By Monterey Buchanan

The holiday shopping season can present a problem for those of us concerned about climate change. We want to find gifts for our loved ones, but we are also aware that the consumption the holiday shopping season encourages is bad for our planet. In her book This Changes Everything: Capitalism Versus The Climate, Naomi Klein goes as far as to argue the capitalism itself is incompatible with saving the planet from climate change.

So what is an environmentally conscious shopper to do? There is no form of consumption that avoids environmental harm completely, but by being more conscious of this, you can reduce that harm. To avoid recommending any companies or products that are greenwashed, I will instead be giving you tips to make your shopping as eco-friendly as possible.

Homemade Gifts/Regifting

Making something for a friend or loved one, like a holiday meal or knitting a scarf can be a good way to use your talents to show you love someone, and participating a little less in the pressure to spend. I have received several knitted gifts from friends and family, and once wrote a short story for my mom at her request as a birthday gift. If money is tight this season, making gifts can be a good way to share your talents with the people you love.

But if you want to go shopping this season…

 

Before you go.

A little planning ahead goes a long way when you are trying to be eco-friendly. If you plan a time for your shopping, it will be easier to avoid the siren call of big corporations, and other companies that promise convenience and speed, but at steep environmental cost. Make plans to shop local if you can, and if you are going to a physical store, see if there are walkable options, or a public transit route to get you there. If you have reusable bags, take them with you.

 

While you shop.

Keep a lookout for items with less packaging, which will mean less to throw away after items are opened. You can also consider gifting someone an experience, like a class about something they are interested in, which does not have any packaging to worry about. Local foods could also be a good option, since they have not traveled far from farm to table.

Also, don’t forget to check thrift shops and second hand stores. It can take shopping around, but you could find a unique gift for a friend if you are willing to look, and the prices are cheaper than buying something new. I especially like finding used bookstores, so I know the books I buy are getting new life.

Finally, this New York Times article makes a good point about buying gifts that the recipient will use for a long time. I know, this puts extra pressure on you to find the right gift for someone, but if the gift is something the person will use, it will be less likely to be thrown away quickly. If you are shopping for clothes for instance, try to avoid fast fashion designed to be quickly replaced. opt instead for clothes made secondhand or from recycled materials. High-quality and sustainable materials ensure the clothing item lasts longer and is more sustainable. Whether you are shopping or donating, this article from the University of Colorado Boulder discusses the benefits of thrifting in greater detail.

I know I said I wasn’t going to focus on specific gift categories, but if you’ll indulge me for a moment.

 

Books

As a huge bookworm, I love getting books as gifts, but they can also be one of the more difficult items to make environmentally friendly, since books use a lot of paper, and can quickly take up space in the house. Not to worry though: I have some books about the environment you can read, and some hacks to make reading them more environmentally friendly.

I’ve already done a separate book list featuring books about the environment written by Colorado authors, so go check that out. Unfortunately, both physical books and streaming them online have environmental impacts, but if you set limits on streaming and buy books and audiobooks second hand, they still make great gifts. If you still love the feel of a book in your hand, try buying from a used bookstore to give old books new life.

 

After you shop

After you have all of your gifts, consider re-using wrapping paper or gift bags you have from previous holidays. In addition to being more environmentally friendly, this is also economical since you don’t have to buy new wrapping paper. There is something a bit sad about seeing festive wrapping paper used once and then thrown out. Consider re-using it to cut down on waste. If you do not have usable wrapping paper saved, make this the year that you put some away so you will be ready to reuse it next year.

Hopefully, these ideas will help you keep your holiday shopping more sustainable. If you’d like a few more ideas, be sure to check out this previous blog post on taking a break from consumerism for the holidays.

Finally, as we close out the year, remember that taking action locally to combat climate change will be more important than ever. If you would like to give 350 Colorado a gift this year, and ensure we are prepared for the many climate struggles ahead, consider donating your time by joining one of our committees or projects, or donating money by clicking here.

Happy Holidays!

Headshot of Monterey smiling, sitting in a chair

Photo Credit: Lindsay Clark 2022

About the Writer:
Monterey Buchanan

 

Monterey Buchanan is a Colorado native, climate activist, feminist, and writer who enjoys writing fiction, plays, and blog posts both to entertain and draw attention to social issues. To read more of her writing, visit her personal website and Facebook page.

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