the hierarchy of low-waste gift giving (curating more sustainable holidays)
written by Jasmine Irven
Most of Western culture puts a lot of pressure on the holiday season: extravagant meals, expensive gifts, and decorations that only come out once a year.
I still absolutely love the holidays, but as I’ve grown up I’ve recognized more and more the consumerist and wasteful side of the season: corporations encouraging more money to be spent on things people don’t need, excessive plastic and wrapping paper finding use for one day before it’s tossed, not to mention the incredible mental, physical, and financial stresses coming into play.
So, here’s to being more mindful this holiday. To being more intentional with how we’re spending our time and money. To shifting our mentality of a successful holiday from *money spent* and *gifts received* to *time spent with loved ones* and *memories made.* To replacing consumerism with sustainable habits of consumption that better serve our wallets, mental capacity, and the planet.
Below is a little break-down of new ways to consider gift-giving if you’re looking to shift your patterns of consumption. Take it one step at a time!
give less
Do you really need to give everyone a gift? Especially at work or friend gatherings, consider suggesting a secret Santa type gift exchange, or gift swap, where rather than buying gifts for everyone, you’re only tasked with purchasing for one.
This not only produces less waste, and reduces costs, but it gives you a chance to put more thought into the one gift (instead of stressing about the number of gifts you need to buy so much so that you end up giving up and getting gift-cards for everyone).
give in new ways
Choose experiences over possessions: in giving and when receiving. Concert tickets, a spa certificate, a trip somewhere, yoga passes, a gym membership (as long as you don’t offend anyone), a wine tasting, a retreat, Airbnb credit, movie tickets, the list goes on.
These gifts produce less waste (especially when you can do an e-version of the gift card!), and in my opinion have a lot more meaning. When I look back at my life I will truly remember the experiences more than the things I had, and so when you give that gift it will seriously not compare!
Or,
Consider volunteering or donating: do you and the people you love really need more gifts? How about instead using the time together to volunteer at a soup kitchen or holiday dinner, spending time with those who don’t have family (i.e. at a hospital or elderly care facility), asking people to donate to a cause you care about, etc.
The holidays are truly about giving, and in this way you’ll benefit because you feel good about your gift, and those who are on the other end will truly appreciate it as well.
give the Konmari way
This is my way of saying get something the person will actually enjoy and find meaning in – not something you want, or something you think they need. Look for something they are actually going to use and are excited about.
I understand wanting your gift to be a surprise, but if you can get to truly know the person and what they are needing and wanting this year, you’ll have a better chance of getting something that isn’t going to be tossed or re-gifted in a month.
If you’d like to get even more specific, approach the person for a wish list for inspiration! I’ve always preferred this to someone purchasing something for me that I don’t need but feel guilty for giving away (not to mention having to pretend you like it in the moment. Ugh). Honestly. Asking for ideas takes the stress off both people!
give DIY
People will (usually) really appreciate the time and effort that goes into making DIY and handmade gifts. They show thought and effort went into the gift, and offer more sentimental value. When making a DIY gift you can also save a lot of the cost and packaging associated with retail gifts (win-win)!
Please still ensure though that it’s something the person will actually want and use or it defeats the purpose of low-waste. We don’t want them throwing it out in a month!
give second-hand
Give items a second life by searching vintage and second hand shops for unique gifts. I think there’s a stigma around second hand which is really unfair.
There are a lot of times I’ve donated items which are in incredible condition, they’re just things I don’t use! It may require a little extra work on your end but the pay-off is great: you’re helping the items stay out of the landfill, and are giving a unique gift. You can also further customize the gift with a little DIY work!
Places to search might include local vintage and second hand shops, larger donation chains like Value Village and Salvation Army, and local sites like Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace.
give local
Support local businesses rather than chains or corporations, specifically those owned by BIPOC.
When you purchase from a local company you’re literally making someone’s day (there are people working extremely hard behind these businesses to get them to succeed!), rather than just giving more money to corporations that don’t need it.
Local shops are generally more sustainable (less transportation, less mass production, more ethical production, and more fair employee wages – for the most part), and often sell more unique gifts.
Check out small brick and mortar stores in your community, or go online and take a look at Instagram or Etsy shops for small online businesses.
give ethical
Along the same lines, look for products or items which have an ethical history. Do a little research before purchasing to determine where the product is coming from, how it’s made, if the workers are paid fairly, if the ingredients are non-toxic and sustainably sourced, etc.
give sustainable
If you are going to purchase a physical gift, look for options which aren’t overly packaged.
This means opting for glass containers instead of plastic, looking for items that aren’t packaged at all, or looking for packages that could be reused again (like a cute box for example).
It also means bringing your own reusable bags to the store, and further avoiding adding onto the waste with your own wrapping. It’s important to look for sustainable alternatives at each step of the process!
If you start making small changes in the way you give, purchase, and wrap gifts this holiday season, others will notice. You may even be able to get everyone on board!
Share your reasons for wanting to go low-waste, and maybe suggest an overall focus on shifting to less, or at least more sustainable gifts. You may even be able to convince them to do no gifts at all (depending where your family is at)!
What are your intentions around creating a more sustainable and low-waste holiday this year?
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about the author
Hey there! I’m Jasmine, founder of the Sustainable Bliss Collective, a Certified Meditation Teacher, and lover of all things self-care, slow-living, and personal development.
I believe that ambition and self-care can coexist, and as such I hope to encourage and inspire you to take care of yourself, breathe deeply, connect with who you are, manifest your dreams, enjoy the blissful moments of each day, and make an impact in this beautiful world we call home.
Connect with me on Instagram here!
