According to Sundale Research, in 2017, Americans spent $12.7 billion on gift wrapping paper, tissue paper, and gift bags. <br />Because gift wrap is literally torn to shreds upon opening it and usually not recycled, it ends up in a landfill. <br />But Huff Post writer Kate Bratskeir explains that there are more environmentally friendly and even cheaper alternatives. <br />This includes saving packages that you ship or receive throughout the year and use the brown paper stuffing as wrapping paper. <br />
