Green shopping tips for the holidays

Christmas gift giving has changed quite a bit in recent years, people have less money to spend and consumers are much more aware of the impact their purchases have on both the environment and society. Let’s face it, there are plenty of holidays to consider, including Christmas, birthdays, Secretary’s Day, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. Gift-giving doesn’t end there: when we’re invited to a dinner party, for example, we often feel compelled to bring a long gift.

The collective impact of these special days and events can be enormous. Christmas alone is responsible for 25% more waste being sent to landfills. Halloween is actually responsible for more waste than Christmas. Recognizing the incredible waste that is generated, the urgency to do something becomes evident. When shopping for gifts, look for the greenest option available to you, for example, is it made locally, uses recycled materials, is the packaging recyclable, is the company using solar or wind power, etc. If you choose to buy electronics, consider those that run on solar power or rechargeable batteries.

Conscientious shoppers tend to accept practical, sustainable and eco-friendly gifts that may provide some kind of convenience or financial benefit. At the same time, it’s good to find ways to alleviate the guilt felt during special days due to high consumption, wrapping paper, and travel activities. Here’s a short list of frugal and eco-friendly ideas to inspire your gift shopping this year. If some of these seem too small, consider combining a few of these items into an eco-friendly gift basket. Most thrift and thrift stores have loads of beautiful sneakers waiting for the creative shopper.

for the homeowner – A thermostat control that automatically turns off the heat at night, a low-flow showerhead, and caulking pipes or weather stripping. Dimming switches, energy efficient lighting (CFL or LED); yellow bulbs are perfect for outdoor lighting because they attract fewer bugs. Hot water tank insulation kits and hot water pipe insulation kits are also great ideas. Also consider throwing in some electrical outlet and light switch insulation kits (small foam inserts that go behind outlet and switch covers found on exterior walls).

for the gardener – A subscription to an organic gardening magazine, or saving a variety of seeds from extinction on behalf of a friend, or creating a membership in a seed organization. Houses, baths, and feeders for birds, bats, and butterflies, or the patterns to build them, make wonderful gifts. Alternatively, consider composting bins, worm bins, gift certificates to a nursery, or membership with an environmental group.

provide services – Instead of giving an item that needs to be wrapped, consider buying tickets to a performance, gift certificates to restaurants, or services like lawn care, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up services, or tire rotation. Don’t forget to look at dog walking, babysitting and massage, spas or gyms when looking for gift certificates. All of these ideas will help you support local businesses you believe in while providing something the recipient can really benefit from.

Give food – Home preserves such as dehydrated or canned foods are great gifts. There are many people who find cooking cumbersome and appreciate ready-to-cook frozen meals such as lasagna, pasta, and casseroles. Most people appreciate snacks and desserts. Fill reusable mason jars with all the dry ingredients for a recipe like cookies or brownies, and include instructions for baking at your convenience. Please note that buying Brazil nuts or cashews is compatible with rainforests. Healthy food baskets are another wonderful idea to consider, especially if it contains samples from local growers.

seedlings – Live plants clean the air and provide a wonderful environment. Perhaps you have plants, or know someone, that you could take cuttings or divisions from, root and pot those new plants to share with your friends. Unique pots and containers can be found at most thrift and thrift stores.

Books – Most of us realize the benefits of literacy and supporting local businesses. You can do both by choosing to buy books as gifts this year by supporting your local bookstore and local authors. However, you can also leave a legacy with your own book. This could be a journal, a poetry collection, a family tree you’ve researched, or even a family cookbook. Perhaps you could consider including quotes from family members or people you admire and possibly a few favorite family photos.

alternative gifts – A reusable coffee filter and whole organic coffee beans make a great gift for coffee lovers. Consider slippers and sweaters, as the recipient is less likely to turn up the thermostat. Choose toys and games with positive environmental or educational values ​​and those that emphasize cooperation, exploration, or creative thinking.

Consider purchasing a set of heavy-duty, square-bottom, washable, reusable shopping bags. There are many varieties to choose from, including those created from recycled plastic bottles, coffee sack material, renewable crops like bamboo or hemp, and many other environmentally friendly options. How many bags per recipient? Generally, 12 bags will cover most shopping activities for a family of 2 or 3 people, while 6 or 8 bags are appropriate for one person.

Go one step further and purchase a set of mesh produce bags – this gift will reduce or eliminate the need for the clear bags offered in the produce department of the grocery store. These are washable, transparent, and made from a very fine mesh material, weighing next to nothing, so won’t affect the cost when you figure it out at the checkout.

Do you want another option to reduce plastic waste? Consider giving him a set of stainless steel straws. These are dishwasher safe and will eliminate the need for plastic straws.

The tree: Give or buy a live tree, or sponsor a non-profit organization that will plant one in your friend’s honor. If you’ve purchased a live Christmas tree, you can donate it to people with space on your land, the city, schools, or parks when the season is over. Alternatively, plant it in your own garden for privacy, summer shade, or soil and water erosion control. Trees are incredibly beneficial to pollinators and birds, and are very effective at removing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, ozone, and nitrogen oxides from our air.