The List: 6 Eco-Friendly Ways to Gift

Are you shopping green for your holiday gifts? As I’ve been rounding up gifts for my family and friends, I’ve been trying to be as responsible as possible: I’m shopping online or combining trips to the store so that I can cut down on the amount I drive, I’m making sustainable choices in what I buy, and I’m wrapping everything in sustainable gift wrap like newspaper, fabric scraps, and plain recycled craft paper.

As I’ve been brainstorming gift ideas, here are a few ways I’ve come up with to gift green.

1. Give a handmade gift. I recently bought a glass cutter that’s going to help me turn empty wine bottles into new creations, such as planters, candle holders, and glasses. You can find similar projects online that upcycle used goods: consider sewing a quilt from old T-shirts or make a photo collage on a piece of scrap wood. Gifts from the kitchen can also be sustainable, especially if you buy the ingredients in bulk and get creative with packaging. How about cookie mixes in a Mason jar, or homemade hot cocoa mix in a mug purchased at a resale shop?
2. Find a sustainable alternative. There’s just about always an earth-friendlier option when you’re shopping: perfume lovers are sure to enjoy an organic scent, while fashionistas will relish a pick from a clothing company like BeGood, which has a planet-friendly production cycle and a socially responsible mission. Check out some of the fantastic options at OneTwine, Recyclebank’s shop of carefully curated eco-friendly goods.

Read on for more eco-friendly ways to gift.