‘Tis the season to start buying gifts for your loved ones. Finding meaningful and memorable gifts can be very challenging {and stressful}. Trying to figure out and organize what everyone wants, and where to get the best price makes me quiver with anxiety.
In recent years, something that has made gift giving more fun, and much less stressful has been picking a theme for my shopping list. One year the theme was “entertainment” which included giving gifts like board games, Audible subscriptions, dinner and a movie gift certificates, and concert tickets. Last year’s theme was “relaxation”, so I gave massage and spa service gift cards, plush robes, slippers, acupressure mats, and weighted blankets.
The theme for this year is giving the gift of sustainability. A common frustration is the feeling that you can’t make much of a difference when it comes to the problems of the modern world. Life is busy, we have our own needs and desires to tend to, time and bandwidth for volunteering is limited, and some problems just seem too big {or too much of a “hassle”} to bother with on an individual level. I think sustainability falls into that category, and we can make a big difference even with small lifestyle changes.
It’s easy to say that we want to be more environmentally conscious, but are we committed to it? Sustainability is like voting, in the sense that it can only work or make its intended impact when we do our part collectively.
We have to make some really important lifestyle changes, because recycling isn’t enough. The world produces more than 400 million tons of plastic every year, but only about 8.7% of plastic is recycled. The rest ends up in landfills, littered, or is incinerated. Over time, plastic breaks down into what is called “microplastics”, which are absorbed into the air, contaminates our food and water sources, and builds up in our bodies. This leads to an increased risk of chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, and potential DNA damage among other serious health problems.
Sustainability is about meeting the existing and developing needs of the world while reducing waste, and without depleting natural resources for the future. It’s about consciously consuming materials that don’t cause harm to the environment and can be easily regenerated, while conserving resources for future generations.
Inspire and motivate your people to live more sustainably with these thoughtful gifts that have both purpose and impact.
Reusable Grocery Bags
Many grocery retailers are exploring the idea of going “bagless” as a major effort to create less single use plastic waste. If you shop at Costco or Aldi, you’re already used to bringing your own bags. These reusable shopping bags are great gifts to encourage everyone you know to do the same.
Reusable Grocery Shopping Box Bags
Best Canvas Shopping Bags
Reusable Mesh Produce Bags
Personal Care
Cotton balls or rounds, plastic toothbrushes and flossers might seem like small potatoes when it comes to sustainability, but think of how much waste comes from everyone using and disposing of these things. These items are perfect stocking stuffers!
Reusable Bamboo Makeup Remover Pads
Adult Bamboo Toothbrushes
Children’s Bamboo Toothbrushes
Adult Dental Flossers
Child Dental Flossers
Household
Household items are full of chemicals that are terrible for the environment. Single use packaging and other items cause unnecessary waste that we can absolutely reduce.
Products made of bamboo are especially sustainable because bamboo is a fast growing crop that requires no pesticides or fertilizers. It also regenerates from its roots so it doesn’t need to be replanted. Eucalyptus is another sustainable product source. It can be grown quickly without pesticides in dry, rocky terrain with little irrigation, and the trees are cut instead of being uprooted, so there is no need to plant new trees.
Organic Wool Dryer Balls speed up dry time and cut energy costs.
Beeswax Wraps
100% Eucalyptus Sheet Set, cooling, moisture wicking and hypoallergenic.
Plastic-Free Food Storage Containers
Bamboo Cheese Cutting Board & Knife Gift Set
Composting
Small Indoor Hanging Compost Bin
Dual Chamber Tumbling Composter
Books
Zero Waste Home: The Ultimate Guide to Simplifying Your Life
Composting for Beginners
What gift of sustainability will you be giving this year?
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