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The perfect gift is one that your giftee will use, love and align with their values. When it comes to finding the perfect gift for eco friendly friends and family that can require a little extra digging into a company’s ethics and sustainable policies… before purchasing the gift. Yet, even if you aren’t picking out gifts from brands with detailed sustainability reports, there are a few things you can look for to ensure that your gift will be as good for them as it is for the environment.
Shop Vintage
There’s a popular saying among those who have given up fast fashion. ‘The most sustainable items are the ones that you already have.” This mantra takes the focus away from buying new, to find value in items that don’t require new resources. Try shopping for items in your own home first. A heirloom chest set, a handmade Christmas ornament or even a beautiful scarf that you friend has been eyeing call all become thoughtful gifts. You can also apply this same ‘shop used first’ concept by visiting vintage shops for one-of-a-kind items too. Second-hand shopping is an eco-friendly way to reuse, recycle and better manage our earth’s resources. And, that will make a thoughtful gift that your eco-friendly giftee is sure to love.
Go Vegan
Vegan diets help the environment. A report by the United Nations Environment Programme shows that a global shift to a more plant-based diet could reduce greenhouse gases by 70%. By limiting meat consumption or choosing to go vegan, we are making a sustainable lifestyle choice that can benefit the environment. If you’re shopping for gifts for eco friendly vegans consider the materials that your gift is made from. Avoid silk, wool or leathers as these are all derived from animals. Instead, focus on peace silk, cotton or vegan leathers. There are even a few great plant-based leathers available on the market now thanks to sustainable innovations.
Avoid Plastic Packaging
The Environmental Protection Agency estimated that 14 million tons of plastic packaging was generated in 2018 with only 13.6% being recycled. That pales in comparison with paper packaging which had a recycling rate of 96.5. Although, it should be noted that more than 33 million tons of paper packing was generated that year which is more than double that of plastic.
Gift Shopping At Etsy? Look For Recycled & Recyclable Packaging
Paper packaging is more likely to be recycled than plastic and poses less risk of becoming landfill waste. Take this to heart when picking out gifts for eco friendly giftees. Skip the extra tissue paper or plastic bag. Look for packaging like glass jars, paper boxes or other types of containers that your giftee can reuse. You can even look for packaging that is made from recycled materials for your gift too.
Shop B Corp Brands
Support the brands that are doing good. B Corps are brands that place making a positive impact on the same level has profit. That means that they put into sustainable initiatives such as mindfully using raw resources or minimizing plastic packaging. There is also an ethical aspect too. In order to meet the requirements for the B Corp certification, brands must adhere to audits and verify that labor and human rights laws are upheld across their supply chain.
Support Sustainable/ Ethical Brands
There are also brands taking responsibility for their impact on both the environment and the workers across their supply chain, but who don’t necessarily have a certification from a third party stating so. That doesn’t mean that they aren’t eco-friendly, sustainable or ethical. Look to see if the brand has a sustainability tab on their website or see if they detail the sustainable initiatives in the product description. There are also other questions that you can ask yourself as well. Does the brand publish a sustainability report? Are they transparent about their workers’ wages? Do they use organic or recycled materials? These are a few questions to ask to learn more about a sustainable brand’s ethics.
For more about eco-friendly brands and certifications, read:
The Humanity Behind Our Clothes: Why Ethical Fashion Matters
Feel, Shop & Do Good With These B-Corp Companies
Are Sustainable Certifications The Way? Not Necessarily.
Go Zero Waste
One of the best gifts for eco friendly giftees are the ones that will help them to become more eco friendly. These items will help them to reduce their waste and will often be reusable products that will replace single-use plastic items. For instance, a reusable steel water bottle or cloth tote bag are both great gifts to help reduce plastic waste and step away from their single-use plastic counterparts. And, your giftee will appreciate the help to put them on the the path to a zero waste lifestyle.
Give Back
One of the best gifts are the gifts that keep on giving. Is there a cause that is close to your friend’s heart? Give a charity donation in their name. Or, make a purchase from a brand that will give back to a nonprofit that supports a cause like animal welfare, childhood education or human rights.