The 3 Best Sustainable Holiday Gift Ideas

Key takeaways:

• The festive season often leaves a significant environmental impact.
• Conscious gifts, like adopting a tree, can be heartfelt and deeply thoughtful alternatives.
• Experiences remain the most meaningful and memorable presents you can give.

The snow’s coming down… or maybe not, because of global warming. Mariah Carey may already be taking over our social media feeds, but even her invasion won’t fix what’s happening to our planet. 

Without serious action, we are on track to exceed 3°C of global warming by 2030. [1] In a couple of years, holiday movies could shift their setting a bit: frosty scenes, chilly air, and festive cheer could be replaced with beach sands and swimsuits (even if they don’t take place in Australia).

And our snow globes could be filled with trash instead of snow. Yes, because the festive season is also the most… wasteful time of the year. Waste from households typically increases during the December-January period by around 30%. [2] With extra packaging, disposable decorations, and especially those plastic-packed “oh, you shouldn’t have” gifts, the average person generates a mountain of discarded materials that are tough to recycle. In the UK alone, a shocking £42 million worth of unwanted presents end up in landfills every year. [3]

We know that between societal expectations and last-minute shopping, practicing ethics during this period can be challenging. But don’t worry – we’ve got your back with a bunch of mindful ideas.

Gifts that give…

Why settle for a gift that just sits there when you can choose one that literally gives back to the planet? Opt for charity donations, fair-trade, and conscious treasures – thoughtful presents can help reduce environmental impact and make a positive difference.

A recent study revealed that 73% of consumers consider environmental consciousness a major factor when making their holiday purchases. [4] If you’re one of them (if not, you really should be), have a look at the ECONYL®’s e-shop, featuring garments, accessories, and house decor pieces made with regenerated nylon.

Overwhelmed by all the awesome options? No worries! Here are two suggestions to kick-start your shopping: the Pacsafe Vibe 25L anti-theft backpack for your work-and-adventure crew, and the Cayton Core Lightweight Hoodie by GoofyPRO for your sporty-glam pals.

…Gifts that grow…

Forget plastic and single-use items: level up your festive game and give your loved ones something that sprouts or blooms. Plants, seed kits, or trees are perfect presents for anyone with a green thumb or who simply loves nature.

You can adopt a tree from anywhere through Treedom. The plants added through the platform in 2023 alone, will help absorb around 139,732.72 tonnes of CO₂ over their first 10 years of life. [5] If you’re looking for plantable products, check out Sprout World for innovative seed-infused pencils or makeup.

…Gifts that gather

Nothing beats sharing experiences like crafting or cooking. Whether you choose something to enjoy with a friend, partner, or family, or prefer a solo adventure as a reward to yourself, the possibilities are endless.

A recent Eventbrite survey underlined that 78% of Millennials prefer activities over products. [6] Book theatre or sports match tickets, museum entrances, or natural reserve memberships. You can also organize a group cooking class or sign up for a foreign language course.

What better gift than “time”– to create memories, deepen connections, and care for our planet?

A sneak peek to our next article

It may seem like the small things don’t matter, but every action we’ve highlighted plays a crucial role in reducing our environmental impact. Want to know what else we can do to make our community more sustainable starting today? Find out in our next article!

[1] “Germany, UK, Italy: Should Europeans say goodbye to a white Christmas as the world heats up?”, Euronews, available at: https://www.euronews.com/green/2022/12/18/white-christmas-is-climate-change-making-snow-during-the-holiday-season-less-likely
[2] “Four tips for better recycling at Christmas”, BBC, available at: https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-63862344
[3] “Should we regift unwanted Christmas presents?”, Friends of the Earth, available at: https://friendsoftheearth.uk/sustainable-living/should-we-regift-unwanted-christmas-presents
[4] “Action and activism: Gen Z influence on holiday shopping”, Forbes, available at: https://www.forbes.com/sites/sap/2023/12/01/action-and-activism-gen-z-influence-on-holiday-shopping/#:~:text=Gen%20Z%20wants%20goods%20sustainably,into%20its%20fleet%20by%202030
[5] “Treedom impact report 2023”, Treedom, available at: https://static.treedom.net/reports/01_Impact_Report_2023_EN_Ver1.pdf
[6] “Millennials fueling the experience economy”, Eventbrite, available at: https://eventbrite-s3.s3.amazonaws.com/marketing/Millennials_Research/Gen_PR_Final.pdf