The Green Review

The holiday season is just around the corner, offering an incredible opportunity to make a positive impact on our planet by celebrating with sustainability in mind. It’s easier than you think to introduce your friends and family to eco-friendly products─ while also on a budget.

This year we can take the focus away from excessive items and substitute them with practical items that are great for the environment. By being mindful about sustainability, we can make thoughtful choices that align with our values this holiday season.

Experience gifts

This year, consider giving the gift of experiences! This approach can help reduce the clutter and waste that often accumulates over the holiday season.

• Gift vouchers/gift cards: Gift vouchers are a great way to give someone a gift while also letting them choose exactly what they want. Many businesses reuse old gift cards to minimize waste, making this a perfect reusable gift.
  
  
• Event tickets: Give the gift of an unforgettable event whether it’s a concert, movie, show, sporting event or live performance. Many tickets are now available digitally, resulting in less waste overall! Plus, this makes it easier to keep track of and less likely to be misplaced.
  
  
• Classes/workshops: Offer the gift of learning with a workshop or class in areas such as cooking, painting, pottery, or fitness. This gift is a great opportunity to learn a new hobby and explore a new skill they may not have considered before.
  
  
• Volunteer day: Plan a day to volunteer together at a local charity, animal shelter, or environmental group. This gift gives back to the community while offering a meaningful way of spending quality time together learning about important causes.

By opting for experience-based gifts, you can give something memorable and meaningful while being considerate of the environment.

Physical gifts

Physical gifts can also be sustainable, especially when thoughtfully choosing to minimize waste and maximize personal practicality. When gifts are durable and reusable, it helps us reduce unnecessary waste by allowing us to use them over extended periods.

These items can serve the purpose of several years reducing the need for single-use products. Additionally, when browsing for gifts, consider checking whether the item is made from eco-friendly materials or if the brand uses ethical practices to source their materials.

• Reusable water bottles: Water bottles are an essential need for daily life, and they help eliminate a major contributor of single-use plastics. Many brands have made their bottles totally customizable allowing you to really narrow down someone’s specific interests.
  
  
• Coffee mug: For any coffee or tea lovers, a mug is thoughtful and practical gift likely to be used daily. This is another item that assists in eliminating the waste of single-use plastics while encouraging eco-friendly reusable alternatives.
  
  
• Recyclable and/or reusable coffee pods: Building on the previous idea, this is an excellent gift for any coffee enthusiast. Many popular coffee machines are transitioning their pods to be made from recyclable materials, helping to reduce plastic waste. Additionally, reusable pods offer an even more sustainable option, eliminating pod waste entirely.
  
  
• Participate in “Thrift-mas”: Create a curated box of thrifted goodies, including trinkets, accessories, and unique finds personalized to the recipient. This is a great way to offer a one-of-a-kind gift set while encouraging upcycling and reusing items rather than purchasing new ones.
  
  
• Washable menstrual products: Those who experience menstrual cycles know the cost and waste can add up very quicky. Washable period undergarments offer a sustainable and cost-effective alternative for reliable protection while reducing waste. This is a very thoughtful and useful gift that helps the recipient save money and supports an eco-friendly approach to periods.
  
  
• Refillable products: Consider purchasing products from stores that allow refill options, such as toiletries, cleaning products, or even candy. These stores allow customers to bring in their empty bottles and refill them at only the cost of the product without the price of packaging.

Shopping locally is not only a great way to support your community, but also shrink your carbon footprint. By shopping locally, you can help reduce the mass consumerism that takes place during the holiday season while also reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with long-distance shipments.

We can also be mindful with how we present gifts. Consider using recyclable wrapping paper or including a reusable bag as a giftbag. Our favorite sustainable method is wrapping a ‘gift in a gift’. For example, using a basket that can serve as storage later, or using a scarf or blanket which can be reused.

There are, of course, many more ways to practice sustainability this holiday season and these are just a few ideas to get your creative juices flowing. Wishing a happy and eco-conscious holiday season to those who celebrate.