Hello everybody! If you need help finding out how to navigate your sustainability goals and the most polluting and overconsuming time of the year – you’re not alone. But sustainable, or less polluting I should say, gift giving is possible and it doesn’t have to feel like you’re coping out and doing less.
I have been making these gift guides for the past few years, and they are meant to serve as inspiration, or a list of the different options or methods, use these as recommendations, as guides, and adjust to what is possible and accessible to you. Sustainability is not one thing, it’s actually not a thing at all, it’s a method – and this is how it can be practised during the holidays.
Experience gifts: this is a type of gift that doesn’t have to be physical, already there we’re cutting down on waste and packaging – and production impact. Experience gifts can be anything from:
- Concert tickets
- Museums tours
- Classes and skill courses
- Movie tickets
- Restaurant visit
- Private dinner at home
- Picnics
- Nature experiences
- And so much more – there is really something for all price points here.
Money gifts: some people don’t like to give money, honestly I get where they are coming from, it feels quite distant, however, everybody loves getting some extra funds – so if you really don’t know, giving money is a pretty low waste gift to give. Write a nice card or get your DIY on, it’ll definitely be appreciated.
Support local: personally, I love supporting small brands, shops and local crafters – basically anyone where you know a personal is filled with joy whenever someone purchase from them. Supporting a small local business is often a good option. Support musicians, artists or other crafts, it’ll truly mean something – also to the business you’re supporting.
Activism: make a donation to an environmental organisation – this is a brilliant option, especially if they receiver of the gift is also passionate about climate activism, but honestly it’s a great option for everyone (try and give your most careless family member or friend a donation in support of climate activism and see what happens, honestly such a vibe) You can also support organisations yourself – Greenpeace offers Christmas cards that you can print out whenever you donate to their campaigns, this way you’re adding a little bit of activism to each gift.
Physical gifts: now overall, we need to consume less, that goes for all consumer goods, also the ones marketed as more sustainable and less polluting. As such, when it comes to the physical gifts scaling back is always a good idea – either through secret Santa arrangements or buy imply agreeing on minimal gift giving. But it wouldn’t be a gift guide without some actual recommendations – so I have gathered some options here that I think would be great alternatives to the typical brands and options you’ll see in department stores – or on fast fashion/fast anything really websites.
1. Lino cut print // 2. Laptop sleeve // 3. Tiny gardens // 4. Jacket // 5. Knife holder // 6. Lunch box // 7. Tray // 8. Bæredygtig Gourmet cookbook
1. Suit // 2. Earrings // 3. Upcycled bag // 4. Bucket hat // 5. Le Papier lipstick // 6. Insect hotel // 7. Sustainable Badass book
Zero waste gift wrapping: Giving a sustainable gift also comes with conscious packaging, as gift wrapping paper and ribbon often isn’t recyclable. Instead, there are a couple of different options, all of which cost nothing, or very little. The first option is to use what you have at home like scarves or kitchen towels as wrapping, generally, anything that can be reused. You can also use fabric scraps or boxes that you have laying around. If you have these things already, or if you don’t want to give those away that you have, they can often be found in thrift shops for next to nothing. You can also save wrapping that you get and reuse that, but when it breaks, looking into reusable wrapping options is a great zero-waste switch.
