While "the most wonderful time of the year" is here, it is also the time for insane amounts of waste. According to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, "Americans throw away 25 percent more trash during the Thanksgiving to New Year's holiday period than any other time, with the extra waste amounts to 25 million tons of garbage or about 1 million extra tons per week."

I never have really understood the point of wrapping paper. But it isn't just wrapping paper. All of the tissue, bows, bags, ribbons, cards, gift tags, and other sparkly materials that can't be saved end up in the trash. Don't get me wrong, it is aesthetically pleasing. However, gift wrap goes through an entire production process to be used once and then thrown away. It is wasteful.

So, here are five more eco-friendly options to wrap gifts this year:

1. Newspaper

2. Brown Grocery Bags Turned Inside Out

3. Reusable Shopping Bags

4. Scarves

5. Mason Jars