Eco Friendly Christmas Shopping Guide

Ever since the pandemic hit time has been warped which means somehow, we are yet again nearly at Christmas. So how do we turn a holiday that has been commercialised into the most materialistic holiday of the year into a greener holiday?

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1. Buy experiences

The best thing you can do is actually not buy anything materialistic. It doesn't matter how environmentally friendly something is, if it's not something your recipient will use, it's feeding into consumerism.

Try: buyagift.co.uk which has all sorts of things you can try, from sky diving to afternoon tea. You can go behind the scenes at your favourite football stadium or go glamping. Other examples might be museum passes (is my boyfriend reading this? hint hint), adventures like go ape, movie tickets, or musical experiences!

Bonus points: if you like your recipient, this is an opportunity for you to bond with them further! Buying your nibling a museum pass is great but it also creates the opportunity for you to hang out with them.

2. Make things

Make cookies or brownies or something else for someone. I'm not super sure about ranking this where it sits currently as making things can frequently be incredibly wasteful and require the purchase of many unsustainable materials such as resin and glue. So let me amend this to...

Make some food. Nothing says Christmas like homemade cookies. Maybe some homemade vanilla extract. I know this can be hard, this isn't necessarily the easiest one on the list especially if you're short on time or skills.

Making a handmade card can be a great activity with the kids too! Just be sure to stay away from the glitter, both for your sake and because of how glitter is a massive polluter.

3. Buy Secondhand

This is always such a tricky one for Christmas. Regifting things is taboo and people don't tend to appreciate it if you show up with a present that's clearly battered. The main thing here is having a chat with the recipients to ensure that everyone is on the same page. But there are a few things that I imagine would be fine regardless. For example, anyone who likes collecting anything will probably be fine with a second hand (book, bags, figurines, stamps, I'm not really sure what people collect anymore).

As with most gift giving, the key is to know what your recipient actually wants, to give a thoughtful present that they would appreciate. If you don't know them well enough to give a genuine present? Tell them I told you it's un-eco friendly or just regift them some wine (that you yourself didn't particularly want). Something consumable that they can slyly regift at the next party they attend.

4. Buy Eco

Okay, so we're FINALLY at buy eco. The first three are the most ideal because they don't contribute to the cycle of consumerism, but if we are to consume let's consume well. But what does that actually mean?

There are so many facets to this, many of which make the list. But for this one, this one means something made of sustainable materials. What does sustainable mean? Well, something that is renewable is the ideal.

Sustainability for materials goes like this:

1. Upcycled and recycled biodegradable materials. Recycled wood, deadstock cotton, glass, etc.
2. Virgin biodegradable materials
3. Recycled plastic. Preferably not in clothes or anything that undergoes frequent washing as they will shed microplastics into our water stream, but plastic is an incredibly versatile and durable good that can add a lot of good to people's lives if used correctly. It can be more sustainable to buy one plastic item that will last generations instead of consistently buying new ones out of biodegradable materials.

There are two key things to keep in mind when buying eco:

1. Longevity--how long do you see your recipient using the item? A day? A year? A decade? Aim for something that will last longer. Websites like buymeonce.com help filter out items that are meant to last a lifetime.
2. Usefulness--how often do you see your recipient using the item? Is it something that they will use frequently? Bonus: if it's useful, they'll think about you every time they use it and be reminded of how good of a friend/family member you are. For example, if they're a cook, they may use their knives every day and a quality set of knives are ideal. Websites like https://www.boroughkitchen.com/ can help you find quality items that are meant to last a lifetime.

5. Buy small and local

It isn't always easy to keep so many things in mind, and push comes to shove, it is always important to buy small and local. Supporting smaller businesses is key to creating a thriving local economy where money stays where it's needed. Local communities are key to creating a more sustainable future.

Websites like https://www.notonthehighstreet.com/ are great for stocking small businesses. Their products may not be perfect, and may even (gasp) come packaged in plastic. But local businesses are more likely to reinvest money back into their community both directly (via hiring practices or charity) or indirectly (via supply chain management and clientele).

Above all, avoiding a massive company like Amazon is incredibly important--those knock-off items and next day deliveries are costing the earth, y'all! Literally!

In the coming weeks, I'll be sharing more of my favourite eco-friendly and small businesses. Have a specific product you're looking for? Leave a comment or message me on my Instagram and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!