Gift ideas that the planet will thank you for
Everyone has that friend who is super thoughtful and always manages to buy the perfect gift. Traditionally, I have not been that friend. In fact, history would suggest that I have been a notoriously terrible gift giver - one year I gave my uncle a foldable plastic tray for him to take travelling. I even told him it would be handy to put ‘things’ in. Safe to say, this was one of the lowest points of my gift giving career. For the record, this was prior to the commencement of my minimalism and environmental journey.
Whilst I have stopped buying plastic crap and palming them off as gifts, I have still suffered from gift buying paralysis. How do you give something thoughtful, but not compromise your own environmental values? Cue ‘The List’; Over the past few years I’ve compiled my go-to list of gift inspiration.
So, if you are stuck for ideas, here are some pretty awesome ones (many of which I have also been the recipient of) - added bonus, most of these are a lot kinder to the planet:
Experiences - This option is fairly endless - If you are worried that the recipient won’t use the voucher, your participation can always be part of the gift:
tickets to a show or concert (comedy, musicals, plays) - massage - facial - dance lessons - weekend away - wine tasting - whiskey tasting - exhibitions - hiking - camping - sailing - high tea - bungee jumping - fishing charter
Workshops - In the same vain as the experiences, workshops or classes are another thoughtful gift. Maybe it’s the beginnings of a new hobby, or just encouraging your loved once to get in touch with their inner creativity:
cooking classes - candle-making - DIY beauty products - dance lessons - make your own terrarium - composting - personal finances seminar - make your own food wraps - pole dancing - yoga classes - personal trainer sessions - painting - life drawing - sewing - learn to play a musical instrument
Gift Vouchers - Similar to cash, but a little less obvious. Most business’ provide a gift voucher option these days. If you can, try to get an electronic voucher with a QR or bar code. Some favourites are:
department store - iTunes - transport - movies - shoes - dining - travel - gardening
Subscriptions - The gift that keeps on giving. Here are some popular ones:
Netflix - Kindle - Spotify - bamboo toothbrush (yep, there is actually a subscription for them) - green fees (golf) - online magazine - online newspaper - wine - beer
Eco Friendly Products - Reusables are in, disposables are out. Give you friends and family a head start in the eco games with some of these:
stainless steel drink bottle - reusable coffee cup - stainless steel lunch box - bamboo cutlery - safety razor - cotton tote shopping bags - handkerchiefs (they’re back in) - herb garden
Charity - Some people are adamant that they don’t want anything. If you want to respect their wishes, but still join in on the festivities, then this is a great option. There are so many incredible charities, just ensure that you do your research to make sure they are ethical and credible charities. Some charity options are:
sponsor a child - animal welfare and protection - water projects - community projects - education - illnesses - emergency rescue
Money - You can pretty much guarantee that this gift will not be returned. Whilst it can get a bad reputation for being unthoughtful, the gift of cash provides the recipient the freedom to choose what they buy and where they buy it from. Win-win.
Last, but not least, consider the following:
Future plans or Holidays - If your loved ones have any trips or holidays planned, gifting them a voucher or experience for the destination is a thoughtful touch
Many hands make light (less expensive) work - Rally some friends/family members together to pool your collective buying power together. Not only can you purchase a more substantial gift, you can also share the decision making load
Choose sustainable, natural and/or quality materials - When selecting physical items, consider organic cotton, silk, bamboo, hemp, wood, glass or stainless steel
Shop Local - Support your local community and economy by shopping with businesses in your own backyard