By Adam Meddah
The gift giving season is upon us! From Hanukkah to Christmas and Kwanzaa, there are a plethora of holidays that people all around the world are celebrating. Holidays are portrayed to include an abundance of generosity with no restrictions. However, the practice of gift-giving is typically very wasteful; aiming to add some restrictions to the wrapping or types of gifts you buy will help the environment. Here are some great ways to reduce waste in gift-giving while retaining the joy of the holiday season!
One of the most wasteful conventions regarding gift giving is the use of gift wrap. Gift wrap is often used way more than necessary. The overwhelming majority of gift wrap is made out of non-recyclable materials. On top of that, some of the materials are inherently harmful. Glitter is a microplastic, which can be consumed by animals, leading to fatal consequences for our ecosystem.
However, there are more eco-friendly gift-wrapping choices. There are numerous recyclable options, such as gift wrap that doesn’t contain foil or glitter. From using newspapers to geographic maps, there are a multitude of gift-wrapping alternatives. Don’t be concerned, these options look equally as aesthetically pleasing!
Not only are these options both safer and cheaper than standard gift wrap, but they are also more unique and carry more substance as opposed to the usual store-bought options. Another way to wrap objects more efficiently is the art of furoshiki, in which you wrap objects using only a single piece of cloth. The cloths themselves are also referred to as furoshiki, and are available in different sizes; for a smaller gift, a tea towel might also do the trick and become part of the gift!
Due to their frequent inability to be recycled due to glitter and other embellishments, Christmas cards can also be extremely wasteful. They are frequently purchased for their visuals — therefore, it would be a waste not to reuse them! Cutting out the images from the card, writing the recipient’s name on the back, and using the images as gift tags are is a wonderful way to protect the environment while getting your money’s worth. This is not only a great method to reduce waste, but it’s also a fantastic craft idea that everyone can enjoy!
Household waste could rise by over 25% throughout the holiday season in Canada, according to beyond.ubc.ca. This is due to numerous factors, ranging from how the gifts are packaged to the contents of the gift itself. In a world plagued with landfills and pollution, limiting single-use items is of vital importance in the fight for the environment.
Qualities that define an environmentally-friendly gift include the material that the gift is made of, and whether it is reusable. For instance, clothing made of bamboo fabric is not only biodegradable, but has a longer lifespan, which means that it will not need a replacement as quickly. Another example of this is the water bottles that we take everywhere with us. Plastic single-use water bottles have a short lifespan and degrade into microplastics: terrible for the environment. Reusable water bottles made out of materials such as stainless steel or glass are both long-lasting and infinitely recyclable.
Think outside of the box for your next gift! Gifts aren’t limited to tangible products. Getting tickets for an experience or event reduces the toll on the environment and doesn’t add to household clutter. Tickets to a local museum or nature reserve not only make for a great experience, but also encourages the recipient to expand their knowledge and interact with the natural world.
With the holiday season rapidly approaching, it is the duty of every resident to do their part for the environment. Whether it be a clever gift-wrapping idea or limiting unnecessary purchases, there are many options to curb the rapid spread of pollution in our society.
Sources
Donelson, E. Never buy gift paper again: the ultimate guide to zero waste wrapping. URL: https://www.greenpeace.org/canada/en/story/27868/never-buy-gift-paper-again-the-ultimate-guide-to-zero-waste-wrapping/ (accessed Dec. 15, 2022).
Ali, C. Second-hand gifts, new experiences: shaking up holiday gift giving. URL: https://beyond.ubc.ca/shaking-up-holiday-gift-giving/ (accessed Dec. 15, 2022).
Pawson, C. O garbage pile: Why you should try to create less waste this holiday season. URL: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/holiday-waste-how-to-create-less-recycle-what-you-make-1.4944808 (accessed Dec. 15, 2022).
