Christmas gift tips: are there any waste-free gifts?
The drive for a waste-free Christmas can come from two sides. Either from your side, or from the side of the person you’re giving the gift to. Regardless of who you are, if you’re looking for a waste-free gift, I’ve put together a series of Christmas gift tips, this time focusing specifically on waste-free gifts. And now you may think that the zero waste lifestyle doesn’t require any material gifts, but if you’re trying to get started on this lifestyle, you’ll need to get some (not all) of the things you need to replace disposable products.
Packaging vs. zero waste?
Gifting can be a contradiction in terms to the zero waste lifestyle, as it’s hard to get through Christmas without packaging these days. However, this year you may want to consider two options when wrapping your gifts. If you are very committed to a zero-waste lifestyle, you may want to consider leaving the colourful, glittery wrapping paper behind this Christmas and giving your loved ones gifts in natural form. The other option is to reuse old wrapping materials if you insist on paper-based wrapping.
And when ordering online, it’s also worth checking out online shops. I recently launched the #ujrapackaged campaign, which is all about welcoming packaging materials to the Showroom and reusing them when putting together orders. Of course you are welcome to visit us in person at the Showroom in District 6, Sofia Street
In any case, we have to admit that it is extremely difficult to live this period in a zero waste spirit.
Starting with Santa Claus, if you have a small child. It’s hard to see products that don’t come pre-wrapped at this time of year. However, you are doing a lot for the environment by giving your friends zero waste alternatives, giving them a small insight into the essence of this challenging lifestyle. I’ve put together a few products that you’re sure to find useful for the friend or relative who might benefit from this surprise.
Beeswax shawl
Beeswax Wrap is the natural and eco-friendly alternative to tinfoil and all kinds of plastic packaging. Available in several sizes, it can be used to wrap fruit, vegetables, cheese, bread and cover bowls.
It is made of organic cotton, covered with organic beeswax, jojoba oil and tree resin, which wraps any food perfectly. However, it is important to know that it is not suitable for keeping meat fresh. Thanks to the warmth of your hands, it is easy to mould and can be used several times. Cleaning with cold water and minimal detergent is recommended, dishwasher safe. With regular use, it can be used for up to 1 year, after which it can be composted, reducing your ecological footprint.
Bread bags
A bread bag can be a great gift for someone where bread or baked goods are an everyday food. Not only does it reduce the use of single-use plastic bags, but it also keeps bread fresh for longer than in a plastic bag. Most bakery products stay fresh and crisp for up to 2 days. It’s a good idea to wrap the bread as tightly as possible in the bread bag to minimise air contact. It can also be used in the freezer.
It can also be used for shopping, as a great alternative to the single-use paper and plastic bags that are usually thrown in the bin immediately after the baked goods are consumed. Not to mention the fact that somehow I never manage to get the mouth of the bag just right… I always pull it too tight and then punch holes in the bag to get to the bread.
Drawstring shopping bag
A mesh, compostable fruit and veggie bag can be a super gift if you know your target is a frequent grocery shopper. Like a bread bag, you can take it with you to the grocery store and buy fruit and vegetables in it to reduce the use of single-use plastic bags.
You can encourage your friends and family to adopt a minimalist, sustainable, zero waste and plastic-free lifestyle. Made from fair trade, GOTS certified organic cotton. Try it first, then buy more of the same size if it works, as you’ll usually end up with more than one type of fruit in your shopping basket at a time.
Striving for a zero waste lifestyle at Christmas is particularly difficult, but not everyone needs to be an extreme minimalist straight away. Even small steps can help reduce unnecessary, single-use waste.
Cooler bags silicone bags
Stasher brand silicone cooler bags and freezer bags are great for cooling and freezing food. Stasher cooler bags are multifunctional: great for storing food at home, but can also be used for food delivery. As it’s microwaveable, it can be just the thing for your daily lunch at work. And on the way home, you don’t have to worry about lugging all those containers home. I usually put snacks in it for my little boy when we go out on the weekends. This replaces the disposable little pouches and he can open the mouth of the silicone pouch at 4 years old.
This is the first and only self-sealing, airtight non-plastic pouch. That is, other silicone pouches come with a lid that is relatively difficult to pull open, while the Stasher cooler pouch is just squeezed and sealed. The cooler bag is also suitable for storing liquid food, so even soup can be frozen with relatively good space utilisation.
Cleaning is best done in the top rack of the dishwasher, opened with the opening facing downwards. Can be used in fridge, freezer, microwave. It can be used to store fruit, vegetables, various meats, soup, sandwiches, snacks and much more.
Now that’s a waste-free Christmas gift tip at its best!
Fruit cap set
Perhaps the most colourful, fun, yet useful in our list of waste-free Christmas gift tips. The Freshness Preserving Silicone Fruit and Vegetable Cap Set keeps a variety of cut fruit and vegetables fresh.
The Food Huggers branded fruit cap set comes in 5 different sizes, ensuring that every round fruit from bananas to apples is protected. 23% more moisture is retained in halved fruit than if it were wrapped in foil packs, disposable bags or tinfoil. BPA Free Silicone is available in 5 different sizes: bananas, tomatoes, apples, cucumbers, potatoes, lemons, onions, jars and can re-packaging.
Waste-free dishwashing starter kit
This waste-free starter set is a super gift for anyone open to basic kitchen waste-free accessories. A wooden dishwashing brush is an excellent choice, which is waste-free and therefore a durable alternative to sponges.
Also, a soft dishcloth and stone sponge are great alternatives for washing dishes.
A wooden dish brush can also be a handy gift because you will definitely use it. If for some reason it doesn’t work for her in the long run, it gives her the opportunity to try it out, so that as it wears out, it won’t sit there gathering dust on the shelf for years, but will be used for a few months and then she can decide to replace it because she likes it or try something else.
Marseille soap gift pack
If you have a friend who’s a sucker for little accessories that are native to the bathroom, a handcrafted soap set could be the perfect gift for them. Marseille soap, a horsehair nail brush and a wooden holder make the perfect package.
But a soap-making workshop can also be a super shared experience gift, where you can make a waste-free cosmetic!
Christmas gift tips: going waste-free
Many of the products mentioned above can also function as substitutes, as you can use beeswax cloth to wrap up halved fruit, or seal it airtight with the end of a fruit cap. Which ones you end up trying and experimenting with will depend on the habits of the household you’re planning to use them in.
For the most part, they will wear out within a few months, but it makes a difference whether you change the sponge in your kitchen every two weeks or use a wooden dish brush for 6-10 months. Not only will it be cheaper in the long run, but it’s also a more environmentally conscious option.
I hope this Christmas gift tips list has given you some ideas for waste-free gift giving. I could go on with a list of many more products, but my biggest piece of advice is this: get creative!
The essence of going waste-free gifts is rooted in the fact that they advocate sustainability and encourage us, even in the midst of the holiday rush, to not only think about our loved ones, but to also make sustainability a thought where we live. Going zero waste is an experimentation. And for that, these products are a super opportunity to start a dialogue.
Do you have a friend or family member whose goal is to reduce the waste they produce? Make this process easier for them by gifting them with zero waste products this Christmas.
