The environment is a serious concern for everyone in the world today, with the media putting a strong focus on environmental causes and more and more people attempting to live a “greener” lifestyle. As a result, you may want to look for ways to give meaningful gifts to friends and family that will not add to your carbon footprint or increase wastefulness.
Here are some great eco friendly suggestions.
Plants - Plants, trees, flowers and seeds all make wonderful eco friendly gifts. Whether you select house plants that can help to purify the air in a home or seeds to plant in a garden and give back to the ecosystem, these are some of the most natural, easy to give gifts that many people enjoy receiving. Even a gift certificate to a local nursery is a wonderful gift that will allow the recipient to choose the exact flowers or plants they receive.
Books - Consider giving family members and friends informational books about the environmental issues that are near and dear to you, or to them. There are plenty of books on the market that offer tips and advice on making your home more eco friendly, that explain the importance of different environmental causes, or even that teach people how to eat organically, further improving their life and health. Take a look at your local bookstore and see what they have to offer. Even better, try downloading and giving a paper-free eBook as a gift!
Organic Foods - Creating a gift basket featuring delicious organic foods is a wonderful choice for a gift. Whether you will fill the basket with organically grown, local fruits and vegetables or pick up delicious items that are pre-made from the local organic food outlet, these delicious treats are sure to be appreciated and enjoyed by everyone. If you are the type who enjoys cooking, whip up some of your own favourite organic treats to give as gifts.
Handmade Items - Things that have been made by hand are a perfect choice for an eco friendly gift. Handmade craft and home items cut out the manufacturing process that creates such a strain on our already unstable environment. You can make the items yourself by spending time on your favourite craft or hobby or purchase them from a fair trade retailer or craft show. Handmade gifts are always treasured and are often more appealing than expensive manufactured items that are often given as gifts.
Donations - Making a donation in someone’s name to their favourite charity or environmental cause is a wonderful gift to give. This is a great choice for someone who has everything or needs very little, allowing their gift from you to go to an organisation or group that is working to save the planet. You can also make donations that purchase an acre of rainforest land or land in other endangered areas in the names of those on your gift list, preserving these lands for future generations.
Recycled Items - When nothing else will do but a newly purchased item, look for those that have been made from recycled materials. Nearly everything that you can buy new can also be purchased in a recycled form. Clothing, bags and accessories, furniture and even some toys can be made out of items that served a purpose before. At times these items may be a bit more expensive, as the process of recycling the original items can still be a little costly, but the benefits to the planet are well worth the extra expense.
Regifting - It has been said by some that regifting items is tacky, but realistically, it is simply recycling. There is scarcely a home that is without a few items that were given to them and never used. It is perfectly acceptable to pass these unused items on to other people who would be able to make use of them. Just be careful when regifting to ensure that you do not give the item back to the person who gave it to you originally! That could cause hurt feelings and an uncomfortable situation.
Many consider Christmas to be one of the most wasteful times of the year, but it certainly does not have to be that way. By making careful and conscientious choices when giving gifts, the eco friendly lifestyle that so many have adopted can carry over into their Christmas celebrations. This year when selecting the perfect gifts for your family and friends, keep the planet in mind and make choices that are responsible and environmentally friendly.
Recommended Reading
For more information and advice on green gifts, take a look at the book, ’I’m Dreaming of a Green Christmas: Gifts, Decorations, and Recipes that Use Less and Mean More
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