You Should Never Throw Away a Plastic Berry Container Again — Here’s 4 Storage Uses for Them 

With the holiday season finally wrapped up, so are all my decorations, lights, and gift wrap. For years I had been neglecting proper storage for most of these items, so I invested in a functional and space-saving case that keeps my wrapping paper, gift bags, ribbons, and greeting cards in one neat, easily accessible place. 

But when I started putting everything away on New Year’s Day, I noticed one lingering problem: the ribbons. Despite my best efforts, they still felt hidden, messy, and prone to tangling. And then I remembered a TikTok I’d saved months ago about repurposing an item you’d normally throw out, and it turned out to be the perfect solution.

In a TikTok video, creator Alyssa Barber takes an empty plastic berry carton and threads each ribbon through the holes at the bottom. In the end, she’s left with a carton full of neatly stacked ribbon wheels. Because the holes don’t connect, the ribbon never gets tangled and you can easily pull as much ribbon as you need. 

Although I don’t normally upcycle as much as I’d like, this is one of the few hacks I felt compelled to actually try. Because I buy berries on a weekly basis (although I do my best to buy them from my local farmers market where they come in cardboard), upcycling and reusing these cartons is something I can practice as a regular habit. 

Thankfully, there are a myriad of ways to give these cartons new life. Here are a few ideas that are also worth stealing.

1. As a bag dispenser. In the video, Barber also suggests using it as a poop bag dispenser. This makes it much easier to see how many bags you have left and when you have to make a trip to the pet store for a refill. 
2. For yarn and craft supplies: Ribbon, yarn, twine, wire — anything spool-adjacent stays tidy and easy to grab.
3. As mini craft boxes: Teachers, parents, and crafters can use them to store crayons, stickers, beads, or small art supplies.

If you want to personalize your newly upcycled organizer, you can always give it a paint job or add some labels, stickers, or gems. That way, this eco-friendly storage hack doubles as a DIY project.