Was one of your New Year’s resolutions to go greener, but you’re not sure how to do that this holiday season? This list will give you four unique, meaningful, sustainable gifts that can be handmade or found secondhand!
By Jayne Turner – Staff Writer
Thrifted items
While thrifting items can seem like a long shot, some items are way cooler to thrift than to buy new. Think vintage decorations, mugs, jackets, and small trinkets. When you thrift, you guarantee that they will be receiving something unique! Thrift shopping is a labor of love; it means more than just clicking “buy” online. Plus, gifting second-hand items prevents them from going to the landfill. It also promotes a circular economy!
Handmade goods
You don’t have to know how to knit to give a thoughtful handmade gift this holiday season. Though a knit hat or scarf is awesome, here are some other options!
Personalized ornaments: Using wood, felt, or clay, you can make unique ornaments that will adorn their tree for years to come! Air-dry clay is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and extremely versatile. The best part is that you can make them literally any shape! Check out this tutorial on one type of ornament.
DIY Bath Products: Bath salts and body scrubs are easy to make. And, if you buy a mold, you’ll be on your way to making bath bombs, too! You can customize the ingredients, scent, and color. You can also use minimal, clean ingredients, which makes this a sustainable choice. This website has tutorials on how to make a variety of bath products!
Baked Goods: Got a knack for baking? Your freshly baked cookies will make a fantastic gift this holiday season. I enjoy setting aside a day each year to bake a wide range of cookies, which I then package up as presents. If this sounds like fun, plan to do it this year!
Reusable items
Beeswax wraps, Baggu bags, and water bottles are all great options that your friend or family member will keep forever! I love beeswax wraps because they can be used in a variety of ways. In a packed lunch, wrapping a sandwich, covering bowls, or storing fruits and veggies.
Reusable grocery bags are something that everyone should keep in their cars. Why not get some cute ones? Baggu bags are the best option. They have so many designs! Some options include Hello Kitty, strawberries, and ballet slippers.
Reusable water bottles are great, and they come in a variety of different styles for your needs. Hydroflask is my personal favorite, but Stanley, Yeti, and Owala also make great bottles. Just pick one up in their favorite color. Pro tip: get them some cute stickers to decorate it with, too!
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Cruelty-free brands
Shopping for beauty or self-care? Focus on sustainable and cruelty-free brands. Lush is known for its fresh, handmade products. Bath bombs, skincare, haircare, and fragrance are all available at Lush. They also focus on minimal packaging!
Tarte Cosmetics is a makeup brand that emphasizes sustainable packaging and natural ingredients. Their concealer is my favorite! Pacifica is another brand that focuses on sustainability. Their skincare, beauty, and fragrances are all vegan!
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By choosing to gift sustainably, you’re making a positive impact on the planet while guaranteeing a personal gift to your loved one. There is truly something for everyone. These gifts are so good that you’ll be dreaming of a green Christmas!
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Author: Jayne Turner is a freelance writer from Orange, California. She has a bachelor’s degree in Neuroscience with an emphasis on language and cognition. She has ten years of musical theatre experience and a lifelong love of reading. Utterly excited by the brain, she brings a fresh Gen Z perspective to the topics that intrigue us most
