Socially Conscious Gift Ideas

The holiday season is now upon us! November and December are often accompanied by immense consumerism in the United States, as well as by an abundance of polluting waste from wrapping paper, plastic objects, and discarded gifts from years past. In order to minimize the amount of waste we are collectively producing as a society this holiday season, here are a few socially conscious gift ideas that will still make your loved ones smile.

 

Consider making a donation.

There are a plethora of incredible organizations out there that need donations in order to serve the environment, animals, and members of the community. Donating in honor of someone you love can be a great way to honor that person, make a difference in your community (either either a local, national, or global scale), and prevent more waste from being deposited into the environment around you.

 

Give the gift of experience.

Instead of physical gifts to the people around you, consider gifting them an experience. For example, offer to take them on a hike, on a trail cleanup expedition, or to do another fun (and earth friendly, ideally) activity! Experiences will allow you to spend more quality time with the people you love, and will allow for the creation of more meaningful memories than if you had just given them an object.

 

If you feel that physical gifts are essential for your loved ones, try to choose recycled and earth-friendly items!

Get recycled items for your friends if possible! Reusing is always a good policy so that you’re not wasting any new materials. If you feel so inspired, you could even make your own DIY gifts out of recycled materials.