Redefining Presents
In today's world, we often associate the word 'present' with a tangible, material item. One easy way to change this mindset is to substitute the word "gift" for the word present because it can encompass so much more than a material object. For example, giving the gift of an experience can be a great option. Trade in the plastic-encased, shipped across the world item for a concert, a nice dinner at a new restaurant, a spa day, maybe a round of golf, rock climbing, ice skating lessons, the possibilities are endless.
For a larger crowd, consider a group activity such as a book exchange, suggest gifts that are homemade, or schedule a day in the kitchen or the workshop.
A common concern with giving a present is, "what if they don't like it?" Well, the thinking goes, "I can just buy something, and he or she could always return it and get something that they do like." This thinking sounds like an excellent idea, but the truth is that many stores often throw away returned items, even when nothing is wrong with them. Optoro, a return optimization platform, released its findings to Retail Drive that, "5 billion pounds of returned goods end up in landfills [...] returns process accounts for 1.6 billion gallons of diesel fuel and 15 million metric tons of CO2." This practice is a massive waste of resources and contributes to an unhealthy and unsustainable planet, which we should try to avoid at all costs.
If you are struggling with ideas, a good alternative would be to go on a shopping trip with them. Spending good quality time together, they get to pick out something they will like, and hopefully, we won't be continuing to contribute to the cycle of waste upon waste. Although not as fun to open, giving a gift card is another way to avoid returning items, and there are ways to dispose of plastic gift cards properly. White Elephant (or Yankee Swap, or Dirty Santa, etc) presents may be funny. However, these gifts are often of poor quality, made in a foreign country, made of plastic wrapped in plastic, and often go unused or thrown away. If you get dragged into a White Elephant present exchange, be mindful of what you are giving. Maybe re-gift something that you are not using, or opt for a food item to be consumed instead of tossed in the trash.
Guidelines For Product Purchasing
When giving an experience or activity isn't possible, or you are looking for a material gift, here are some sustainable guidelines to follow when shopping:
#1 Look For Certifications
Certifications, or the lack thereof, can be used as significant indicators of sustainability. The best part of this strategy is that it takes away the stress of having to do all the research yourself. A few sustainable certifications are Made in the USA (or local state), B Corps, Carbon Neutral, Vegan, ENERGY STAR, Fairtrade, and Global Organic Textile Standard. For a more extensive list of certifications, the Ecolabel Index is a great resource.
