Three Tips for a More Sustainable Gift-Giving

Climate change and sustainability awareness are on the rise, and people want to do better. Most of the time, it’s impossible to 100% eliminate harm from what we do and consume, but harm reduction can be a good concept to adopt. So, of course, we’re looking to find better, more sustainable alternatives for us and our loved ones.

Special occasions and holidays usually mean gifts and presents. How can we show them we care while also caring about human rights and the environment? Here are three things to keep in mind if we want to try to be more sustainable in our gift-giving endeavors:

Quality & Personality

It’s tempting to look for creative and unique gifts to avoid being boring. However, it’s even more important to gift someone something of good quality that you know for sure they will really like and use for a long time. Giving them something unique just for it to be a waste will not benefit anybody. Plus, high quality usually means longevity—keeping it away from landfills.

Small & Local or Big & Certified

Sustainability is about more than just the environment; it’s about people, too. Before you buy your gifts, research how the businesses you’re supporting are run. When buying from big companies, avoid greenwashing by looking up their sustainability commitments and reports. You can also look out for certifications to help you decide. If you can find what you’re looking for from a small local business, even better! Besides boosting the local economy, this will minimize packaging waste and shipping emissions. Oh, it might also be easier for you to know how small businesses pay their staff, source their ingredients, and generally operate.

Wrap Smart

Arguably, the most fun part of receiving a present is tearing up the wrapper. Reusing papers, newspapers, coffee bags, and other stuff could make for some creative alternatives to buying regular wrapping papers. You can also opt for fabric, boxes, or even bags so the recipient can reuse the wrapper for something else, prolonging its lifecycle.

Bigger than us

While it’s good that we want to do our part for sustainability as individuals, don’t forget that the responsibility has never been equal. World leaders and policymakers hold the key to the major decisions that will make or break our fight against the climate crisis; 100 companies were responsible for more than 70% of the world’s emissions since 1988.

As individuals, we have a voice we can make heard by people in power. As consumers, we have the potential to create demand for better, more sustainable products. The little things matter, too.

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Nazalea Kusuma

Managing Editor at Green Network Asia | Website | + posts

Naz is the Manager of International Digital Publications at Green Network Asia. She is an experienced and passionate writer, editor, proofreader, translator, and creative designer with over a decade of portfolio. Her history of living in multiple areas across Southeast Asia and studying Urban and Regional Planning exposed her to diverse peoples and cultures, enriching her perspectives and sharpening her intersectionality mindset in her storytelling and advocacy on sustainability-related issues and sustainable development.