Eco/ Sustainable Crimbo

[Methenyouplus4]

Would love to have this thread as a resource for things like:

Handmade gifts
Experience ideas
Sustainable Goodies
Natural home decor
Websites that offer low waste/ eco conscious goods

And so forth!

I have lots of bits on pintrest, but love getting inspiration from others.

First thing to remember with sustainable gifts is that if the gift recipient is interested in eco stuff, they probably don't need any as they'll have it. One year I was given an eco hamper - it had in it a reusable water bottle (had one), reusable coffee cup (had one), eco disposable biros(?!), reusable straw (had one) and a jute shopping bag (had hundreds!). Was clearly an expensive gift from someone who tried hard but such a waste of money and resources! Would have preferred handmade biscuits!!

I like charity goats -- or train a teacher in low income country, or private toilet block so girls can stay in school after puberty. All those charity gifts. Like PP, I don't need any things.

We reuse wrapping paper. You can buy paper-parcel tape & potato-starch-based cellotape. No food waste catering strategy, too.

Natural decor is the most beautiful in my opinion. Pine cones can be made into gorgeous swags for fireplace and the addition of berries (holly) make it extra gorgeous.

If you make any paper decorations, you can use them again if you're careful taking them down...vases of fir, branches and holly are gorgeous too. Use candles in jars as the bling.

For the tree, popcorn garlands, biscuits and paper decorations...makes it look beautifully Victorian.

Handmade gifts are hard...the previous poster said she'd like biscuits but a lot of people are a bit weird about eating food not cooked in their own kitchen.

Personalised Christmas tree decorations from wood slices are nice if you're crafty. I made some one year for friends and they all still hang them up.

I did get some sloe gin once which was nice.

We have bags instead of wrapping paper, presents go into them and they get reused every year, lovely hard wearing jute drawstring ones with Christmassy theme (and reuse Amazon gift bags we’ve been sent by others)

Oh yes that's a good idea Kobani I also once got a present wrapped up in a scarf which was lovely.

Buying or making new decorations is not really eco-friendly if you already own some. It doesn't matter what they're made of, the most eco-friendly decoration is the one you already own.

Reuse wrapping paper; use boxes instead of wrapping paper; reuse all last year's cards as this year's labels; no food waste; don't consume to excess; don't buy gifts people don't need (no matter how natural or eco friendly the product).

Ultimately it all comes down to: avoid buying and consuming stuff.

Totally agree re ‘sustainable’ gifts being no good if they’re not actually going to get used - whether that’s because the recipient already has one or because it just wouldn’t be their style to use it (for example, I wouldn’t get something like waxed sandwich wraps for someone who hasn’t expressly stated they want some as you have to be a bit committed to make that kind of thing work).

Having said that, I do like the look of The Wise House for that kind of thing if you know the recipient will want and use it. (Haven’t bought from them yet, just follow on Instagram) - www.thewisehouse.co.uk/

I think in general that the key to good gifting is having the confidence to get what someone will use, even if it doesn’t look like the merchandiser/advertiser-created idea of what a gift ‘should’ look like. Eg. My Dad would use and appreciate a good bottle of olive oil; much better to just get that than some plastic-wrapped olive oil and vinegar gift set with bowls that he wouldn’t use, and which would create clutter and excess waste (even if they were made of recycled ocean plastic or whatever).

Sadly I think handmade gifts often go to waste for various reasons - again you have to know who you’re giving to. I agree with the advice here about it having to be really good and look really good to be worthwhile - thenester.com/2020/12/the-secret-to-diy-gifts-youre-proud-to-give-people-love-to-receive.html

Wrapping - my mum’s been doing old magazines as wrapping paper for some time now. I tend to use some bright scarves I have that I rarely wear for bigger presents - just tie them with ribbon and then fold it all up and put away for the following year. Last year I got old coffee sacks from a coffee roaster and put ‘Santa’ presents in those for kids - should be able to reuse for several years (although they’re a bit dusty).

@BeenAsFarAsMercyAndGrand

Buying or making new decorations is not really eco-friendly if you already own some. It doesn't matter what they're made of, the most eco-friendly decoration is the one you already own.

Reuse wrapping paper; use boxes instead of wrapping paper; reuse all last year's cards as this year's labels; no food waste; don't consume to excess; don't buy gifts people don't need (no matter how natural or eco friendly the product).

Making new things is eco friendly if you're using what you already own. For example, we use paper that's already here...old wallpaper, wrapping paper etc. There's no point buying paper to make eco friendly decs of course. But using what you already own is great.

We wrap in recyclable brown paper. But the biggest thing you can do is buy less stuff! 2-3 gifts per person is quite enough.

I heard recently on a podcast "Sustainability is not a product" . We can't shop our way out of the climate crisis. I'd say re use anything you can and presents to be useful/consumable/reusable.

@NotMeNoNo

I heard recently on a podcast "Sustainability is not a product" . We can't shop our way out of the climate crisis. I'd say re use anything you can and presents to be useful/consumable/reusable.

That's very well put. But I suppose we still need sometimes to buy or build things. Might as well make sure those things are made sustainably.

Thank you everyone, some brilliant ideas here and thoughtful points.

I perhaps should have clarified that my intention is to purchase things/do things I would be doing anyway in as conscious way as possible.

I'll pop my tips in a post...

Buy second hand. You can get almost everything second hand and it is good for the planet and for your budget. Books, vinyl, kitchen gadgets, collectibles, toys, fabric, homewares, all easily found secondhand and sometimes more desirable (vinyl etc).

Whatever your budget buy fewer good things than more tat. Some of the dross that gets mentioned on here makes me wince, both as big presents and stocking fillers.

