Free Yourself from the Holiday Frenzy with Fresh Ideas for Sustainable Giving
Did you know that between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans produce more than
1 million tons of additional garbage per week? Not just an environmentalist's
nightmare, this consumer frenzy is damaging our planet at an increasingly alarming
pace. I recently read a particularly disturbing statistic from Annie Leonard's "The Story of
Stuff" which states that a full 99% of the stuff we buy is discarded
6 months after purchase.
At this time of year, even the most environmentally conscious among us can't avoid
being caught up in the obligatory shopping frenzy, and if you have children, the
blizzard of gifts is pretty much unavoidable. Which begs the question, does living
green mean going giftless? I hope not! Alas, Dr. Seuss's holiday-hating Grinch is
green - not exactly a pleasant association.
Fortunately there are plenty of solutions less extreme than avoiding gift giving
all together. In fact green, eco-conscious giving is a great way to share innovative
products and ideas while supporting those organizations dedicated to making a positive
difference for our planet.
Low impact Gifts
Reusable products such as bottles, bags and travel mugs are a growing trend with
a positive upside. Single-use disposable products are energy-intensive to produce
and transport, then it's typically away to the landfill where they off-gas and pollute
for many more years than their brief duration warrants. Take bottled water for example
- approximately 2 million plastic bottles are used in the US every 15 minutes. (Click here to
learn more about the health and environmental costs of disposable bottles).
Reusable products on the other hand, are often healthier for you and so much
gentler on the planet. With so many stylish and sustainable choices,
reusable bottles and
reusable bags make functional and economical gifts for anyone on your
list.
No Waste Living Gifts
Lunch on the go is part of our busy lifestyle, but it's often costly and wasteful
too. The average disposable "brown bag" lunch creates between 4-8 ounces of garbage
everyday, which can add up to as much as 100 pounds per year! Pre-packaged foods
are not only less healthy; they're also up to 25% more expensive. A no waste lunch
is an eco-friendly, economical alternative to pre-packaged food. A reusable lunch
tote or to-go ware products are gifts designed to both save money and reduce waste.
No waste lunch solutions
for kids and adults offer many options for smart gift ideas.
Gifts of Giving
Charitable donations are a wonderful way to give meaningful gifts this holiday season.
Organizations such as Heifer International (a personal favorite, www.heifer.org) use your donation dollars to buy gifts of
livestock for needy families that provide long-term solutions for ending hunger
and poverty. There are thousands of amazing organizations to support in the name
of a friend or loved one - you'll both feel good about helping those in need during
the season of giving.
Fair Trade Gifts
Our spending choices have the ability to affect people's lives around the world.
Many of the big box retailers are able to offer such low-priced products by having
them manufactured in conditions that harm workers, communities and the environment
- not such a great deal after all.
Alternatively, Fair Trade manufactured goods require certain conditions are met,
such as fair prices paid, humane working conditions met, and environmental impact
monitored. Fair trade standards offer low-income workers the opportunity to earn
a living wage for their work. Fair trade products
such as toys, artisan-made goods, coffee and chocolate are easily identified either
by the Fair Trade logo or by the seller's association with member organizations
like Green America or the Fair Trade Association. You'll find great ideas for holiday
giving that make a direct and positive difference, and your gift now becomes infinitely
more meaningful.
To complete the package, adorn your eco-friendly presents in re-used wrapping such
as decorated newsprint, a reused box or a reusable bag for a truly green gift.
This season, let the choices you make support the ideals you care about. Eco-conscious
gifts keep the spirit of giving significant and positive, and after all, isn't that
what the holiday spirit is really all about?
Happy Holidays from your friends at Nubius Organics!
Submitted by Elizabeth Borelli
www.NubiusOrganics.com
831-600-7004
elizabeth@nubiusorganics.com