The holiday season is here, and regardless of what holiday you celebrate, that might mean some last-minute shopping for those who didn't already celebrate Chanukah! (Your boss, coworkers, neighbors, teachers, the mail person, household help, the sweet child that lives upstairs?) Buying gifts in a hurry that end up in the trash or clutter our houses for years only to be tossed out later, takes its toll on the planet. In fact, in every holiday season, Australians produce 30 percent more waste that includes food, unwanted presents, decorations, and single-use plastics for gift wrapping. Owing to this alarming rate of waste generation, lets consider switching to sustainable gifting that is useful and poses minimal threat to the environment!
If you are looking for gift ideas that help you make planet-friendly choices while reducing stress and saving money, you've come to the right place. Okay, time is of the essence, so lets get started!
Above: The greatest gift is a personal one, or even something vintage! Give the gift of lovely candlelight!
Plan your gift shopping ahead of time
Panic-buying is one of the main reasons behind gifts that end up in landfills. Whatever you buy within a short period has a high chance of being thrown away. Instead, give yourself some time to make sure that you can find something unique and useful for your friends and family. Or how about sharing with them something that you love, like lighting a candle or two when you sit down to dinner? Pick up a vintage candlestick and some candles, and give a thoughful gift! Essential oils and a lightbulb ring or other diffuser might also be a great gift for someone that enjoys fragrance.
Don’t shy away from asking them about any specific item that they have on their wish list, so much wiser than wasting money on something that won’t be used.
Above: Small gifts are also eco-friendly!
Choose quality gifts that will last for the upcoming years
In the world of fast fashion and consumption-based society, we need to be extremely careful while making gift choices. Invest in durable products, and this will automatically make it environment-friendly. With electronics or appliances, check for longer warranty periods and options for repairs in case things go wrong.
Please avoid novelty gifts such as a t-shirt with your friend’s face printed on it. Such gifts cannot be re-gifted and will end up in landfills.
Above: Vintage gifts in great condition, or something you've refurbished is certainly ethical gift giving!
Ethically and sustainably made presents are your best friend
Thanks to environmentally conscious people, there are many gifting options such as personal care and beauty products sourced locally and ethically. They are quite popular gifts for the holiday season. If you are looking for clothing brands, choose labels that are trying to minimize waste production and opting for resources locally. Don’t fall into the trap of popular brands and their marketing gimmicks.
If your friend is a plant lover, you can choose to gift indoor plants, planters or even opt for flower delivery. There are few things in life as beautiful as a bouquet of fresh flowers delivered right to your doorstep.
Above: Wrap your gifts in fabric!
Whip out some DIY skills for gift-wrapping or skip it altogether
You might be surprised to know that the holiday season alone makes people go through 150,000 kilometers of wrapping paper- most are single-use and plastic coated that gets dumped in landfills. Hence, no matter what you choose as a gift, you don’t need to wrap it in plastic paper. We have some fun and useful ideas instead-
- Make sure of newspapers, magazines, and old calendars lying around the house to wrap your gifts. Fabric scarfs are also great options as they can be reused as a gift wrap or function as a stylish accessory.
- Save ribbons from the gifts you receive to reuse them when packing presents next year.
- Use twine instead of cello tapes to tie up the wrapped gifts.
Choosing meaningful gifts might be time-consuming. But if you think of it as an investment and opt for gifts that can add value and meaning to the lives of your loved ones, then everyone is a winner. We hope with this shortlist of sustainable ideas, your holidays are enjoyable and full of love and joy.
