“Greener” Giving is Easier Than Ever

Make Your List and Check it Twice


Written by: Eliza Letteney

‘Tis the season. Homes are trimmed with candles and boughs. While Chanukah is behind us, many are looking for Christmas and Kwanzaa gifts, hostess presents and “thank you” treats for teachers and others who have made the year brighter for our families. 

This year, instead of letting the shopping rush make you feel like a frenzied consumer, discover ways to shrink your ecological footprint and calmly prepare for remaining festivities. Here are a few tips for locating and wrapping gifts in a stress-free and sustainable way. 

• First, do a little brand research. Identify items that will last, are produced and packaged sustainably, that offer refills and are made out of reused materials so that when you are out shopping you can locate them. 
  

• Gently used is au courant. Consider a vintage or pristine second-hand item. Wellesley has a number of Facebook groups including Give & Take that post some extraordinary finds for free. Sometimes the best gift is something practical that a sibling or friend really needs. There are a range of home furnishing and clothing consignment shops in and around town.
  

• Avoid products that have to travel far by air, sea or highway. Pollution generated by that voyage should be factored into a gift’s footprint. If you order from a distance, consider buying in bulk. A favorite bath salt packaged in pretty cardboard containers may be the perfect present for a number of people on your list. 
  

• Shop local to not only support Wellesley area businesses but also to save on the packaging and carbon emissions to ship. In addition to the usual retail offerings, Wellesley has several holiday-specific pop-up stores worth browsing. Remember that locally made specialty food items like jams, maple syrup, cheeses, homemade crafts, candles, soaps, and art make terrific gifts. 
  

• Better yet, make your own. A tin of cookies or handmade candies, apple butter, pickles, a simple hand-knit hat, tie-dyed cotton socks,  a bulb planted in a reused planter, or a gift certificate to offer a helping hand on a  project  are heartfelt gifts and sure to be well-received.
  

• Experiences, like a cooking class or a gift certificate for a massage, make wonderful gifts. Many nonprofits also offer opportunities to give in someone’s name to plant trees, fund a shoreline cleanup or support efforts to speak out on environmental justice issues. 
  

As seasonal shopping began in downtown Wellesley, a store associate at Beauty and Main noted an increasing number of people asking for natural products that are environmentally lower impact, adding that companies are also responding to the demand for products made without chemicals that are “paraben-free, dye-free, and scent-free.” Cashiers at Paper Source and Wellesley Books, both of which offer gifts made from natural or recycled materials, noted similar trends. 

And broader trends affirm what is happening here. The global consulting firm Accenture’s 2021 giving survey found that 58% want to support local and independent retailers. Additionally, 60% of respondents reported making more sustainable and ethical purchases, and 9 out of 10 of those said they planned to continue doing so this season. 

A survey by the research firm WeThrift found that nearly 40% of shoppers were likely to focus on eco-friendly products during this holiday season and over 60% claimed that they would likely use reused or recycled materials to box and wrap presents.

If you’re interested in doing the same, reused paper, magazines, and newspapers are creative choices tied with some festive reused ribbon, raffia or yarn, and with a small pine branch or holly sprig tucked beneath the bow. Sustainable Wellesley shares easy steps to create beautiful - reusable- cloth gift wrapping here. Glass jars and other reusable containers can be festive with a bright gift tag and colorful twine. These sweet options yield a charming presentation without creating waste.

No matter how you choose to celebrate, good luck and enjoy the holidays!