Supriya Sharma :
It isn’t just about fancy hampers and feel-good goody bags anymore. It is about using, making and gifting what’s great for you and the environment on the whole. No toxic materials, no BPAs, no harm to the planet. The world is on fire and the least you can do is to be more mindful about what you gift.
To get into the groove you could invest in a sustainable starter kit, with hacks like a bamboo hairbrush, handmade soaps and reusable food storage bag.
Or you could go for conscious options like gifting a tree, taking sponsorship for a forest or gifting seed bombs instead of flowers. This year, practical gifting is big with social media bloggers and influencers gifting useful items made at home.
Don’t buy, make something
DIY should be your mantra for gifting this year. In this day and age, handmade items show that you really care. Use material from around the house and cobble together something that indicates you put in time and effort. It could be something as old world as making a scrapbook or a more with-it craftwork like origami. It is not easy to coax people into going sustainable so the best you can do is gift it to them. Make something that can replace a toxic element in your loved one’s house. Be creative. Think cleaning vinegars, beeswax candles, natural deodorants, air freshners, incense sticks.
Reusable over cool
Practical or reusable gifts rock for a couple of reasons. One, because they are actually used – unlike a knick-knack – which might seem cool at first, but later sits on a shelf and collects dust. The other reason practical gifts are awesome is because they can be so much better for the planet, since they typically replace something that is usually disposable – like paper towels, plastic wraps or dryer sheets. For a life-changing gift that has a long shelf-life, consider a food scrap collection bin, or, if you’re looking to give a big-ticket item, a full-on compost bin. Give a reusable item like a grocery bag, travel mug, reusable cutlery set, metal/bamboo straws, or a stainless steel water bottle – gifts that will make the recipient ditch single use items.
Gift wellness
Nothing could be better than giving a combination of health and nature to your family. It could be gifting a massage, homemade baked goodies, flavoured salts or a gardening kit. Here are a few ideas:
– Upcycled backpack: Have an avid biker or hiker on your list this year? Gift a durable backpack that can hold everything needed for a daily commute or a long hike. You easily get packs made from 100 per cent upcycled materials.
– Silicone food bags: Food grade silicone contains no BPA, phthalates or petroleum, making these bags non-toxic and safe to use, even in the microwave. Perfect for sandwiches, snacks on-the-go and storing food too.
– Gift reusable make-up wipes: Sometimes, it doesn’t even occur to us how wasteful the products we use every day are or how easy it would be to make a reusable version. Case in point: make-up removing pads. Get an eco-friendly version of this must-have beauty item.
– Recycled plastic toys: From clay shaping kits to dollhouses, gift green toys this season. You can find toys made of 100 per cent recycled materials, and packaged the same way.
– Zero waste plants: House plants, perennial shrubs, succulents, veggies, you name it, nothing screams sustainability like plants. They create oxygen and look pretty. Use upcycled glass or metal containers for them.
Recycle old waste as gifts
Bring out your creativity by recycling old waste items as gifts. You could use leftover glass bottles, light bulbs and other waste products and create personalised gifts for your friends. Decorating old bottles with paint and making an installation or lampshade out of them is one such option. As for gift wrapping, make your own gift bags or boxes, go eco with brown recycled paper or wrap with fabric. Also, be sure about how you discard all the extra packaging that finds its way into your home this time of the year. Find ways to reuse what you can, and then find out what your community accepts as recycling. Be diligent about sorting your trash properly.
Green parties
Light up your home with LED lights, an easy way to make your holidays more sustainable. They are more expensive up front, but last longer and use far less electricity than traditional lights. That means less material in landfills in the long run, and less energy consumption. Gift rice paper lanterns and garlands instead of plastic balloons. Food waste is a big problem at parties. Try and use up the leftovers. Eat them for lunch; incorporate them into a new recipe.
Shop used
Buy and gift used clothes, shoes, cars, equipment, appliances, and furniture during festivals. Keep a lookout for thrift and garage sales
Dish out goodies
We all get hampers around festival but the joy of getting a homemade goodie bag is incomparable. You could bake banana bread, make a fruity marmalade or gift some fermented kombucha in recycled bottles.
