Sustainable Gift Ideas

Giving and recieving gifts is fun, but feeling like you are doing damage to the environment is not so fun. Here are some ideas that will satisfy both your desire to give and your conscience. These are also great gifts you can buy for yourself if you are striving for a more sustainable life.

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Reusable Straws

Come on guys, plastic drinking straws are so last millennium. There are lots of options: from silicone, to metal, even ones that collapse and fit into a handy case. Bring your own straw next time you go out to a restaurant.

Reusable Coffee Mug

Yes, it can be tempting to get those overly priced delicious coffee drinks. But you would feel better about it if you could at least put your  6$ coffee into an environmentally sound vessel, right? Imagine the amount of waste that would be reduced if everyone did this? All those cups, carboard sleeves, and plastic lids, not to mention the weird little piece of plastic they stick in the mouth hole of your cup. I have never had anyone turn away my brought from home mug, whether it is the chain synonymous with coffee or the local mom and pop places. The only trick is you may have to go in to the store because if you get up to the drive through window your drink will already be in a disposable cup. You can try telling them when you order that you have your own drink receptacle. Make sure your cup is clean. The white ceramic one with the handle below is my favorite and it fits perfectly in the cup holder of my car. Plus if you have one of these super handy mugs, you may just opt to brew your own to go coffee or tea and save the 6 bucks.

Reusable Water Bottle or Drink Container

Yup, bring your own. To a restaurant or a party. People might think it’s a little weird, but I bet in 20 years people think it’s super wierd that we threw so much plastic into landfills. The collapsible ones below are great because they are easily portable and take up very little space when you are not using them. These would be a great gift for someone who lives in tiny house.

Reusable Shopping Bags

Many cities have already outlawed one time use plastic bags. I know it can be tricky to get into the habit of bringing them, I usually put them right back into my car when I am done unloading the groceries so I do not forget. I also have employed my children to remind me to bring the bags into the store. They are great at remembering. There are so many options now. I really like the system below that allows you to keep all the bags in one tiny case, it makes me feel organized. I also suggest going through your closet and cleaning out any old t-shirts or tanks you do not wear, these are easily converted into carry-alls. There are tutorials all over the web about how to do this. While you are at it, ditch the plastic produce bags and opt for reusable ones.

 

Beeswax Food Wraps

Plastic wrap is about to be a thing of the past. It’s all about beeswax food wraps right now. There are cute ones out there you can buy, but they are not super expensive to make and this could be a fun winter craft project that could yield you lots of sustainable Christmas gifts. Making your own is also fun because then you can choose whatever fabric you like. Here is a link for a good tutorial, or use the links below to get yourself some. There are also links for the beeswax pellets, pine rosin, and olive oil you will need if you go the DIY route.

Reusable Food Storage Bags

Throwing away several plastic bags per day from a school or work lunch is not a good idea. Here are some reusable bags and also some other packing options.

Plastic Toothbrushes

Yes, I know you keep your toothbrush for a long time. But when it comes time to replace it, why not consider replacing your old toothbrush with one of these bamboo ones.

Metal Razor and Blades

Another way you can cut plastic out of your life is by switching to all metal razors and blades. There are also ceramic razors if your skin is sensitive to metal.

Some Ideas For The Kiddos

Read farther into the article to get some ideas for gifts that aren’t “things”. Also, always try consignment shops for childrens gifts. They will have gently used, if not brand new, toys. If you really want to get something new try something that isn’t plastic or electronic. My children love playing with wooden blocks, playing cards, and chess or checkers. Also someone suggested to me a few years ago when my oldest was five or so that I gether an embroider hoop and some needles and embroidery floss. I thought she was too little but she actually loved it and it was one of her favorite presetns ever. We got plain white fabric and I drew a design on it for her to go over with the thread. We started with her name and moved on to simple pictures. Now she draws her own pictures. This gift only cost a few dollars to put together.

What Should I Put My Present In?

Not one of those throw away paper bags. And paper wrapping paper is unnecessary too. You can wrap gifts with fabric scraps and jute string. If you don’t have any old fabric lying around the house you can always find some at a thrift store. You can also put your gift into a reusable shopping bag or a pretty basket. I have found lots of baskets at thrift stores as well for a few dollars or less but I have also added some links below. We usually tie some flowers or foliage to our gift to add a pretty touch instead of a store bought ribbon. And remember to save whatever ribbons or gift bags you recieve to use again. Another thing I have done is tape some of my childrens art work together and used it to wrap gifts. With four children the artwork piles up pretty quickly and relatives usually like to see the things they are making.

This Is Just The Tip Of The Iceberg…

There are so many ways to reduce waste in our daily lives. It seems like a normal part of our paradigm for one person to throw away three or for single use drink containers a day, whether they be cups or cans or bottle. A high percentage of the population will throw away at least one straw a day. Plastic razors, plastic wrap, the massive amount of paper that gets thrown away on Christmas day… the amount of waste we humans are producing, especially in wealthier nations, is alarming. It is not sustainable. Be the change and encourage others to do the same. It is just about forming new habits. Once you get used to drinking out of your special mug, you won’t even want the paper cup.

And when thinking about gifts for others, go the sustainable and ethical route. Which may mean not buying a “thing” at all. Here are some ideas:

-Give an “experience”. Tickets to a show or lessons for something. Airbnb has a whole experience section now where you can do anything from milking a cow to seeing how textiles are made.

-You could also give your time to someone, whether that be your help with a particular chore or offering a skill you possess.

-Upcycle something, refinish or repair something. You will save money and keep it out of a landfill.

-Buy Used.  There is nothing wrong with buying used. It is financially responsible and ethical. You can search Craigslist, Ebay, Poshmark, Thredup, and these are just a few of many resale sites. I prefer buying used clothes and toys for my children because I  like knowing the items have survived one child. Many new items fall apart or shrink to a strange size and/or shape after one wash, and some new toys break immediately. If you live in an affluent area, or near one, you would be shocked to see what winds up at the thrift stores.

-Make something. Yes, make something! A pretty piece of embroidery, a needle felted (needle felting was something that was so much easier than I thought it would be and the results are beautiful) or crocheted animal, pressed flowers in a frame, cookies or a pie, canned goods, a painted sign, the things you could make are endless. The trick here is to not spend a fortune at the craft store buying unsustainable craft supplies. Upcycle things when you can. There are a million, no scratch that, at least a billion ideas and tutorials on sites like Pinterest and Youtube. I have loved all the gifts that people have made for me. A friends sewed me a simple apron once that I treasure. Another made me a hat that is my favorite hat of all time. And when I made my daughters gifts with my hands I was shocked at the love and reverence they had for them, even though truth be told I wasn’t going to win any awards on them, they meant something to my children because I had made them.

-If you do have to buy something new, buy ethically. Here is a helpful website that can help you make informed decisions. Some of the choices our forefathers made are repulsive and  shocking to us now, like slavery for example. In a generation or two the decisions that we are making  regarding our consumer choices are going to face harsh criticism. We live in an information age and we have no excuse for not knowing things when it is so easy to get informed. The effects of our purchases on the planet and on other human beings cannot be overstated. Vote with your dollars in every situation. It is the most powerful vote you have.

Do you have a great idea for a sustainable gift you think I should add to this list? Let me know in the comments section. I woud love to hear from you!