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(And Not Just Give Stuff)
The air is crisp, the lights are twinkling, snow might be falling from the air (although we’re not hopeful here in the Netherlands), and the gift-giving pressure is starting to build.
But here’s the thing: you don’t need to add to the holiday madness with pointless gifts wrapped in a mountain of plastic. This year let’s flip the script and make it all about sustainable gifting. It’s better for the planet, your wallet, and way more thoughtful. So, you can actually say ‘it’s the thought that counts’ and mean it.
You can’t give your beauty loving family/friend some plasticised products that ruin their body more than they help. When it comes to body care, or even the plastic-filled laundry detergent, there are many things out there to make sure you can keep going with very logical sustainable alternatives.
Dental Hygiene: Smyle
Shampoo Bars: Happy Soaps
Laundry Detergent: Brauzz
Sunscreen: Naïf
The plain stuff you can give for the holidays has such a high risk of ending up cast aside. Instead, why not give an adventure that lasts a lifetime. Events don’t come with packaging or unnecessary waste. So, make it an experience through concerts, outings, classes, or events. Now, that’s what we call memorable.
Concert or Theatre Tickets.
A Cooking Class or Workshop.
An Outdoor Adventure.
Events/Festivals: We Love Green
From your kitchen to on-the-go, there’s always ways to be green with your greens. After crafting that meal, it would be a shame to ruin it by wrapping it in or having to eat it with plastic. Instead, why not go for a sustainable way that keeps the microplastics at bay.
Kitchen Roll: The Good Roll
Stainless Steel Lunchbox: Dille & Kamille
Dish Soap: Seepje
Kitchen Ware: Dille & Kamille
There’s nothing more thoughtful than a handmade gift. It’s also a perfect two-way street. Either you love doing this hobby and make something homemade or your friend loves to craft themselves and you can give them the materials necessary. DIY gifts show that you care without contributing to the mass consumerism frenzy. Plus, they often use way fewer resources than store-bought options.
Homemade Bath Salts or Body Scrubs
Homemade Baked Goods
Homemade Photo Albums or Memory Books
Homemade Stuffed Animals or Articles of Clothing
You can also make your gift works double-duty by choosing brands or products that support a good cause. Whether it’s fighting climate change, cleaning up the oceans, or empowering local communities, these gifts don’t only benefit the recipient. In fact, they help make the world a better place. An example is the jeans below which are produced with 72% less water than usual, a fellow water lover 😍! Now that’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Wooden Toys for Kids: Eco-Logisch
Fair-trade or Eco-friendly Clothing: MUD Jeans ; O My Bag ; Klabu
Give by Giving Again (Second hand): Vinted
Chocolate: Tony's Chocolonely
Packaging counts! The gift itself is not the only thing that requires thoughtfulness: the place, wrapping, or cards are equally important. It’s a sad truth that all that glitter, foil, and plastic tape means millions of tons of wrappings end up in the trash every year and most isn’t recyclable. Why don’t you try fabric wraps or up-cycled materials this year? Old maps, newspapers, and magazines are uniquely patterned to make your gift memorable before it’s even unwrapped.
Plantable seed paper greeting cards are a thoughtful and sustainable gift all on their own. After the holidays, the recipient can plant the card in soil, and it will grow into flowers, herbs, or vegetables. It’s a fun, zero-waste way to send your holiday wishes.
Shop locally! It has a lower carbon footprint because there is less transportation required. You can support your community by making sure your money goes directly to people who live and work in your area. And local businesses often have one-of-a-kind products that can make your gift stand out during gifting.
PS: Oh, wait, you’re still scrolling this guide, because you actually just wanted to gift a Dopper bottle? Well, we wouldn’t want to disappoint you, lovely reader. Shop them here, we're sure you’ll find one that exactly meets your needs. Happy hols!