You’ve reached panic mode about your Christmas shopping, but don’t want the usual 3 for 2 that no one uses. Perhaps you’re looking for some inspiration on all-year gift ideas that are both sustainably sourced, and cost effective?
In this blog, we’ll be looking at some of the most environmentally-friendly ways of giving to your loved ones this holiday.
Eco-friendly stores
Wearth partners with eco-friendly companies to give you an assortment of gifts for all the family. The coolest thing about the site is that you can sort the products based on ‘values’. This includes vegan friendly, organic, or even products that contribute to social causes (our favourite).
From reusable lunch bags to soy candles, you won’t be hard-pressed to find something to suit the recipient’s taste alongside your budget.
If you’re still stuck for ideas, why not put together an eco-starter set courtesy of the Wise House. Simply select the type of gift set you’d like, and then pick the items you’d like to add to it. Try not to get too carried away with how many you choose, as the prices can start to creep up.
DIY
Making the perfect gift yourself isn’t as difficult as you might think. Whilst a certain amount of preparation is needed, you’ll find the art of doing-it-yourself relaxingly rewarding. Not only have you saved on buying products that come wrapped in tonnes of plastic, but you’re also focusing less on the monetary value of the gift. If you’re stuck for ideas we’ve got five great ones for all abilities to get you started:
Reusable cotton pads (for the crocheters)
A cute sweater bed (for our pet lovers)
Final touches
Once you’ve found the perfect sustainable gift, you still need to wrap it! A recent survey from GP Batteries found that people in the UK will throw away the equivalent of 108 million rolls of wrapping paper, most of which isn’t recyclable. That’s a huge waste of money, and has a big impact on our environment.
The best option is to buy a large roll of recyclable brown paper, which you can add your own personal touches to. Buying in bulk is both cost-effective and also gives it an element of sophistication that commercial wrapping paper sometimes lacks.
Bonus round
Did you know you can have someone babysit your Christmas tree after you’ve used it? That’s right, there are companies that sell you a potted Christmas tree, and after the holidays they collect it from your home and tend to it until you’re ready to pick up the following year. London Christmas Tree Rental is one such place that does this.
Another way of disposing of your tree is by donating it to a local Hospice to raise money for their charity. A quick Google search should bring up a range of organisations to donate to. What could be better than seeing your tree do some good even after it’s passed its shelf life?
Next year – a wind farm or solar park!
Next year we’ll be launching a gift option for Ripple’s wind farms and solar parks. You’ll be able to join one of our clean energy cooperatives ahead of Christmas, and can ask your friends and family to contribute towards the cost of your bit of a wind farm or solar park. We think it’s the perfect, sustainable Christmas present!
