Monday 3 December 2018

Plastic free, Zero waste Christmas


The festive time is upon up, and this is our first festive holiday with the aim for zero waste plastic free, however all this advice can be applied to birthday, baby shower, graduation and wedding gifting too. 

Rule number one; an obvious one, get the person something you know they need or will use! Don’t get them something you love or use a lot, if they won’t use it, it is a waste. 

I think it is really important not to support companies who don’t need any extra support. I don’t plan to shop at amazon, they don’t need my business and if you think about shipping and packaging, it just not very eco. (Having said that I totally understand it hassle free and great for those who are less able or willing to be going around the shops during this busy time).

Materials wise, plastic free can include;
Wood, Glass, Metal, Paper, Ceramic, Fabric. These cover a wide range of items you can gift. 


Note with all these, are only good presents, if they will not gather dust in their home; 
  • Books, second hand, with a note inside as to why you chose this book. 
  • Jewellery, for men and women, especially vintage. A broach, cufflinks, necklace. 
  • Beer or Wine glasses, if they don’t have some already and would use.
  • Alcohol, mostly plastic free and glass is easily recycled. Homemade infused alcohol is a really special touch too. Or a bottle of Prosecco and a few flavours to spruce up each glass.
  • Small bowls, plates, or cups and saucers, a tea pot.
  • A small wooden hamper filled with their favourite gifts. 
  • A small wooden beer bottle holder with a bottle opener on the side. 
  • A both bomb, packaged in a paper bag, or card box. 
  • Home grown plants, like Aloe vera, rosemary, or lavender.
  • Cotton clothes, or vintage clothes, knitted  or sewn. 
  • Zero waste gifts, reusable versions of disposable things.
  • Loose leaf teas in reusable containers, for example from Whittards. 

Homemade gifts are not a cop out, they are thoughtful and one of a kind. Do bear in mind any allergies and dislikes. 
Fudge, cookie baking jar, infused alcohol, dried fruits, baked biscuits, gingerbread, spicy nuts, cinnamon nuts.




Where to shop:
Vintage markets, Charity shops, antique shops, Lush sells lots of packaging free products, online eBay and facebook market place, Etsy, your local craft shop. Support small or local businesses, and homemade! Christmas markets sadly are usually not more eco than shopping in the supermarket, the gifts are likely mass produced and imported, but talk to the vendors to find out!

I went to Winchester vintage market looking for a gift for a friend and bought two vintage cups and saucer, a vintage scarf, a broach, and it all came to about 20-30 quid, the same as I would have spend at John Lewis or Amazon. 

Wrapping:



Don’t buy wrapping paper, it doesn’t get recycled, instead choose fabric which can be reused(like a scarf, or a fabric bag, which can be reused every year), and isn’t disposed of immediately after. Or brown paper which can be composted, or reused, some gardening twine that’s biodegradable too. You can dress it up with a potato stamp cut into a tree shape, and some ink. Add a pine cone, a few leafs, dried orange slices (left over from mulling wine). 
Personally, I’m planning to use the pattered paper that is used to wrap individual toilet paper rolls, and if I have some then fabric, and cardboard boxes leftover from last years Lush gift sets. 

‘Gifting’;
Remember it isn’t about cost. Especially if there is no expectation for that gift. If you have something you think a friend will like or see something you know they need, gift it without expectation of a reciprocal gift in return. If you make a tray bake of Rocky road, and know its your friends favourite, slice it up, put it in a jar with a cute (recycled) ribbon, and wish them a happy festive holiday.  

Equally some of your friends, if they’re trying to move towards minimalism will likely appreciate a donation to a charity close to their hearts. 

Zero waste gifts:
I’m a little reluctant to encourage gifting these things, as it kind of promotes a different kind of trendy consumerism. I would happily accept a Bamboo toothbrush as I have to change them every few months, but there is only so many plastic straw alternatives someone 'needs', and reusable coffee cups, and bamboo cutlery, so check what your friend already has before buying them a duplicate. Recently I have purchased, a soap bag, a cotton string tote bag, a bamboo straw, and some cotton face pads, for some inspiration of zero waste shopping.

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