6 Tips for a Sustainable Gift-Giving Season
It’s that time of year again! The festive season brings warmth, coziness, lots of food and (if we’re lucky this year) the IRL parties we’ve all been missing! But the season can also bring stress, frantic holiday shopping, and a whole lot of waste.
But it doesn’t have to!
We’ve put together 6 tips to help you and your loved ones enjoy a more sustainable holiday season this year.
1) Gift Wrap
That shiny wrapping paper with the cheesy holographic snowflakes may look cute under the tree, but it’s not great for the environment.
Reusing gift bags is a great way to reduce your holiday waste. Or try wrapping your gifts in old newspapers, magazines, or even reuse old wrapping paper. Avoid tape where possible (it’s not recyclable, and it makes paper rip when gift is opened, making it harder to reuse next year). You could also consider using reusable wrapping like cloth bags or tea towels (which become part of the gift!)
At the very least, if you do buy new wrapping paper, go for recyclable or compostable paper rather than plastic-coated or foiled (which are not recyclable), and make sure to remove any tape, ribbons or bows before recycling.
2) Quality over Quantity
Overconsumption of clothing is a huge source of waste, especially with the price and prevalence of fast fashion items. If you’re planning on giving clothing as a gift this holiday season, consider prioritizing quality over quantity. Giving someone a single garment that is made to last for years is more sustainable than giving loads of poorly-made garments that will pass through their wardrobe quickly and end up in landfill. Natural materials and labels like ‘Tencel’, ‘Oeko-Tex Certified’ and ‘G.O.T.S. (Global Organic Textile Standard)’ are great indicators of a high quality, sustainable garment!
3) Used or Vintage Gifts
A gift doesn’t have to be new to be appreciated. Some of the best gifts are used or vintage finds that can be loved and then passed on when they are no longer needed. Used books are a great gift idea – they’re easy to find, inexpensive and when your loved one has finished reading them, they can pass them along to someone else.
4) Host a ‘Gift’ Swap
Instead of giving new gifts, consider hosting a swap party! Simply have your guests bring items they don’t use anymore, like clothes, books, home décor, etc., and have a swap instead of buying new things for each other! And leftover items can often be donated to charity.
5) Gift Cards
A gift card can be a great alternative to a physical gift, especially if you’re unsure of your loved one’s size or preferences. With a gift card (or just cash), they can choose things they actually want or need, helping curb the problem of overconsumption. A gift card is also a low waste gift, particularly if it’s digital!
6) Consumable Gifts
Gifts that can be ‘used up’ (ie. consumed) are a great sustainable gift option. Bake your loved ones some cookies, buy them some hand-dipped candles from a local business, get them a bottle of their favourite beverage! Unlike non-consumable gifts, things that can be enjoyed and then used up generally don’t end up in landfill or sitting in the back of someone’s cupboard for years, and therefore generate less waste.
Packaging is something to keep in mind when shopping for consumable gifts - look for packages that are reusable, recyclable, compostable, etc. wherever possible.
Hope you’re inspired to put some of these tips into practice, or even use them to create a new holiday tradition! Whatever your plans, I wish you all a joyous season filled with love!
Happy Holidays!
<3 Eva M.