Green Gift Giving
The holidays tend to create a lot of waste: out-with-the-old,-in-with-the-new, excess food, gift wrapping, etc. But it doesn't have to be this way. All it takes is some forethought and a commitment to green gifting. Here are some ideas to get you started:
Shop Smart
Consider regifting something you have that someone else would appreciate more. Perhaps there is nothing in your home to make the cut, but what about secondhand options through neighborhood apps like OfferUp, BuyNothing Groups, Facebook Marketplace or others? Or neighborhood thrift stores?
Gift experiences. Bowling, arcades, movie theater, or something special like OMSI or an art gallery all give the gift of something fun to do AND time spent with the ones you love. A used book exchange or clothing swap can add to the experience by adding a new-to-you item(s) to take home!
DIY Gifts
Add some extra love to your gifts by gifting something handmade. From a hand-written note to homemade sweets to a DIY coupon book (massage, favorite meal, trip to the zoo, etc.), handmade gifts can be thoughtful and intentional.
Crafty? Knit a scarf. Create wall art. Frame a photo you took of a favorite memory from the year.
Resourceful? Repair a broken toy. Make and gift lip balm, candles, green cleaning products, and more. YouTube is a great resource!
Green Gift Wrap
Too often, gift wrap falls into the use-it-and-lose-it, single-use category. Challenge yourself to get more life out of gift wrap:
Be sure to save bows, gift boxes, and ribbon for future gifts. There's no reason they can't be reused.
Rather than using single-use gift wrap, consider making the gift wrap part of the gift (e.g. dish towel) or use colorful magazine pages or reusable bags (store-bought or stitch your own with a drawstring to use over and over).
In the end, what can't be reused or repurposed should be recycled or disposed of properly. Be sure to check out the next article to learn how!
