Tag: holidays

5 Eco-Friendly Gift Ideas for the Holidays

5 Eco-Friendly Gifts graphic

The holidays are an exciting and busy time of year, and who doesn’t love getting gifts from family and friends? Every year, we receive all sorts of gifts that we don’t use, and eventually throw away. Instead, this holiday season, think about the planet as you think about what to give your loved ones! There are many ways to make gift giving more sustainable and just as much fun.

Give an experience:

Sustainable, thoughtful, and memorable! Try a new hobby, restaurant, etc. in your area with your loved one, or give them membership to a nearby museum or fitness class. Beyond reducing waste, this gift option will create a new, lasting memory with your family or friends.

Sustainable Products:

If you’re looking to give someone a specific product, make sure to pick a brand that will last. There are many websites that will help you pick items that won’t wear out quickly, like this one.

Buy local:

Support your local economy and reduce your carbon footprint by sticking to local shopping. Plus, you’re more likely to find something unique and special that your family member or friend won’t already have if you buy from one of your local small businesses.

DIY:

If you’ve got a tight budget this season, DIY gift giving could be for you! This could be any number of things: bug repellent for the outdoorsman, organizational tools for the home or office, and more! Need some inspiration or guidance? Many websites publish guides for DIY projects, like this post, or Pinterest.

Choose your wrapping wisely:

Once you’ve purchased your gifts you aren’t quite done! You can keep your wrapping sustainable by re-using old bags or wrapping paper, wrapping in newspaper, and avoiding products that come packaged in lots of plastic.

Happy Holidays!

12 Alternative Gift Ideas for a Sustainable Holiday Season

A Christmas story we should tell more often, but don’t:

The Story of Stuff

It may not feature a spectacled 9-year old on a mission to get the Red Ryder BB gun, but this short film will also teach you something, make you laugh, and change the way you look at all the stuff in your life, forever.

Gather your loved ones and watch this fast-paced and fact-filled look at the underside of our consumption patterns. (storyofstuff.org)

3 tips for making this holiday season more meaningful to you and gentler on the planet:

  1. Give the gift of new experiences
  2. Embrace the value of a good DIY
  3. Go paperless and plastic-free

Some alternative gift ideas for:

The Foodie

Food tour of your city

Lower your carbon footprint by staying local.

(Check out FoodTourFinder)

Subscription to a digital food magazine

Viewing stunning culinary creations and articles on the latest food trends doesn’t have to involve tree-cutting! (Check out these e-zine recommendations curated by Say Daily, Vanity Fair, and Huffington Post)


The Happy Camper

DIY bug-repellent

With the help of this guide and some essential oils, you can create a toxin-free formula to protect against a variety of pesky bugs.

Upcycled gear

There are many great companies offering durable, leather-free equipment made from recycles materials!


The Artisan

Pottery workshop

Get their creative juices flowing while making one-of-a-kind dishware that can be reused over and over again!

Cooking class in their favorite cuisine

Using whole ingredients rather than pre-packaged meals prevents waste from entering landfills.

Gingerbread-Sugar-Scrub-Cubes


The Beauty Guru

‘Green spa’ treatment

Relax knowing that your patronage is supporting efforts to conserve resources and minimize chemicalpollution

Homemade body scrub

The microbeads in commercial beauty products are wreaking havoc on our oceans. Whip up some festive Gingerbread Sugar Scrub Cubes and pack them in a reusable jar instead!


The Animal Lover

Adopt a wild animal

There are more than 32 different wild animals you can adopt, from manatees to lynxes!

Trip to an animal sanctuary

Spend a day with rescued animals and treat your friend or family member to a delicious vegan meal!


The Coffee/Tea Drinker

Subscription to a fair trade, organic coffee club

There are many wonderful businesses dedicated to making sure their products are not only sustainably, but ethically-sourced.

Travel mug

Your favorite coffee/tea addict can drink in style with one of GOOD Magazine’s 8 Innovative & Reusable Mugs

 

Cheers to a mindful, healthy, and happy holiday season!

Green Gifts Guide

This holiday season, when considering what to give your loved ones, why not show some appreciation for the planet as well? With the growing popularity of green gifts, you’re sure to find something for everyone on your list. To help, websites such as Inhabitat and the Huffington Post have compiled guides specialized for different kinds of gift recipients.

When looking for a special gift for her, think organic cotton, hand knit scarves and gloves, or recovered and repurposed metal necklaces and earrings. These options provide, stylish, personal gifts that won’t impact the environment as much as your everyday accessories. Organic fabric scarves and pendants made from recycled metal are good bets. For him, look for organic shaving and body products, or eco-friendly tech gadgets and accessories. From eco-friendly body kits to shave kits with natural oils, there are great options that won’t harm the planet. In terms of gadgets, think recycled felt ipad cases, stylish watches made from corn resin, or wooden earbuds that not only boost sound but cut down on plastic. When it comes to the food lover in your life, go for recycled material bottles or glasses, or even a hand powered espresso maker. Definitely don’t forget about Mom and Dad this holiday season; we’ve got them covered too with a selection of sustainable products to beautify the home and amp up the kitchen. Go for a plant or mushroom growing kit, cork bowl or cork and bamboo chopping block, or even a bird house to spruce up the home. Even if you’re shopping for a child, you can still go green. Kids are sure to love recycled-content alphabet crayons, a toy school bus made from recycled milk jugs, or eco-dough—sure to provide hours of entertainment.

So, whatever you choose to give this year, remember that it is possible to not only find the perfect gift, but also to buy responsibly and support a more sustainable world. Give back in every way this season with thoughtful, sustainable gifts for everyone on your list.