The Gaia Project’s Conscious Gift Guide to Sustainable Holiday Gifts

Who doesn’t love getting into the holiday spirit? Playing in the snow and participating in all sorts of winter activities like skating, sledding, or even cuddling up inside by a fire with hot chocolate. Despite the joy that can come from holiday shopping, consumerism has become a huge part of the holiday season and our everyday lives. Consumerism is not only bad for the environment, but the pockets of everyday people. This harmful practice is one of the largest global emissions contributors, driving carbon-heavy processes like manufacturing and transportation. Yikes!

The good news is each of you can make this holiday season fun and sustainable. Climate change threatens our entire planet but changing your shopping habits can help in the fight against it. So why not save money by choosing more eco-friendly options when deciding what to buy your loved ones? Our team at The Gaia Project proudly engages in sustainable shopping year-round. Check out our teams’ top strategies for greening your Christmas giving this year!

In The Conscious Gift Guide, you’ll learn how to make your holiday shopping eco-friendly without sacrificing any of the fun. The first step is following this question guide before making any purchase for a loved one or even yourself:  

1. Do they really need/want this? To test this out try asking family/friends to create a list or collage of gift ideas.
2. Do they already have something similar at home?
3. What advantage will this new product give them over an older one they may already have?
4. Would they be receiving this or something similar from someone else? 

Keep in mind the 6 R’s while gift giving during the holiday season 

• Recycle
• Reduce  
• Reuse  
• Refuse  
• Repair 
• Rot 

Thrifting  

Consider browsing the thrift for gifts, before going to buy new. The thrift store is the perfect place to browse around on a gloomy day with friends or family. Not only will you support the planet and save yourself money, but there are numerous other benefits as well. Thrifting supports your local community, decreases air pollution, it may support charitable organizations, reduces textile waste, helps reduce your carbon footprint, and can help you create your own personal style. Thrift stores are home to so many well-loved and unique pieces you are likely unable to find elsewhere at a similar price point. Thrift stores have an ever-changing selection for you to choose from, as new items are rotated in, so no concerns about repeating items or styles. For a quirky aunt or uncle, a unique mug, dish or knickknack may be the perfect gift. Browse the T-shirt section for a vintage T-shirt for a trendy cousin or sibling. The possibilities for one-of-a-kind and thoughtful gifts for loved ones are endless.  You never know what you can find at the thrift store, many sell items beyond clothing such as electronics, appliances, toys, furniture, home goods, jewelry, books, knickknacks and more. Further, donating and buying used items keeps them from landfills while simultaneously preserving resources needed for making new goods.

Second hand  

When shopping online, before looking on websites like Amazon for brand-new items check for retailers selling used, reused, and up-cycled goods first. Some great second-hand online hubs include Facebook Marketplace, eBay, Kijiji, Poshmark, Depop, and many more. Many products look as good as new while also being cheaper than something new. Secondhand products are often more durable and are still in great condition compared to their newer and cheaply made counterparts that may not hold up as well over time. Buying pre-loved items can reduce your spending, which is crucial during the holiday season and is more sustainable as it reduces the waste and energy consumption involved in producing new items. To read: Why companies make products that don’t last.

Buy locally  

Buying locally reduces both pollution and carbon by reducing the needs of transportation, unlike shopping online and having items shipped to you. Local companies and organizations are crucial. In fact, almost 98% of Canadian businesses are small companies and employ over 10 million Canadians. Buying within your community means that employment levels are more likely to be stable and can potentially create more opportunities for residents to work within the community. Money that is spent in the community, can later be re-spent locally, which boosts the overall level of economic activity, actively paying more salaries, and building up the tax base of the area. Locally owned businesses do more good; they contribute more to local charities and fundraisers than do their national counterparts. There is no shortage of markets of all sizes during the Holiday season, where you can find anything from jams and jellies to fine jewelry and all things in between. Grab your reusable tote bag and go prepared to get into the holiday spirit, while supporting local! Many communities host markets, booths, and holiday sales where local vendors can sell their goods or consider looking up what stores near you are locally owned! 

Upcycling  

Upcycling is the process of taking a used item and recycling it or fixing it, creating a product of greater value than the original. This method specifically focuses on reusing and repurposing existing materials. Some examples include brands that turn single-use plastics into clothing like Addidas recycled shoes and Patagonia’s plastic jackets, or you may have even seen people rescuing secondhand furniture and repairing the items giving them a second life or function. Upcycling has a plethora of benefits; it both saves materials and reduces what goes into landfills, actively reducing waste, along with curbing pollutants of air, land and water that occur in the process of producing new goods.  There is no short to videos and websites where you can see the upcycled creations of others to spark your creative side. Try combining some of our previous tips to create upcycled gifts from second-hand items and become an eco-hero and pro gift giver.

Repurposing with DIY projects  

 DIY or ‘Do it Yourself’ is the active choice to do a task or create your own good rather than hiring a professional for a particular task or buying directly from a store or vendor. DIY projects for your loved ones allows you to get creative and create one-of-a-kind gifts your friends and family are sure to love whilst saving money. These projects do not require the use of items you currently own, at your local thrift stores or markets you may find gorgeous salvageable items. Online you can find no shortage of inspiration and ideas to get crafty.

A display of dogwood wreaths for sale, made by children at the Tantramar Wetlands Centre in Sackville, NB. 

We recommend looking up upcycled crafts and ideas online to help kickstart your imagination TikTok and Pinterest are great starting points if you are unsure.

Some last-minute tips

To help you keep green this Christmas: avoid impulse buying, this can be achieved by creating a list of what you’re looking for. When looking for a gift is for someone special, avoid looking at items you are interested in, not only will this help you save money, but it will help mother earth by not looking for new items that you likely do not need. Try to not rely on shopping (even online) if you’re feeling down, there are much more fun and eco-friendly ways to get rid of unwanted emotions such as working out, creating art, spending time with friends, or getting outside. 

While you deck the halls remember all you remembered from The Conscious Gift Guide to Sustainable Holiday Gifts. Whether you’re thrifting for unique finds, exploring second-hand treasures, supporting local businesses, or diving into DIY projects, know that every eco-friendly decision counts. You don’t have to sacrifice fun for sustainability— in fact, you might just discover new traditions that make your holiday season even more special. Here’s to a green and merry holiday season—happy gifting! 

Interested in bringing the Conscious Gift Guide into your classroom through a student-led initiative? Register for a Climate Action Project (Climate Justice) program to involve your class in similar action projects that help empower students to shop sustainably. 

Author: Piper McCullough, Student Intern 

 

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