Experiences are a good shout and don't have to be expensive (or you can spend lots depending on how you're fixed). Remember to look at smaller independents not just the big red letter day type companies. You could look at star gazing, wild swimming, foraging, cooking, sports, blacksmithing, cinema, national trust type places, play centres, second hand book subscription.

Don't fall victim to the suggestion of hampers as an experience. Most people don't need popcorn boxes, dvds and a polyester blanket or bubble bath and an eye mask.

A good version of something you know someone uses is a great present, such as the olive oil mentioned by a previous poster. Tea, coffee, wine, salt, butter, chocolate etc. Just remember to buy it for them, not for you (so if they like merlot don't buy them a pinot grigio just because it was a good deal).

Wrapping etc:

*Use old cards as name tags- on gifts, to decorate the dinner table, you can put really stunning ones in frames for the season to decorate.

*brown paper with vintage ribbon, or string and green foliage. I have a eucalyptus tree in the garden, I think the tree was £20 but it is stunning, I just trim a stalk and thread it through the string- always gets compliments. Or kids/you could decorate.

*you could use a scarf/ wrap/tea towel to wrap the gift. Charity shops are great for the first two, normally cheaper than a new gift bag.

*we get brown tape that can be recycled from a local zero waste shop, but I have seen you can make a homemade glue 'paste' too.

*I don't send cards- I wish people well in person , if they are further afield, I ring for a Christmas catch-up. Sometimes, I write a letter, but only if I know the recipient will appreciate a lengthy handwritten letter.

Oh and to add, I also have a book of old maps which can be used for a really special gift.

Gifts for kids: (stockings)

*Fav fruit/food
*mine always get a toothbrush
*charity shop toys such a toy car, yoyo, etc
*some shiny coins from that year (my mum used to do this for me)
*a secondhand book/ purse/wallet/jewellery
*stuff you would be getting anyway e.g. a new pair of socks, gloves, hat etc.

Will add more later but popping out with kids.

I think a great one is wrapping. I’ve seen everyone has already posted. I’ve used the brown recyclable tape before but used the Sellotape brand no plastic tape last year. The stickiness was so good and it’s clear so looks better. I normally used brown paper with home made dried orange slices and cinnamon sticks (I take these back and reuse them!) this sounds terrible but we only buy for immediate family so I’m right there to collect them up!

Last year I learned to sew so I’m going to make some reusable drawstring bags. I think these will work better for the children’s presents as I think my brown paper ones look a bit underwhelming compared to the shiny paper.

Another one I concentrate on is food waste. We’re normally good and very rarely throw anything away. But I still over buy snacks, crisps and drinks which we don’t really need. It’s one thing I struggle not to buy so will be better this Christmas.

Buy local or UK produced food and drink. I’m fortunate to live in farming country and there’s loads of farm shops around. But a quick Google search shows that many farms do refrigerated deliveries of meat.

I'd say the most sustainable thing is to make it smaller.

Are you buying someone a token gift? - do you really need to or would a card/email do?

Do you know what the recipient actually wants? Buying off a list can be dull but at least the present is wanted and will be used. No tat/only requested smellies.

My Christmas tree may be plastic but I have been using it for at least 5 years, it looks good as new and has many years left in it. Same as the decorations that come out of the loft each year.

We've managed to cut down the people we exchange gifts with e.g. no more gifts with adult siblings.

A work place Secret Santa was headed off at the pass, and those that wanted donated to the Trussell Trust.

We typically agree in advance gifts for nieces and nephews so they are definitely wanted.

2019 involved quite a few experience gifts and that went well. Mostly with small, independent businesses.

I've mostly used recycled and recyclable paper from Oxfam for wrapping, with recyclable tape. The paper seemed to go down quite well, a couple of people asked where it was from.

I think the main thing is to cut down on stuff bought for the sake of it, all the token gifts. I'd rather show affection by making people a lovely meal - when that's possible!

Our tree came from a Poundstretcher January sale about 14 years ago, still going strong.

We've managed to cut down the people we exchange gifts with e.g. no more gifts with adult siblings.

We’ve done presents for children only for years. You seem to stop being a child when you start working, although I consider it 18 for my nieces and nephews who don’t ever contact me for any other reason.
Couples can do what they like, but for the last few years DH and I have treated ourselves to “naice” bed linen, towels, pans as our original wedding present stuff is getting a bit bartered after 20 years.

For the last few years I've been trying to do this. I've been using brown paper with ribbon to wrap but last year I was given some gifts from a friend in an old Christmas biscuit tin which I thought was a great idea so I've picked up a few tins to do the same. I've also bought a sewing machine so am planning to make some bags to use too.

I use Christmas cards as gift tags. Cutting them out is actually one of my favourite things to do just before the decorations are packed away.

I'm a big fan of experience gifts, especially for children. So far my nephew has been 'gifted' a small holiday with me and DH for Christmas a few times (we have no dc), we've also taken him to museums, parks, even something as simple as taking him to a water park followed by lunch and town to spend his own money went down well.

When nieces and nephew were smaller I gifted my sister and her partner a few nights of babysitting. Much much better than anything I could possibly have bought her.

I do give homemade gifts (I'm a cross stitcher and crocheter) but only to people I know would appreciate it.
Mostly I think about what the person I'm buying for would want then try and provide the most eco friendly version of that. As PP said, no point buying eco presents for someone who has no interest but if someone would appreciate a good bottle of olive oil / wine / jam, it's better to buy some of that (in glass bottles or jars) so they will get used.

It's hard to do eco decorations but keeping them for years and years is a good way to go, and definitely give them away / donate them if you don't want them (my mum updated hers a few years ago and was surprised that me, my sister and my cousin all wanted her old ones).