8 Helpful Tips for Gifting More Sustainably
While giving gifts to your loved ones can be fun, it can also be a time of excess waste. It’s estimated that 52% of Americans admit to opening up at least one unwanted holiday gift each year, a lot of which end up in the landfill.
So, I’m encouraging you to pause & ask yourself a few questions in order to gift more sustainably.
8 Questions to Ask to Encourage Sustainable Gifting
When you're shopping for sustainable and zero waste gifts, consider this list of questions!
Will the gift recipient actually use this item?
In modern consumerism we have the tendency to buy, buy, buy just to gift because we feel we are supposed to be giving to others. Often times we don't stop to think about the practicality of the item in the recipients lifestyle.
I encourage you to choose practical sustainable products that will be loved, used, and fit into the recipients lifestyle.
What does the end of the product's lifecycle look like?
Once the recipient has loved the gift or used the item as much as it can be used....how can the item be disposed of? Can the packaging be recycled or composted? Does the item itself have the capability of breaking down?
How was the item made?
Is the item made or natural materials? What was the amount of waste created when this product was made? Does the item contain plastic-free packaging?
Regift
If you have items in good condition that you're not using, don't be afraid to regift. Regifting is a sustainable way to extend the lifecycle of an item.
We have a regifting pile and whenever we receive gifts that we don't want, we put it in the pile. When the holidays come around these made for some great zero-waste gift ideas that also save use money.
Look at gift guides for inspiration.
Consider browsing popular online gift guides and then heading to a secondhand store to look for similar items. You can even check out our Small Business Holiday Gift Guide, if you’re looking for ideas.
Quality over quantity.
It's best to purchase high quality gifts that might be a bit more pricier, but will last rather than quantity. So much of the holiday season is people just buying cheap items to make sure others have gifts under the tree.
This practice isn't sustainable and a lot of these unwanted gifts end up in the landfill. Instead consider investing in items the person actually wants and choosing quality items over quantity. This makes for thoughtful gifts that won't end up in landfills a year later.
Shop at your local thrift stores.
You can find some great items for your own zero waste journey and shop zero-waste gifts. Secondhand items keep unwanted items from heading to landfills which makes this a sustainable way to shop.
Consider searching for books, candleholders, home goods, purses, jewelry, and more. You can also typically find zero waste essentials like food storage options at secondhand stores.
Get crafty!
Look up some holiday season DIY crafts and make gifts from the heart! This can be a great way to be present during the holiday season and create meaningful gifts. Consider infused olive oil, salt dough ornaments, chili seasoning, hot chocolate mix, scarves, body scrub, bookmarks, bath salts, and more.
These DIY gifts are also a great opportunity to get your kids involved! You & your family can create memories while crafting some of the best zero waste gifts!
