Tips and tricks on how to be a sustainable gift-giver
Happy December, everyone! Before 2021 ends we are approaching a celebrative season that is inherently linked to gift-giving among friends and families.
We think it's safe to say that almost everyone either likes to receive or give presents (or both). It is very special to look for and choose an item for a person we care for and to carefully wrap it to make them feel special.
It’s also fair to say that the scale to which gift-giving has grown, especially in the US, is pretty scary when you consider the massive waste, consumer debt, and even the creation of unrealistic expectations in our interpersonal relationships that it can cause.
So, this December when you’re planning your gift purchases, we encourage you to take a deep breath, slow down and find a way to wrap your gifts with sustainability in mind.
Getting that perfect gift
It already requires an effort to choose something special, so take a little time to consider your gift’s impact on the planet and the people who made it. The way something is made, how it’s packaged, and how long it will last can make a big impact. Here are some ideas we have for you:
If you want to buy a physical gift, choose local businesses and craftspeople or domestic manufacturers. As for packaging, try to avoid plastic. Wood, glass, or steel will be a reusable and recyclable alternative.
Maybe you can give someone an experience, rather than a thing. Consider concert tickets, relaxing treatments, vouchers for an online course, or a museum membership?
A final thought is to choose a charitable cause close to your special someone’s heart. Donations benefit both people and save the planet from the burden of one more unnecessary consumer good.
Wrapping with thought and care
According to Stanford University researchers, 2.65 billion Christmas cards are sold each year in the US. That’s enough to fill a football field 10 stories high! Given that the festive cards are often coated with plastic films for the shiny finish, they are not recyclable.
We could tie a bow around our planet if each family saved just two feet of holiday ribbon
We could save 45,000 football fields’ worth of paper if each American family decided to re-use the materials necessary to wrap just 3 gifts.
Now imagine all of that paper being tossed in the general trash. Yikes!
To contribute to changing the status quo, we encourage you to save your wrapping paper, ribbons, and decorations for a second use or consider alternative gift-wrapping, such as using fabric material for wrapping (search for Japanese Furoshiki gift-wrapping methods).
What to do with gifted clothes you don’t want?
We have all been there. Clothes that don’t fit, made from fibers you are allergic to, or are just not your style. It happens. Instead of keeping them in your wardrobe, see if there is anyone in your friend group or family circle who would love them. Otherwise, schedule a pick-up with us! We will take them off your hand and make sure they don’t end up in the landfill.
