Gifts That Give Back: Sustainable Shopping for a Greener Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, it’s time to plan gifts for family and friends. Many of us have decided to embrace sustainable holiday shopping as we witness the devastating effects of climate change.

Just remember those past holidays that produced so much trash and waste. Wouldn’t you like to feel less stressed and more joyful this holiday season? If your answer is YES, then sustainable shopping can be one key to a happier, greener celebration this year.

What is sustainable shopping?

Sustainable shopping is a conscious effort to select products and services with fewer adverse environmental and social impacts. With minimal stress, we can adopt a mindset where we consider the implications of manufacturing and distribution as we purchase products. Here are some questions to ask about the life cycle of our purchases:

What raw products go into the manufacture of this item?
Does the manufacturing process adversely impact our environment?
What is the impact of transportation?
What are the environmental effects of displaying and packaging?
Are there ecological consequences when the item is at the end of its life?

Will it be difficult to change my old habits?

Shopping sustainably begins by changing our mindset. It’s not complicated — we start with better planning and more deliberate choices. Think about your recipients and what they need or will use and enjoy.

Santa isn’t the only one who needs to “make a list and check it twice.” Making a list is your best defense against impulse purchases. Sustainable shopping depends on you making deliberate choices.

Once you begin planning your shopping trips, you’ll experience less stress and avoid impulse purchases. Avoid temptations that urge you to “shop now” or pressure you that these prices end soon. Advance planning will save you money and ensure you’ve made excellent choices for gift-giving this holiday season.

Examples of sustainable gift shopping

Are you ready to give sustainable shopping a try? Here are five straightforward ways to get started for this holiday season.

Shop locally. Shopping locally significantly reduces your carbon footprint and boosts your community’s viability and diversity. Local store owners cater to local preferences and will help you make appropriate gift selections based on your local experience. Think outside the box, too—garden centers often offer unique tools and supplies for those on your gift list who love the outdoors. Consider buying a gift certificate from a local pet groomer for a relative or friend who is not as agile as they used to be.
Shop sustainable for fashion. Giving and getting clothing is a popular choice every holiday season. Avoid fads and cheaply manufactured goods. Every woman on your shopping list delights in receiving a classic, well-made top. Fashion produced from timeless designs and fabrics is an example of sustainable shopping and thoughtful gifting.
Group items together when ordering. Group online shopping items together in one order to reduce your packaging and delivery footprint. Ordering purposefully is one of the sustainable changes that you can make. Not only will you have fewer boxes to dispose of, but there will be fewer delivery trucks traveling to and from your home.
Choose from an array of sustainable gifts. Instead of giving things, gift your recipient with an experience. A gift certificate for that yoga or cooking class your mother has been discussing is another sustainable gift. Select a music subscription for the music lover on your list or an e-subscription to their favorite magazine.
Favorite charity gift party. If you’re hosting a gathering, ask everyone to bring appropriate gifts or monetary donations for a favorite charity. The sky is the limit regarding charities — choices could include the local animal shelter, a veteran’s home, a children’s hospital, or a local men’s or women’s shelter.
Holiday travel. Getting together for a family holiday is another opportunity for sustainability. Choose an eco-friendly destination or a slower-paced get-together with a vacation home rental.

Tips for entertaining sustainably

Don’t forget to include sustainability in your holiday entertainment plans. Whether it’s friends or family at our home, holidays are the time for gatherings. Here are some tips to make your holiday plans greener and more sustainable.

Utilize reusable bags. Switch to reusable bags for grocery shopping. Each reusable bag saves thousands of plastic bags over its lifetime.
Christmas tree. Turn purchasing your Christmas tree into a family tradition. Choices include a potted Christmas tree that you plant in your yard afterward. If you’re looking for a taller Christmas tree, take the family to a tree farm — recycle it after the holidays. Switch to LED lights, but keep your ornaments – tell stories about your ornaments so that they become family traditions. Supplement your ornaments with everyday household items, including cookie cutters, Mason jar lids, outdoor objects, including pine cones, and cutouts from past years’ Christmas cards.
Skip lightweight plastic utensils and plates. Mix-and-match works for a gathering of almost any size. If you don’t have ceramic dishes, use heavy-duty reusable plastic plates and drinking containers.
Reduce waste. Plan meals carefully to avoid waste.
Small changes. Switch from paper towels to Swedish dishcloths, compost food waste, and use pickle and jelly jars for leftovers instead of plastic containers.
Gift wrapping. Use the paper that you already have. Unbleached wrapping paper is a trendy way to have a greener holiday. Metal tins are a multipurpose means of packaging gifts; they can be used in many ways around the house. Jelly and jam jars are just right for homemade goodies, including candy, soap, or small cookies—substitute garden twine for ribbon. Add a tiny pine cone or small evergreen bough to the twine bow for an extra festive touch. Instead of tissue paper, shred old wrapping paper or pages from a magazine.
Holiday décor. Shop thrift stores for second-hand holiday decorations. You’ll find many vintage treasures that are likely to become family favorites.
Paperless invitations. Switch to digital invitations. Your phone has many apps to help you create a memorable, personalized invitation.

Eliminate holiday stress with sustainable shopping ideas

Experiencing holiday stress is the quickest way to ruin the holidays before they even arrive. Get an early start in preparing your list of gifts that give back in sustainable ways. Your holidays will be greener, and you’ll feel happier and less stressed knowing that you’ve made a difference for our planet.

Ashley Nielsen

Ashley Nielsen earned a B.S. degree in Business Administration Marketing at Point Loma Nazarene University. She is a freelance writer who loves to share knowledge about general business, marketing, lifestyle, wellness, and financial tips. During her free time, she enjoys being outside, staying active, reading a book, or diving deep into her favorite music.