Zero Waste Gift Ideas

Most people think that it is hardest to go zero waste during the holidays, but that doesn't have to be the case! There are a number of ways to reduce waste while still celebrating the season.

First, look long and hard at your list and decide if you need to give that person a gift at all. If it is an acquaintance who you are no longer close to maybe it would be OK to just get them a card or cookies rather than a present. If it's someone you've been trading cookies with for a while, maybe you can have a talk about waistlines and decide to forgo cookies this year.

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If there is a large group of people who you get gifts for (a large family or office for example), perhaps rather than all trading presents you could a draw names. For years one side of my family would buy Christmas gifts for all of the aunts and uncles. It got to be a little overwhelming so they went to drawing names, it went from 5 people to buy for to one. Eventually they even gave up on drawing names and decided to only give presents to the grand kids and the grandparents (usually pictures of grand kids). Everyone ended up far happier not having the stress of buying presents or ending up with something they didn't like. Finally it brought the holiday season a little more about spending time together rather than presents.

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At an office or work party you could do a white elephant or ornament exchange instead. A white elephant is where everyone participating brings a single wrapped gift under a specific dollar amount (say $20). Numbers are drawn and the first person takes a gift and unwraps it. The second person either takes an already unwrapped gift or selects a new gift. If they choose an unwrapped gift the person the gift was taken from can now select an unwrapped gift (but not the one that was just stolen from them!) or a new gift. I've found limiting a present to only 3 steals helps move the game along. The game continues until everyone has a gift. Some variations on this are to give humor gifts, or to give ornaments.

If you have gone zero waste be sure to let gift givers know your wishes. For example bags can be easily reused so maybe you request that over wrapping paper. However, even if someone doesn't follow your wishes, be respectful and gracious and say thank you. Remember, you can always recycle or donate the item later if it doesn't meet your needs.

Whether it is for Christmas, birthdays, or other gift giving events I've found the best way to give no waste, low waste, or zero waste presents is to give experiences rather than an item.

Here are some examples of experience gifts:

• Museums
• National Parks
• Zoo
• Plays
• Movies
• Babysitting for date night
• Spa Day
• Manicure
• Trip to the gun range
• Dinner at a nice restaurant
• Go to a favorite park or a new park
• Tickets to a local festival

The next way to  help minimize waste is by giving something useful or consumable.

• Dried fruit
• Cookies
• Homemade Vanilla
• Jam
• Homemade liquors
• Floral arrangement
• Fruit Basket
• Freezer Meals
• Fermented food (Sauerkraut, kimchi, pickled jalapenos)
• Homemade bath scrubs
• Homemade soap

Some other low waste gift ideas:

• One year we did a book exchange, we gave the person a copy of the book we had read during the year that we thought they would enjoy.
• Give a magazine subscription
• Donate to charity

Some gift ideas if the person is starting their own zero waste journey:

• Compost bin
• Reusable napkins
• Reusable sanitary napkins, or menstrual cup
• Bamboo toothbrush
• Shampoo bar
• Straight razor
• Reusable grocery bags
• Reusable produce bags
• Water bottle
• Glass food storage

Want to some other ideas? Check out these from other bloggers:

Homemade Christmas decorations

Waste Free Gifts For Co-Workers

Huge List of Edible Gifts

Traveling for the holidays? Check out this post on how to create less waste while traveling.