It isn’t just about fancy hampers and feel-good goody bags anymore. It is about using, making and gifting what’s great for you and the environment on the whole. No toxic materials, no BPAs, no harm to the planet. The world is on fire and the least you can do is to be more mindful about what you gift.
To get into the groove you could invest in a sustainable starter kit, with hacks like a bamboo hairbrush, handmade soaps and reusable food storage bag.
Or you could go for conscious options like gifting a tree, taking sponsorship for a forest or gifting seed bombs instead of flowers. This year, practical gifting is big with social media bloggers and influencers gifting useful items made at home.
Don’t buy, make something
DIY should be your mantra for gifting this year. In this day and age, handmade items show that you really care. Use material from around the house and cobble together something that indicates you put in time and effort. It could be something as old world as making a scrapbook or a more with-it craftwork like origami. It is not easy to coax people into going sustainable so the best you can do is gift it to them. Make something that can replace a toxic element in your loved one’s house. Be creative. Think cleaning vinegars, beeswax candles, natural deodorants, air freshners, incense sticks.
Reusable over cool
Practical or reusable gifts rock for a couple of reasons. One, because they are actually used – unlike a knick-knack – which might seem cool at first, but later sits on a shelf and collects dust. The other reason practical gifts are awesome is because they can be so much better for the planet, since they typically replace something that is usually disposable – like paper towels, plastic wraps or dryer sheets. For a life-changing gift that has a long shelf-life, consider a food scrap collection bin, or, if you’re looking to give a big-ticket item, a full-on compost bin. Give a reusable item like a grocery bag, travel mug, reusable cutlery set, metal/bamboo straws, or a stainless steel water bottle – gifts that will make the recipient ditch single use items.
Gift wellness
Nothing could be better than giving a combination of health and nature to your family. It could be gifting a massage, homemade baked goodies, flavoured salts or a gardening kit. Here are a few ideas:
– Upcycled backpack: Have an avid biker or hiker on your list this year? Gift a durable backpack that can hold everything needed for a daily commute or a long hike. You easily get packs made from 100 per cent upcycled materials.
– Silicone food bags: Food grade silicone contains no BPA, phthalates or petroleum, making these bags non-toxic and safe to use, even in the microwave. Perfect for sandwiches, snacks on-the-go and storing food too.
– Gift reusable make-up wipes: Sometimes, it doesn’t even occur to us how wasteful the products we use every day are or how easy it would be to make a reusable version. Case in point: make-up removing pads. Get an eco-friendly version of this must-have beauty item.
– Recycled plastic toys: From clay shaping kits to dollhouses, gift green toys this season. You can find toys made of 100 per cent recycled materials, and packaged the same way.
– Zero waste plants: House plants, perennial shrubs, succulents, veggies, you name it, nothing screams sustainability like plants. They create oxygen and look pretty. Use upcycled glass or metal containers for them.
Recycle old waste as gifts
Bring out your creativity by recycling old waste items as gifts. You could use leftover glass bottles, light bulbs and other waste products and create personalised gifts for your friends. Decorating old bottles with paint and making an installation or lampshade out of them is one such option. As for gift wrapping, make your own gift bags or boxes, go eco with brown recycled paper or wrap with fabric. Also, be sure about how you discard all the extra packaging that finds its way into your home this time of the year. Find ways to reuse what you can, and then find out what your community accepts as recycling. Be diligent about sorting your trash properly.
Green parties
Light up your home with LED lights, an easy way to make your holidays more sustainable. They are more expensive up front, but last longer and use far less electricity than traditional lights. That means less material in landfills in the long run, and less energy consumption. Gift rice paper lanterns and garlands instead of plastic balloons. Food waste is a big problem at parties. Try and use up the leftovers. Eat them for lunch; incorporate them into a new recipe.
Shop used
Buy and gift used clothes, shoes, cars, equipment, appliances, and furniture during festivals. Keep a lookout for thrift and garage sales
Dish out goodies
We all get hampers around festival but the joy of getting a homemade goodie bag is incomparable. You could bake banana bread, make a fruity marmalade or gift some fermented kombucha in recycled bottles.