Six Ideas for the Zero Waste Gift Giver
We all know it’s the most wonderful time of the year, but did you know it’s also one of the most wasteful? Between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, Americans typically create one million extra tons of garbage per week, and much of that stems from presents and packaging. If you’re interested in making your holiday more sustainable, we invite you to read our tips below. After all, going green is way more than just a festive decorating tip.
1. Shop Secondhand
Being eco-friendly doesn’t mean you have to give up gift-giving altogether, but it does help if you avoid buying new. Save something beautiful from going to the landfill by supporting your local thrift shop or antique store. Many sellers have transitioned to selling their items online so you can support them safely, and larger sites like Etsy support individual shop owners as well.
If you have a lot of spare time on your hands, you can also try venturing into the world of upcycling. All you have to do is perform a quick internet search to find instructions for making wine bottle candles, wallets from old shirts, or whatever floats your fancy.
2. Make a List
…and check it twice! Seriously, though, it’s not just a song lyric. There’s no shame in telling people what you want, or asking them their preferences. You can still keep the element of surprise by sharing broad categories rather than specific links, or telling people a few different items you’d prefer when they’ll be choosing only one. And if you’re on the giving end, put some thought into what your recipient will actually use, want, and like. There’s nothing less eco-friendly than presents that end up in the bin.
3. Give Experiences
Presenting someone with tickets to an event, class, or workshop that you know they’ll enjoy is the perfect way to reduce waste. Of course, in this irregular year, you might need to think a little creatively—you’re probably not going to want to book any indoor dining or travel experiences, for example—but many organizations and businesses offer an abundance of virtual solutions. You can find tons of learning experiences online, or even performances and concerts. We’ve also had success with online fitness or yoga passes. If you’re looking to please that foodie in your life, try purchasing a gift card to a local restaurant. They can use it for takeout and make the occasion special by bringing it home, dressing up, and having a fancy dinner in.
4. Stylize Mindfully
Let’s face it: most wrapping paper isn’t recyclable, and most gets torn through irreparably in the excitement of the moment. This is an area when the old ‘recycle, reduce, reuse’ mantra can really come in handy. We have a tote full of old gift bags we put to use each year, and newspaper or brown paper can also be sustainable choices, especially if you avoid tape and secure them with ribbon or twine instead. You can accentuate these parcels with pinecones or holly, or even sprigs from a rosemary bush, and if you’re interested in wrapping your gifts in fabric, you’ll find many folding tutorials online. Nothing is prettier, or more long-lasting, than a bundle all gussied up in a colorful scarf, tea towel, or piece of patterned scrap cloth.
5. Choose Local
We kind of touched on this in tip #3, but this year especially, it’s crucial to support small businesses. Give your hard-earned money to local artists and shops—you’ll not only be improving their livelihood, but purchasing one-of-a-kind items that your friends and family will love. If you’re worried about safety measures, you can shop online or arrange for curbside pick-up. It’s easy to give back to your community during the holidays.
6. Ship Sustainably
If you’re like us, you might be sending packages to people across the country, or even the globe. In those situations, just remember to minimize waste where you can. Choose companies that use sustainable shipping methods, and if you’re sending anything yourself, choose the appropriate size container to cut down on unnecessary filler materials. If you’re playing Santa locally, consider delivering packages yourself! Walk or ride your bicycle to take that extra eco-friendly step, and drop things off right on your recipients’ doorsteps. They’ll appreciate the thoughtful touch, and the earth (not to mention postal workers) will thank you.