-quality, gently-used items for babies and kids (and mamas, too!).

Elsewhere: If you can’t make it to Little Plum, we also love Once Upon a Child and Play-it-again Sports in Kelowna (both are near Costco) for great second-hand outerwear. Once Upon a Child also sells mitten clips, which have become a life saver in keeping mittens from a lonely playground demise. You can also find mitten clips at Carter’s/Osh Kosh.

6. FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL SIGN

 
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You may have noticed that these signs dominate your Facebook feed on the first week of school, and with good reason - they’re a super cool way to document your child’s first day of school each year.

Shop local: Memory Blocks

We love Lake Country-based Memory Blocks, and they happen to make two different versions of the chalkboard back-to-school sign. Check out their signs here, and get yours in time for school!

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