Talking About Green

Many of us believe that it’s right that we should be good to the environment throughout the year. This may seem more difficult to achieve during the Christmas period, when we’re all encouraged to get out and spend.

But it’s certainly possible to have a green Christmas. In our family, we try to stick with the basics. We realise that this is a time of year that’s all about spending time together. We enjoy each other’s company and generally have a fantastic time.

How about when it comes to giving presents? Some people in the green community prefer not to give Christmas presents at all. They may argue that pandering to consumerism is really not in line with establishing good environmental credentials.

There’s plenty of merit to this argument, although we generally choose to adopt a slightly different approach. We like giving gifts to others, but we try to do so in a way that is friendly towards our wider environment.

A green approach to giving

In some cases, this will mean offering gifts that are made from recycled materials. In other instances, we may create our own, handmade presents. We may also look to give presents that encourage others to think about the environment and their surroundings.

We’re not on a mission to convert others to think in the way that we do. Even if we were, Christmas gifts may not form the best tool for getting this done. Instead, we try to give gifts that we feel comfortable with. It’s an approach that works well for us.

You may be interested to hear about some of the ideas that we’ve used in the past. Although some have been better than others, it’s fair to say that most recipients are pleased to receive something that’s a bit more interesting than most presents!

Some gift ideas

This year we’ve been taking a look at plenty of gadgets. These always tend to be successful as presents, but it goes without saying that we’re interested in gadgets that offer something in environmental terms.

Looking at what our kids receive at Christmas, it’s clear that there are always lots more electronic items in the house as a result of Christmas each year. All those electronic items need a source of power.

You can now buy small solar chargers for gadgets and mobile phones. These look like a great option as a gift, enabling friends and family to use electronic gadgets in a more environmentally-friendly manner.

In fact, we always think that solar-powered gadgets are a real winner throughout the year. If you live in a location with a cooler climate then you might consider alternatives, such as wind-powered devices.

Recycled gift options

How about recycled items? Although you can buy these online, we like to try and make our own where possible.

Jewellery can work particularly well. If you have an old necklace, for example, that’s seen better days then you might consider removing the beads and using them to create a whole new piece of jewellery. This can make a great gift and means that you can avoid sending those beads to landfill. A great example of a green gift!

You could also, of course, give books, diaries and calendars that have been produced using recycled paper. All of these are good choices.

How about if you’re in the mood to do a bit of cooking? Food is always a good present and you could even pull together your own hamper of local and organic produce. This is a fantastic example of how environmentally-friendly produce can actually be even nicer than less green alternatives.

Inspiring ideas

These are just a few green present ideas, based upon presents that we have given to friends and family members in the last few years. We think that the secret to success is ensuring that you choose, or make, presents that are really fun. As a result, you’ll enjoy putting the gifts together and you can be sure that recipients will be delighted when they come to open them.

Hopefully our own choices will inspire you as Christmas approaches!

Sue Davies writes about environmental issues and a number of other subjects. She’s always keen to find environmentally-friendly options and is currently making homemade food hampers as gifts for her friends this year.