Sustainable Gift Guide

The holidays can be a season of joy, happiness, togetherness, and gifts. This means there is also a major increase in bad quality or unwanted presents that will eventually be thrown away and sit in a landfill for much longer than they will be remembered. About 8.3 billion dollars of gifts go unwanted. In 2019 alone, retailers threw an estimated 5 billion pounds of returned products straight to landfills. Read on to discover ecologically wise gift ideas that will make a lasting impact, including local secondhand stores, sustainable brands, and waste-free handmade presents.

Remember, wrapping paper and ribbons generate a huge amount of waste during the holidays. Studies show that Americans throw away between 2.3 million to 2.6 billion pounds of wrapping paper annually, which is enough to cover 40 football fields. There are also about 38,000 miles of ribbon that are discarded each year. What can you do? For starters, wrap with materials you already have, and make sure not to purchase any more. Wrap gifts with old cloth, and tie some string into a bow. Put the present in a paper grocery bag and decorate it. You can even wrap it in some old comics, letting the bright colors of the illustrations speak for themselves. Just make sure to stay away from shiny, glittery, or metallic paper, because it is almost always unrecyclable.

Clothing is a very popular gift to give others during the holidays. Since about 17 million tons of textile waste enter the landfill each year in the US alone, it’s a great idea to get your gifts secondhand. There are many thrift/consignment shops in Marin county, some include: 

• Grace thrift shop, Fairfax—One of my personal favorites, this shop is inexpensive and filled with cool finds.
• See Saw, San Anselmo—consignment store for children, including a full selection of toddler apparel.
• Stella’s Fine Consignments, San Anselmo—a wide selection of adult clothes, specializing in vintage and high-end women’s clothing
• Hospice Hodgepodge, San Rafael—This is a super fun nonprofit store with interesting styles, unique plates and cutlery, and much more. Proceeds support end of life care services.
• Goodwill, San Rafael, Mill Valley, Novato—A chain of thrift stores, Goodwill is a good place to go if you’re on a budget and willing to do some digging to find hidden treasures. They sell home goods, as well as lots of clothes.
• Salvation Army, San Rafael—Very similar to Goodwill, the main difference being that the Salvation Army supports poor families and those in need.
  Clothing isn’t the only option for gift giving. Here are some more ideas:
  • Card Games—Card games are a really fun way for people to get together. It is better for the planet to purchase card games because they don’t have any plastic components and are fairly biodegradable. I recommend going to Gamescape in San Rafael to support a local business.
  • Wooden “Lego” Bricks—A great gift for children and those who enjoy building.
  • Books—Gift a book about climate change, hopefully giving them inspiration to look at the world differently.
  • A Plant—A great gift for nature lovers, plants are an excellent idea, especially if it’s in a pretty pot.
  • Reusable Water Bottles—This is a great gift especially for those you see frequently buying plastic bottles of water. Even better, make sure it’s made out of recycled materials.
  • DIY Kits—These are so fun to make and often bring people together while making them. 
  • Art—Go to your local antique store (or make your own art) and find a piece of art that reminds you of the recipient. Also, make sure to buy a vintage picture frame to set the mood for the art
  • piece.

  Many love the convenience of online shopping. It can be simpler, take less time, 

  and avoid awkward interactions. If you want to take steps towards being more sustainable, you will want to look for brands that say they are a “Certified B Corp.” This means the company has been thoroughly investigated by B Lab, and has earned certification for treating workers and customers well. Here are some brands that meet the B Corp standard:

   

  • Athleta—Athleta sells activewear, with a mission for empowering girls and women all over the world. There’s a local branch in Corte Madera for those who enjoy in-person shopping. Shop “Preloved Athleta” to find used clothes on their website.
  • Patagonia—An outdoor clothing brand that donates 1% of revenue towards protecting the environment, as well as having a feature where you can click on “Patagonia Action Works” to find ways to help your community.  Search “Worn Wear” on their site to find their used items.
  • Cotopaxi—Another outdoor clothing company, Cotopaxi donates 1% of revenue to fighting poverty. They also are committed to helping the planet, with 96% of their products using recycled materials. Shop ReSale for more used products.
  • Rothy’s—Rothy’s makes shoes out of sustainable materials such as hemp, merino wool, and they even use recycled plastic water bottles! They also sell customizable bags.
  • AllBirds—They sell more sustainable shoes, accessories,  and apparel, with shoes made of wool and eucalyptus fibers. Plus, you can shop their used items at “Allbirds ReRun.”
  • Blueland—Blueland sells eco-friendly cleaning products. Selling hand soap, toilet cleaning tablets, and laundry detergent, just to name a few.
  • Burt’s Bee’s—A great stocking stuffer, Burt’s Bee’s sells a variety of lip balms and other skin care products.

  
  Something that, in my opinion, is more appreciated and loved than any of these products? Homemade gifts and experiences. There are so many meaningful ideas for waste-free presents, but here are some ideas:

   

  • A trip to the museum
  • Take them on your favorite hike, then have a picnic in a beautiful place
  • Go to a circus, ballet, broadway performance, or any other form of entertainment
  • Make a photo album of your favorite memories with this person
  • Donate to an organization on someone’s behalf
  • Make a card with a sweet message 
  • Decorate an everyday item, for example a tissue box
  • Crochet or knit them something 
  • Repair or add a decorative patch to their garment of choice
  • Make them a special meal, or take them out to a restaurant or cafe
  • Go to a movie together
  • Go ice skating
  • Go bowling 
  • Spend a day at the beach or elsewhere
  • Bake them some delicious cookies, scones, or a pie

The point is that it can feel very good to unwrap present after present filled with things, but there are often hidden expenses that we don’t see, such as the way the workers who made the item are being treated, the carbon footprint, and where it’s going to end up once you throw it “away.” Always remember, there is no “away,” but there is a here and a now. When we are giving gifts we should not only focus on the recipient’s joy and satisfaction, but also the lasting impact of the item and the brand we are supporting. Together, let’s support brands and people who are doing the right thing, one meaningful gift at a time.