Sometimes I worry that the gifts I give are seen as a direct reflection of my love for that person \u2013 which only raises the stakes even higher. But I have found that there is one save-all solution for this holiday conundrum: don\u2019t buy new things \u2013 the notion behind green gift-giving.<\/strong> The monetary value of a present does not represent the sentimental value of your love; giving your loved ones something intangible \u2013 your presence, an experience, or a personalized craft (even from material that you already own) \u2013 can be so much more rewarding for you and meaningful for them.<\/p>\n Not only is a personalized, homemade gift more thoughtful than a Paypal-ed Amazon purchase, but it is an incredibly considerate way to be more environmentally conscious. During the holiday season, people produce 25% more waste \u2013 and in the US alone, this waste equals up to an extra 25 million tonnes of waste a year. Christmas trees, plastic packaging, greeting cards, mass-produced clothing, and plastic manufactured toys are unfortunately quite wasteful items that take a huge toll on the environment with each passing year. What\u2019s more, research shows that approximately 40% of the toys bought as presents will break after only 3 months of play<\/p>\n Statistically speaking, the period leading up to and during Christmas is the most ecologically damaging.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Those among the green living community have taken notice of the major eco-footprint that\u2019s left after every holiday season, and because of it, they have encouraged various methods of avoiding such unnecessary waste. The slogan \u201c#NoMoreStuff\u201d speaks for itself and lends much inspiration. I\u2019ve been a long-time crafty gift-giver, and my family has fondly come to know me for it. When I was about 12 years old, I used an old diary to make a cookbook for my uncle \u2013 he\u2019s a real foodie. I wrote some of our favorite family recipes in it, and I honestly have never seen him smile like he did when he received it.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The winter holiday shopping bonanza has begun once again, and your head is probably already starting to spin as the<\/p>\nThe Urgent Need to Give Greener Gifts<\/em><\/h1>\n
There are, however, ways to reduce our impact while retaining the festive spirit!<\/h3>\n
Green Gift Ideas and #NoMoreStuff<\/em><\/h1>\n
There are so many creative ways of giving gifts that cause little or zero waste:<\/h3>\n
\n
\nOne obvious but often overlooked method is giving someone the gift of an experience. This can come in the form of concert tickets, planned day trips, or a membership to their favorite museum.<\/li>\n
\nAnother option is the often tabooed concept of re-gifting. For example (and now hear me out): people have so many beloved books that just sit on their shelf after having been read. What about dusting off one of your favorite books and giving it to a loved one, with a heartfelt inscription inside? Personally, I\u2019d find that nicer than getting an unused book from the store \u2013 then a lot of the sentimental value is missing.<\/li>\n
\nA third and rather charming option is to go the DIY route. I think there are all sorts of easy crafts that you could make from things that you\u2019d already find in your house, e.g. scented pillows made from lavender & rice stuffed inside an old t-shirt. Repurposing candle wax into old tea cups, or collecting seashells are a couple other funky choices. One more simple DIY gift that will leave the receiver beautified is a homemade coffee scrub<\/a>. Put the mixture in a cute mason jar and call it a wrap!<\/li>\n
\nOne of the most ethical choices you could make this holiday season would be to give the gift of a charity donation in someone\u2019s name, or by becoming patron to sustainably-minded companies.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/h4>\n
The value of the holidays isn\u2019t in the material possessions that we give & receive, but in the way we make & take time to show the ones we love that we truly care. I think that the most memorable gifts aren\u2019t the ones that can just be purchased with the swipe of the credit card, but those that require a bit more of our time & effort. So take the greener path this holiday season: your wallet, your loved ones, and the Earth will thank you for it.<\/h4>\n
What\u2019s the best green gift you\u2019ve ever given or received? Inspire us in the comments below!<\/span><\/h3>\n
<\/h5>\n
Happy holidays from us at Amazingy!<\/em><\/h1>\n
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can get an update of what\u2019s on the magazine dropped right into your e-mailbox.\u00a0Sign up here<\/a>\u00a0for our newsletter!<\/em><\/h5>\n
Editor\u2019s note: Originally published in December 2015 and reposted in December 2018 for accuracy.<\/em><\/strong><\/h5>\n
Sources:<\/strong>
\nHoliday waste prevention\u00a0<\/a>
\nThe environmental\u00a0price of Christmas<\/a>
\nChristmas, the most wasteful time of year<\/a><\/h6>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"