Christmas is the season of giving, and what better way give both Mother Nature and your loved ones their very own gifts by purchasing some (if not all) of the eco-friendly and sustainable gifts listed here. Below are ideas that can spark your energy for Christmas shopping while also inspiring you to think more of the environment while you're at it - with sustainable shopping, you can hit two birds with just a stone!
Fresh Flowers
Flowers are one of the most beautiful things that are readily available in nature - and putting them together in a bouquet brings out their beauty even more. Bouquets of fresh flowers are still the best options over dried or artificial flowers. Real, fresh flowers have something to them that almost always instantly puts a smile on the faces of the ones they're given to. If they dry out, they can always be used as potpourri for your bathroom or compost for your potted plants or backyard.
Bathroom Spray
Practical and purposeful for everyday bathroom use, you can give this to your parents for their loo at home, or for your clean freak friends who would like to try cleaning alternatives to conventional bathroom sprays. It's important that you choose the bathroom sprays that are formulated gently and safely so that it doesn't emit any harsh chemicals that are bad for the environment. Sustainable bathroom sprays with a clean smelling scent like lemon or lavender is a great addition to anyone's bathroom.
Glass Jars
Instead of keeping things in plastic containers, gifting glass jars to your friends are a better and more sustainable option. If it worries you that the glass jars might break, then make sure to use many layers of bubble wrap to protect them from breaking. You can either deliver these glass jars yourself or have a third party company do the delivery for you, especially ones with a breakage guarantee.
Tote Bag
Another sustainable gift idea would be eco-friendly cotton bags - more commonly known as tote bags - which are made of a strong type of fabric. You can use your tote bag for many purposes - tote bags can be used to bag up your groceries, put your things in it while going to the beach, or just use it to pair with your outfit while taking pictures in your favorite cafés. Tote bags only take up space in your closet and not on landfills, so it's an environmentally friendly choice for your holiday loot.
Beeswax Wrap
Instead of using plastic wrap or aluminum foil, beeswax wrap can be used to cover your food when you put it inside your refrigerator. You can purchase beeswax wrap in stores like Roots Collective, Milea Bath and Body, and Oceana. While plastic and foil are nonbiodegradable, beeswax takes less time to degrade and can be used just as effectively and safely as the former two.
Shampoo Bars
Getting all the buzz recently, shampoo bars make for a more sustainable way to clean our scalps and nourish our hair than the liquid ones in a bottle that we're used to. Shampoo bars can be bought online or in-store. Some stores in the Philippines that sell quality shampoo bars that are free of harsh chemicals include Eco Shop PH, Simula, Beach Born PH, and Magwai, among many others.
Toothpaste Tabs
Be it the Toothy Tabs from Eco Shop PH, the Color Corrector Toothpaste Tabs from Wavee, or the Kintab Tabs from Eco Warrior PH, toothpaste tablets are an excellent alternative to tube toothpaste with fluoride and packaging that's nonbiodegradable. Despite being unconventional, toothpaste tabs can clean the crevices in our mouth and restore teeth strength as much as regular toothpaste can.
Smart Water Bottle
This is not your regular water bottle. Smart water bottles are made from BPA-free stainless steel, which ensure that you won't be taking in any nasty chemicals that your body won't like. Much like insulated water bottles, smart water bottle share the same technology that can keep drinks cold for up to 24 hours, but the main difference is that smart bottles will also track how much water you're drinking. The best part is that it lights up to remind you if you need to take a drink of water if you're dehydrated.
Recycled Lanterns
True to Filipino Christmas traditions, giant recycled lanterns are one of the best ways to lift up anybody's holiday spirit. Using plastic bottles, cans, cellophane, newspaper, and a metal or wooden scaffolding, recycled Christmas lanterns - or parol as we commonly call it in Tagalog - are eco-friendly and can be used every year to light up our homes in the holiday season.
Eco Beauty Kit
Usually composed of a menstrual cup, a chemical-free soap, a gua sha, a jade roller, a lip balm and facial cream made of natural ingredients, as well as the aforementioned shampoo bars and toothpaste tabs, an eco beauty kit can be customized according to what your recipient wants or needs. Especially if they're conscious about sustainability, this kit is a perfect holiday treat for them.
Bamboo Containers
Just like glass jars, bamboo containers are amazing at giving you your storage needs. From spice racks to cup coasters to glass lids, bamboo serves as a durable and sustainable kitchen essential for the modern and environmentally conscious individual. Some other popular used for bamboo include bamboo straws for your everyday drinks, bamboo cutlery for your lunches out - or even indoor dining as well, and bamboo cutting boards which you can make a Christmas charcuterie on. The possibilities are endless with bamboo!
Solar Panels
A little more on the expensive side, you can gift this to your whole family especially since the dry season commences in a few months time, which means that there will be a jump in HVAC system usage among households. Solar panels are a great way to lessen electric consumption and make use of abundant solar energy in our tropical country.
Sustainability: The Gift That Keeps on Giving
As the internet would say, it's giving sustainable. Christmas doesn't have to mean compromising your values just to be able to deliver and bring your loved ones the goodies they want. You can always practice sustainability even in the holiday season, and trust that these efforts of yours will go a long way and reward the whole ecosystem in turn.