How to Give Sustainably this Christmas
Christmas is by far my favorite holiday. I am fully convinced I was head elf in another life. I create excel sheets that are all color coordinated and alphabetized with links, photos, and ideas for gifts for all my family and friends. I decorate my room with my Christmas gnome collection, bake enough sweets to feed all of North and South America, and start watching Christmas movies mid-November.
So this year when I started planning out what gifts I’d be giving, I wanted to give in an ethical and sustainable way that left me feeling good about how my money was spent and what gifts were given. Below are a couple tips and tricks I learned through this process! I hope they help you be even more thoughtful this year.
Shop small! Shopping on Etsy, from local small businesses, at local flea markets, or any of the stores I wrote about here, is such a great way to make sure there aren’t any unethical practices. Make sure to read the mission statements and means of production to be sure their values align with your own! Small businesses also have the most thoughtful packaging, well-made products, and great customer service so you know you’ll get exactly what you ordered!
Skip the expensive wrapping paper and gift bags! Wrap your gifts in newspapers lying around your house or paper grocery/shopping bags (personally I think when they’re wrapped this way it’s so cute and you can paint or decorate the paper your own way!) Reuse any gift bags you have or paint/color any bags you have around the house. Or better yet, include a reusable tote bag as the packaging and a great bonus gift!
Get creative! Make your friends something! I LOVE getting gifts that are handmade because you literally will never find anything like that anywhere! It’s so unique and means so much. Just knowing how much time and effort it takes to paint., knit, sew, or bake a gift is so meaningful.
4. Bake something instead of buying! Sometimes we think we know exactly what someone wants and we end up disappointed when our loved one doesn’t jump up and down screaming and crying over the carefully thought out hand lotions and mugs…just me? Sounds about right. In any sense, you can’t go wrong with a baked good (as long as you know what their food allergies/preferences are prior…because that could go incredibly wrong really fast.) I posted my famous chocolate chip cookie recipe here which everyone will LOVE. Over the next few weeks I’ll post more recipes you can steal!
5. Make a donation to an organization they care about! If your friend is invested in political life, consider donating to the Georgia senate races through some on-the-ground field organizations like Fair Count or The New Georgia Project in their name. If your family member cares deeply about environmental issues, then make a donation to the Indigenous Environmental Network or Black Millennials for Flint. The possibilities are endless for great organizations that need money! This is such a thoughtful gift and shows how much you care about your loved one’s passions and interests.
7. Get them a subscription! Apps like Calm and Headspace are amazing resources for meditation and peace throughout the entire year. Gifting a loved one a subscription to a meditation app, Apple Music, Spotify, etc. could be so helpful and something they would definitely use all year long! By offering to pay for a subscription, you can show your friend or family member how much you care about their mental health and emotional well-being.
No matter what you do this December or what holidays you celebrate, just remember that any steps you take to be a bit more environmentally conscious are incredibly important and as long as you are doing your best, it’s more than good enough. Also, I think all the ideas above make each gift even more thoughtful and sweet. Not only are you helping cut waste, but you’re giving things that really mean something.
