This blog post was written by Environmental Club President Megan Phelps. The holiday season is characterized by a combination of contradictions. Along with the emphasis on togetherness and connection comes a culture of obsessive consumption of material goods. On Black Friday alone, Americans spent about 3 billion dollars on, well, stuff. From cradle to grave, excessive consumption is detrimental to the environment: Raw material extraction damages ecosystems and produces byproducts that are toxic to wildlife. Manufacturing is powered by fossil fuels, releasing carbon (and various pollutants into the air and contributing to global climate change. Consumers purchase the goods, reinforcing that process, and then throw them away, filling up our landfills and creating plastic pollution. This year, I want to do things differently. I am planning to give meaningful gifts that are light on the earth. Here are some ways to make your gifts count: CHOOSE LOCAL Buying from small, local businesses strengthens your local economy and your community bonds. ~Ideas~ Shop your local farmer’s market Search Etsy (be sure to refine your search under “Shop Location”) Visit local small businesses around your neighborhood Give a jar of local honey Go to a swap meet in your area BUY FAIR Many consumer goods are made in factories overseas that exploit workers and subject them to unsafe working conditions. By purchasing goods with a fair trade seal (or made by ethical companies), you are supporting fair conditions for people. ~Ideas~ Alter Eco Chocolate Equal Exchange Coffee GIVE GREEN Plants and seeds make great gifts, and are carbon negative, making them beneficial to the planet! ~Ideas~ Heirloom Seeds Garden Grow Kits Bee Kind Seed Packet Visit a local nursery to give an already-growing plant ECO-FRIENDLY TOOLS Give a gift that can help your loved one green up their lifestyle. ~Ideas~ Insulated Klean Kanteen Brush with Bamboo Toothbrush Reusable Produce Bags Simply Straw Reusable Glass Straw Reusable Cotton Rounds GO ORGANIC Purchase organic cotton or wool, hemp, bamboo, or cashmere if giving something to wear. Synthetic fibers (such as polyester, nylon, or spandex) shed microfibers into waterways when washed. Conventional plant fibers (such as non-organic cotton) are grown using pesticides, which disrupt ecosystems and lead to cancer in humans. ~Ideas~ Maggie’s Organic Cotton and Wool Socks DIY Cable Headband Kit Rawganique Organic Hemp Scarf MAKE IT YOURSELF Making a gift yourself adds a personal connection (plus, it is better for your wallet!). ~Ideas~ Bake cookies (gingersnaps are nice and festive!) Whip up some granola (this is a basic recipe) Knit a scarf Sew organic cotton face rounds (here is a good tutorial if you use a sewing machine, or you can do what I did and wing it) Craft body balm Create spa goods INVEST TO LAST Many products have a planned obsolescence, which is a manufacturing ploy to get consumers to keep buying. If you purchase goods that are made to last, there is less waste! ~Ideas~ Buy Me Once Cherry Space Pen Buy Me Once Soccer Ball SECOND IS BEST Buying items second hand diverts waste and reduces the strain on the planet’s resources by just reusing what’s already in existence! ~Ideas~ Visit your local thrift, vintage, or charity shop Search ebay.com or etsy.com (be sure to filter “used” for Item Type) MAKE A DONATION Donate to an organization your loved one believes in in their honor for a tangible, positive impact. Give them the gift of giving! ~Ideas~ The ACLU Planned Parenthood 350.org Our Revolution Earth Justice The Sierra Club PRESENCE OVER PRESENTS Give an experience instead of an object for a lasting memory. ~Ideas~ Coupons for: A bike ride and picnic in a scenic spot A nice meal A trip to gelato A trip to the thrift store Lessons of a skill you have (e.g. if you play guitar, you can offer to give them a lesson; if you are a great gardener, you can offer to plan and start their garden) A pass for a local museum A membership to a yoga studio A National Parks Pass A class at a local community college Tickets to a concert, play, or improv show An art class Psst: Phyla is a good company that allows you to create custom bundles of gifties for your friends and family. Each bundle includes a donation to a nonprofit, and is either organic, USA-made, fair trade, or crafted to replace toxic materials.
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