Christmas can be a tricky time for those trying to be green. On one hand, if we were really serious about saving the earth, we would be buying and consuming less—meaning, no gifts. While this might be great for our recession strapped pocketbooks, if we don’t buy Christmas gifts, our friends and relatives boo, hiss, and call us Scrooge. Do we save some carbon … or our reps?
The solution, I think, is to take the three R approach to gift giving. Ask yourself:
Does this gift help Reduce waste?
Is it Reusable?
Is it made from Recycled materials?
By staying mindful of these criteria, you can help that plastic consuming, oil-guzzling, waste-producing friend or relative take a step toward sustainable living—and keep your green piece of mind intact. And don’t think it’s a sacrifice; there are some seriously great gifts on this list.
Local Farms=Global Goodness
What if you could give the people on your gift list a weekly basket full of seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables, flowers, and other locally grown goodies, all for about fifty dollars per month? A Community Supported Agriculture subscription does just that. Located throughout the country, these subscriptions support local farmers and sustainable growing practices, while greatly reducing the amount of distance food has to travel. A great gift for the foodie.
Fuel is Cruel; I Like to Bike
Reducing our reliance on cars is one of the best ways to curb carbon emissions. Plus, giving a bicycle as a gift will ensure the people you love stay active and healthy—as long as they use it. That’s why they need a novice-friendly bike, like these multi-purpose Breezer bikes, which can be used for running errands, commuting, and plain old fun. If you’re looking to recycle and are handy with a monkey wrench, buy a used bike off Craigslist, refurbish it, and give it as a gift. For the biking aficionado already on your list, these bottle openers, bowls, and clocks, all made from recycled bicycle parts, are awesome gifts.
Garbage to Goodness
When I first started throwing food scraps in my Smith and Hawken composter, made from 60 percent recycled polyethylene, my normal trash got jealous; I neglected it for weeks. Composting seriously reduces the bulk of your trash and turns food scraps into rich soil for gardening and growing; perfect for the gardener on your gift list. For the urbanite with smaller space, the All Food Bokashi Composter would be a great option. If you’re looking to give the gardener something to grow, opt for a native plant, which requires little to no water, no pesticides, and low maintenance.
Recycled Reusable Bags
It’s no surprise that plastic and paper bags are rapidly becoming out of fashion; their production uses up natural resources, billions of them are given out everyday, and most end up in our landfills or polluting oceans. And who wants a plain old white or brown bag, when you could be carrying around a cute, colorful one? This grocery perfect tote, made from recycled grain and rice bags by village women in Cambodia, has reinforced straps, zippered pockets for money, and a unique print. For a younger giftee, check out these fun, colorful totes made from trash (yes, trash!) collected by scavengers in Indonesia. Or, if you’re a little crafty, make your own bag out of old plastic ones. Repurposing rocks!
Stay Hydrated, Without Emissions
Plastic water bottles really get my goat. Not only are Dasani and Aquafina just bottled tap water (can we say rip-off?), thirty million plastic water bottles head to landfills per day. Luckily, we have great alternatives. I love my Sigg stainless steel water bottle, which is sleek, easy to clean, and fits in all of my handbags. Siggs come in a variety of colors, sizes, and designs—everything from flowers to camouflage. Perfect for everyone on the gift list.
