It’s not always easy to convince friends and family to change their routine and start using sustainable products. This is why gift-giving at Christmastime presents a perfect opportunity to pass on energy efficient practices.
If sustainability matters to you, and you think your loved ones could benefit from an energy-conscious gift, here are a few ideas towards sharing sustainable gifts during this Christmas season.
1) Avoid Disposable Gifts
Although children look forward to a new collection of toys, let’s be honest: they’ll grow out of almost all of these products. Many of them won’t even keep their attention through the winter.
Instead of giving them a novelty toy, or item specific to a franchise they currently enjoy, consider buying them something that will last through the years. Not only are you providing them with a gift that might potentially have use for years, but you’re also avoiding disposable items that stockpile up in a landfill.
2) Give a Gift That’s Green
Choose presents that are packaged or made with organic, natural, and renewable material. An organic cotton or hemp t-shirt is much more sustainable than other materials. Avoid products with heavy plastic.
You can also increase the sustainability of your gift by the way you wrap it. Recycle bags and wrapping paper to avoid annual paper waste.
3) Give Locally Made Items
Local independent businesses often value sustainability and sell products made with environmentally conscious materials. Rather than purchasing an item from a corporation that might not care about renewable resources, consider purchasing your gift from a local retailer that values environmental efficiency.
By purchasing gifts from local businesses, you’re also supporting your community, which boosts your overall local economy. In doing so, you’re spreading Christmas cheer!
4) Give a Second-Hand Gift
You might take this as a suggestion to re-gift cheap, heavily used items. Second-hand gifting doesn’t have to include items that are worn out: it just means purchasing a gift from a second-hand source. This includes from retailers such as Amazon, where third-party sellers list Like New options.
By not purchasing a new product in-store and increasing the percentage annual of plastic waste, you’re limiting the annual amount of plastic packaging wasted.
5) Give Something You Made Yourself
Often our loved ones appreciate homemade gifts the most. They’re personal and one-of-a-kind. Your family and friends will appreciate the time and effort you put into making something just for them.
Not only will you save money by handcrafting a gift, but you’ll also be able to choose what materials you use.
6) Browse For Sustainable Options
Don’t settle for the first item you see. If the product you have in mind for someone else isn’t manufactured with sustainability in mind, surf the web for environmentally conscious options. Many online retailers sell popular items such as home goods, toys, food, and clothing such as coats, t-shirts, or sheepskin.
Purchasing a sustainably made item goes a long way towards cutting down on environmentally harmful material use.
7) Share Sustainability Knowledge
Christmas gift exchanges present an opportunity to share new knowledge with friends and family. It’s a great time to gift them with an item they normally would not consider.
Along with whatever they’ve asked for, consider sharing your cause by purchasing them a book about sustainability. This will help them understand why sustainability is important and offer easy tips towards achieving a more sustainable lifestyle.
Also consider donating to a charity in their name, especially if they’ve shared a previous interest in becoming more eco-friendly. This will put them directly in contact with an organization dedicated to sustainability. Plus, it allows them to learn more directly from a non-profit and get involved.
Christmas gifting is joyful, but it can also be educational. If sustainability is important to you, the holidays are a perfect moment to be environmentally conscious and cautious. By demonstrating eco-friendly behaviors and sharing them with your loved ones, you might start to see your entire family avoiding plastic altogether by next year.