Hey earth muffins! As the holiday season approaches, many of us look forward to the joy of giving and receiving gifts. However, for those committed to an eco-friendly lifestyle, receiving non-sustainable presents can be a challenge. You want to be polite and grateful to someone for taking the time (and spending the money) to get you the item… But, you want to make sure you actually can use and appreciate the gift! In this blog post, we’ll explore proactive strategies to guide your loved ones toward choosing environmentally conscious gifts; they are a great way to avoid getting non-eco gifts for Christmas!
1. Communicate your values to your loved ones
Openly communicate your commitment to a sustainable lifestyle and sustainability values. Share your eco journey with those closest to you often so that they know you would prefer more eco-friendly gifts. You can’t expect someone to opt for something more sustainable if they don’t know you would prefer it in the first place.
2. Create an eco-friendly wishlist
A lot of my family and friends will ask me in passing what I am hoping to receive for the holidays. Take this opportunity to share about the eco items that are on your wishlist! You could even consider curating a wishlist of sustainable items you’d love to receive on Amazon.
3. Encourage experiences over actual gifts
Suggest experiences or activities as gifts. This could be anything from tickets to a concert, a cooking class, or a weekend getaway. Experiences create lasting memories without contributing to material consumption.
4. Suggest secondhand and/or local, small business gifts
Make sure your loved ones know that you prefer local, small businesses over larger chain stores. In addition, you can even mention how much you like secondhand items as well. Hopefully this will guide family and friends to embrace the idea of secondhand gifting and/or supporting local shops in your area. Such a great way to avoid non-eco gifts for Christmas!
5. Drop hints for your favorite baked goods
For relatives who make a certain delicious snack or baked good, suggest that they make you a batch for Christmas instead of getting you a gift. You can drop subtle hints like “Man, I haven’t had that *secret family recipe* in awhile” or “I’ve been craving your *secret recipe cookies*!”. Some sort of baked gift is not only personal but also reduces the environmental impact associated with manufacturing as well.
6. Opt for e-gift cards
Some people always give money or gift cards each year. For those people, politely suggest a store where you can purchase a gift card virtually. This will save on plastic and allows you to choose items according to your preferences, ensuring that the gift aligns with your eco values.
7. Ask for donations instead of money/gift cards
Or, you could encourage friends and family to make a donation to a charity or cause you care about in lieu of a gift. There are so many planet-friendly non-profits to support!
8. Lead by example
The best way to get others to start giving eco gifts is to make sure you are giving sustainable gifts! Show through your actions that you can still have a wonderful zero waste Christmas full of personal (but eco-friendly!) gifts. Your loved ones will hopefully be inspired to follow suit!
By communicating your values, providing alternatives, and embracing sustainable practices, you can encourage your friends and family to join you in celebrating a greener, more mindful holiday season. However, if they completely miss the memo, be polite and grateful for the gifts you have received. There is always some purpose they can serve, even if they are donated or given to someone else in the future. How do you suggest others give you eco gifts for the holidays??
Love,
Jenna ♥
