Climate-Conscious Gift Guide from Bright Green Futures
Thoughtful Giving That Embodies a Better World Today
If we want a better world, one that rejects consumerism and overconsumption, what better place to start than the High Holy Days of Consumption? In America, December is basically a secular holiday season of gift exchanges. At best, it’s family traditions (our is donuts on Christmas morning) and reconnection and cozy family time; at worst, it’s an orgy of consumption that generates a ton of waste.
Each year, I try to be a little more mindful than the last. Each year, I fail to live up to the ideals in my head. But I get closer. And I’m inspired by my kids, who are masters of thoughtful, creative, low/no cost gift-giving: one year my eldest, knowing I was on a writing deadline, wrote a screenplay for me (hilarious and of course we immediately did a dramatic reading). Another year, my three children, who are not professional musicians/singers but who knew I was a huge fan of Kermit’s Rainbow Connection, performed their own version for me (friends, I had so many good tears).
These things are precious beyond words.
My gift to you: let go of the guilt, vow to be more thoughtful and mindful in your gift giving, take inspiration from others, and make small changes on the way to a better world. Every year, I tuck away ideas for “next year” and that’s my best tip: one step at a time, creating a richer life for yourself and everyone in your circles.
To that end, here are some ideas to help inspire you:
Books, books, books.
I’ve been a fan of gifting books long before I understood they’re one of the better eco-conscious gifts. Ebooks and audiobooks have a small carbon footprint. Even print books are far less environmentally impactful than almost anything in the toy aisle or gadgets that will be soon forgotten, and they can be re-gifted or re-homed or donated to the library. Plus you can buy them used and no one minds! A carefully selected/hunted down used book is even better! And they last! I have cheap paperbacks from the 70’s that are still readable: indeed, I gave some to my oldest when he was ready.
The best book is one that person will enjoy and that will inspire more reading: this is the eco-gift that keeps on giving. This entire podcast is centered around our Hopeful Climate Fiction Reading Recommendations, and a great place to start is any of the books in the Solarpunk Starter Pack.
No/Low Cost Option: show your loved one how to borrow ebooks and audiobooks from the library. That link takes you to a page where I walk you through how to use Libby, the most frequently used library ebook lending program. It’s not difficult, but one of the best gifts I’ve found is helping someone work through their tech hurdles to get cool stuff. And the library is a world of free books! (Plus it helps the library—funding is often tied to how many books are actually checked out.)
Even better: curate a list of books you’ve found at the library that you think your loved one will enjoy. One of my husband’s favorite gifts was curated song lists from the kids. Zero cost. Lots of love.
Eco-Bags
These were a big hit last year, so they will be getting a reprise this year: they’re basically a tote bag filled with practical things and hand-written notes about how to live healthier for both you and the planet. Last year, I was railing against AI-art and doubling down on supporting my artist friends, so I picked up these lovely Harvest Art totes from my friend Satin (Tomatoes and Thyme)—every summer she picks things from her garden and arranges them in these gorgeous artistic displays and photographs them. She has all kinds of notebooks, totes, etc, so that alone is a great gift that’s both supporting art, supporting small business, and something that’s practical/reusable.
This year I’ll be using random reusable totes I’ve accumulated over the years (re-gifting FTW!).
What’s inside the Eco-Bags: (any of these things makes a good gift by itself!)
a book (of course!) Ultra Processed People with the latest science on how processed foods are poisoning us, along with a card that shows what USDA Organic actually means and the "dirty dozen" fruits/veg that are most important to get organic (plus info about how to wash off pesticides using water and baking soda.)
info on pesticides in tea and how you want organic, loose-leaf teas. I included a stainless steel infuser and a refillable muslin bag of fair trade tea from my local food co-op. I included info about cutting open tea bags if you couldn't get loose leaf to avoid the plastics/adhesives in tea bags.
set of travel cutlery and metal/silicone tip straws (I keep mine in the car for eating out) These were a surprisingly bit hit.
card that had info about local-to-them food co-ops and farmer's markets plus a gift card to go there.
a card on "preservative-free bread" — how to double wrap bakery-fresh bread to preserve it in the freezer, plus fresh bakeries local-to-them, and how most bread has preservatives you don't want to eat.
The key is not just the thing itself but the hand-written card with information. Each of these things does triple duty: the gift, the practical info, but also steering them toward resources like food co-ops and educating on why you want to support organic farming. Admittedly, this works better for a parent gifting to their kids, but you might be surprised who would like this kind of stuff. I know I would welcome something like this from a friend who knows I’m into eco-stuff.
This year’s eco-bags will have a copy of Timothy Synder’s On Tyranny, a small sewing kit, more organic tea, and a gift card to Thred-Up (an online clothing thrifting shop)… but also info on how to store vegetables to make them last and how to reduce microplastics exposure. I’m a big fan of the gift of knowledge, and I can say from experience that it’s appreciated. Exhibit A: I’m now getting requests from my kids for “mom knowledge” in advance of the holidays!
Arts, Crafts, Small Businesses, Shop Local, Shop Direct
If you’re going to buy things, focus on all the ways you can do that without contributing to online behemoths like Amazon or getting cheap things shipped from China. Local artisans and craft shows are a great place find one-of-a-kind gifts. It’s likely you drive past small businesses every day and never notice them: just paying attention to what’s already in your backyard can be an illuminating experience. Shopping local has the added benefit of reducing transport costs. And if there’s something you must get online, look to see if you can buy it direct from the company that makes it—that still involves shipping but you’re not feeding the corporate capitalist machine to do it.
Experiences, Not Things
This is a common suggestion for sustainable gifts and it’s a good one: especially if the experiences are ones you can share or that do double-duty of introducing friends and family to local businesses or supporting the arts. Some big hits for us: tickets to community theatre, improv shows, gift cards to local treat shops, kayak rentals at the local forest preserve, local escape rooms, classes on crafting or arts, museum tickets, a visit to the local Cat Cafe. Every year, I discover new things right in my backyard that I didn’t know existed until I went looking. And the beautiful thing about all these is that they keep your gifting money in the local economy, supporting local arts and jobs in low-impact businesses.
I hope you’ve found some inspiration in this post. But once again, my gift to you: let go of the guilt and be inspired to gift better because it’s how you live better. You just might inspire your friends and family by your example, which is, in the end, how we would all like to live.
Wishing You Peace and Hope,
Sue
Lovely post! I can only second books and I usually get them second hand. Just got a fun one for my child : "The Last Wild Witch" by Starhawk