Woolworths shopper shares Christmas gift wrap hack using paper bags

An astute Woolworths shopper has discovered a simple trick with the store's newest reusable shopping bags. The 20c recyclable bags have been praised as a cheaper and more sustainable option than buying gift wrap as most traditional types can't be recycled. 

The new bags feature a Christmas design with green stars, trees and decorations printed on the back and front. However, a customer has now noted that there is another entertaining use for the bags other than bringing your Christmas purchases home.

The mum, @shantelleconway0, shared the information on TikTok, pointing out that the bottom of the bags include a small scissors symbol that indicates where the bags can be cut.

The shopper spotted a small scissors symbol, showing where the bag can be cut and used as wrapping paper. Credit: shantelleconway0/TikTok

The paper can then be used to wrap any Christmas presents you might have.

She was first concerned that a gift wrapped in the bag wouldn't appear particularly stylish, but she was delighted with the stylish outcome.

“I did my shopping at Woolworths the other day and I got their reusable paper bags,” she said.

“And at the bottom, I could see a little scissors. So not only are they reusable for your shopping, but you can use them as wrapping paper.

“And I bought this really cute cheese board ... so I decided to chop one of the bags up and give it a go.

“It was pretty easy. I just cut both long ends and then the smaller ends.

“Then I laid the paper out, folded it over and stuck it all down.”

She added: “If you want you can add a little bow, I added some twine on it. And that was the end result. Love it.”

The finished product. Credit: shantelleconway0/TikTok

Users of TikTok gave the little-known hack a resounding thumbs up.

'Genius! Well done Woolies,' one woman said.

'I actually love this idea they had! So good. It doesn’t look bad either, I thought it would look super tacky,' another commented.

'And there’s no advertising material on it either. Love Woolies,' another wrote.

One mum said it reminded her how her mother used to wrap presents in the 1980s using brown paper bags.

Woolworths responds

The bags, according to a Woolworths spokeswoman, are a festive, eco-friendly, and cost-effective way to wrap your presents this year.

“We’re really excited this year to have launched our Christmas themed paper bag,” Woolworths Supermarkets Commercial Director for Everyday Needs James Hepworth said:.

“This paper bag is made from 70 percent recycled material, can be easily recycled kerbside, or reused for future shopping trips.

“But what’s fantastic about this Christmas bag is that customers can cut along a line, open it up and use it to wrap Christmas presents at home, and recycle kerbside once the gift is unwrapped.”The bags can also be used to make some fun Christmas decorations with the kids or for homemade Christmas cards.

TLPPACKAGING FOR SHOPPING BAGS