Live Well: Green Gift-Giving Guide

Looking for ways to make the holidays greener and healthier this year? Ecofriendly gifts are a great way to make a bigger impact with a smaller footprint.

Try these simple strategies to make your holiday greener:

• Repurpose wrapping supplies. Use newspaper or wrapping paper from past holidays as gift wrap, or skip paper altogether and choose a reusable gift basket.
• Limit gifts. Cutting back on the number of gifts you give is another way to reduce waste. Limit your gifts exchange to a certain dollar amount or number of gifts.
• Give experiences. Declare a “no gift” holiday and opt for experiences instead. Cooking classes, day trips, or volunteering can be more meaningful than tangible gifts.
• Give subscriptions. Online subscriptions or community supported agriculture (CSA) memberships do not require shipping or packaging.
• Give your time. In lieu of a gift, offer to help out with yard work, home repairs, or other odd jobs.
• Make a donation. You can also make a donation to a charity on someone else’s behalf.

If you prefer to give a tangible gift this season, here are some greener gift ideas:

• Reusable anything. Water bottles, produce bags, stainless or silicone drinking straws, shopping totes, or kitchen towels.
• Edible gifts. Honey, seasonings, tea, fruit baskets, nuts, baked goods, vitamins, kombucha kits, homemade jams or jellies, or a sourdough starter from your kitchen.
• Plant-lover gifts. Houseplants, watering cans, fermentation kits, or vegetarian cookbooks.
• Homemade gifts. Hand-knitted items, cleansers, handwritten poems or letters, artwork, or sugar scrubs.
• Transportation & fitness. Bicycle, scooter, athletic shoes, workout gear, or exercise equipment.
• Everyday living staples. Pillows, umbrellas, wool dryer balls, or fabric shower curtain liners.
• Outdoor-enthusiast gifts. Bird feeders, birdseed, gardening supplies, camping supplies, or wildflower seeds.
• Books. Digital or downloadable versions of books.
• Go green this year and spruce up the holidays with ecofriendly gifts.