WE WISH WE’D seen this in time to order some online but, hey, there’s always next year.

A British company has come up with a solution to the tonnes of wrapping paper waste produced every Christmas.

Instead of discarding the wrapping paper after opening your gift, the Eden’s Paper sheets can be planted in soil, watered and produce vegetables. The sheets have organic seeds embedded in them and the paper is biodegradable. Currently, you can buy paper that produces tomatoes, onions, chillis, broccoli or carrots.

It’s not cheap – a set of five costs €29 – but for the environmentalist in your life, that might be a cost they’re willing to pay. A percentage of each sale also goes to the “conservation, protection and reforestation of trees for paper production”, according to the company, and they print only on recycled paper.

Last year, Repak estimated that Irish households would use six millions rolls of wrapping paper, and four million present boxes/packaging.

Do you do anything useful with your discarded wrapping paper at Christmas? Make us feel guilty and tell us about it in the comments below…