Sustainable gifts
Christmas doesn’t have to be a trash festival
Christmas is the time for presents: but it can also be done sustainably.
© ilona.shorokhova/Shutterstock.com
Instead of taking the next useless product and putting it under the tree, you can also give sustainably. Here are some tips.
The crises of the past have inspired many people to rethink things. Also Christmas is not left out. How many of the things we give or receive as gifts are actually needed? And how much does all of this affect the environment? The trend is therefore also towards sustainability when giving gifts.
What are sustainable gifts?
Sustainable gifts are made from resource-saving materials. If you buy something new, you should pay attention to sustainability seals. Even more environmentally friendly is making gifts by recycling existing household items. Even things that are no longer of use to you can bring joy to others: from clothes to toys and books, many things can be passed on even when used.
This is certainly not for everyone. But what all sustainable gifts have in common is that they are really used and appreciated. On the other hand, people who are perfectly happy and don’t need anything are probably most happy about spending time together…
Give experiences
It doesn’t always have to be a wellness weekend or a skydive. Even on a small budget, joint trips and experiences can be planned: a visit to a café together, a reading, a picnic, a home-cooked meal, a game evening or a walk in the forest with the grandparents are often enough. A lovingly designed voucher for it, perhaps with a snapshot of the last leisure activity together, rounds things off – it’s best to provide suitable date suggestions at the same time.
Do something good with gifts
If you want to make an animal lover happy, you can give away a sponsorship. For example, the WWF offers gift sponsorships for various animals such as polar bears and jaguars. This helps, among other things, to preserve the animals’ habitat. The German Animal Welfare Association also offers sponsorships – for animals that are cared for in animal protection facilities.
“Oxfam Unverpackt” also lists a variety of social projects for which you can place a donation under the tree as a gift. Various emergency aid and development projects can be supported in this way, for example with a donation for seeds or tree seedlings.
Give plant seeds
Herb seeds or growing sets are suitable gifts for people with green fingers and hobby gardeners. Various organic plant seeds are available in decorative wooden packaging – some with a nice message.