News — Environmentally friendly gifts and tips

When you have a small business, you tend to think about holidays and when you make skincare, Mother's Day is a great holiday.  You hope people want to buy something special for their "mother".  And by "mother" I mean anyone who has nurtured, mentored and cared for you, perhaps even giving birth to you.  But there is also the "BIG MAMA" to consider- our beautiful and fragile planet.  It's possible to show your love and affection to your special moms while treading lightly on our planet.

When you're thinking about zero waste gifts for mom, it's important to think about what your mom likes, enjoys and considers a special treat.  If at all possible, give the gift of you.  A lunch, coffee or walk together is the perfect gift for someone you love.

Give the Gift of an Experience-  I recently had a super crummy day and it was also super crummy weather, I took myself to the matinee and watched Emma Watson as Belle in Beauty and the Beast.  It was the perfect relaxing mood enhancer that I needed to get myself going again.  Alone in the dark with popcorn and my legs stretched out in a double date seat.  

Give the Gift of Local or Farm- When you shop local more money is kept in your community- it's an easy way to support your neighbors.  I've written a blog "Become a BFF to Small Businesses"  with lots of tips on how to be a supporter of small, local and indie businesses.  I saw a recent social media post from a local flower farm offering gift certificates for bouquets- what mom wouldn't love that.  Feel free to ask your favorite farmer for a gift certificate- they will be happy to make one up for you.

Give the Gift of Art- the Arts are fundamental to our humanity and fosters goodness, creativity and beauty- all qualities of our beloved moms.  Enjoy a concert, open mic night, gallery walk or visit an artist studio.

Give the Gift of Food- Make something delicious yourself, buy from a local food shop or enjoy a meal in a restaurant but nothing brings out the love like a good tasty food.

And finally Give to a Cause-  You know what is important to your mama, support the organizations that she supports. Now more than ever standing up for love and kindness is so important.

Give the Gift of Service- Every day I walk and I pick up trash but especially on holidays I try to making cleaning up my environment a priority.  Get out, pick up some trash in honor of your mom and Mother Nature.

Since World Ocean Day a few years ago I have worked hard to reduce my footprint both in my personal life and in business.  The holiday season brings special challenges.  Part has to do with memories, I was talking with a friend recently about gift wrapping.  She said, "I love to wrap gifts, it's part of my Christmas season."  But- how we choose to wrap makes a big difference.  Elaborate, non biodegradable gift wrap leaves a lasting footprint.  To help you have a trash free holiday I've listed 14 ways to hopefully get that holiday glow without the trash.

#1   Buy Well- Choose Less  When shopping for gifts, resist the impulse to buy a cute but useless item that will not linger after the holiday.  Check out how items are packaged.  My daughter loves gummy bears- I can buy a cute plastic package of bears, a reusable bear mason jar filled with gummies or take a cloth bag to the candy shop on Main Street.  What's important to remember is you have choices.

#2   Shop small, shop local.  Supporting small, indies businesses lets your money continue to work long after you've spent it.  You can find companies that support your values and are working hard to reduce their business footprint.  

#3   Even if you have decided to limit your holiday purchases or to make donations to worthy causes help out indie business by supporting them in other ways- especially on social media. Our blog post Make Your Money Count and Use Less Plastic  gives practical tips.

#4   Purchase lasting gifts that help reduce everyday waste.  Reusable coffee mugs, bamboo straws, shopping bags, produce bags, shampoo bars and bamboo toothbrushes.

#5   Wrap your gifts in cloth, brown paper lunch bags, newspaper or tissue paper made from recycled paper.  Easy to recycle or compost.

#6   Give the gifts of plants.  Paperwhite bulbs are especially lovely during the winter months.

Amaryllis bulbs create a splash of color and I plant mine out in the garden every summer so many of my bulbs are 4 years old and going strong.  A seed sprouting jar is a low waste way to have fresh tasty greens in salads and sandwiches all winter long. 

#7   Gift certificates make in possible for folks to get just what they need or want and if they are from small, indie businesses the good keeps going.

#8   Donations are a great way to spread the love.  Choose your favorite organizations and let them start the New Year ready to get important work done.

#9   Give the gift of an experience.  Every year I treat my family to New Year's Day brunch at our local farm to table restaurant.  I love starting the New Year in a bustling restaurant with a Passionfruit Margarita, a basket of home baked breads and the lively conversations of my loved ones.

#10 Look around the house for items to regift.  Sometimes regifting has a tacky connotation but it's a perfect way to reduce and reuse.  While cleaning recently I found a huge stash of yarn bits.  Someone will be happily knitting all winter long.

#11  While you are rummaging for regifts, clean out the closets and pass useful used items to the appropriate charities.

#12  Give the gift of clean and get outside and pick up some trash.  Believe me- it's everywhere.  Check out the organization Just Grab Bits .  I especially love their Instagram page- it's a bittersweet trashy tour around the world.

#13  Decorate with natural materials including evergreen, pine cones and berries.  If you are buying decorations make sure they are well made and will be used and loved for many years.  Completely avoid balloons, "they kill wildlife, pollute the earth and waste helium".  Check out Balloons Blow- Don't Let Them Go for more information.

#14  Give a subscription.  Fact checking is expensive and subscriptions show support and help attract advertisers.  

My final tip is the one I've had the most fun with.  I want to help people make the transition to plastic free as easy as possible.  Two areas I struggle with are single use coffee cups and plastic free produce.  I have started "Random Acts of Awareness". I purchase reusable mugs from my favorite coffee shops (helping to keep it local) and then leave them on the counter for someone ordering a take away coffee in a single use cup.

 I'm almost ready to do the same thing with some homemade produce bags.  Over the Thanksgiving holiday I cut up an old sheet and put together a bunch of cloth produce bags.  They are almost ready to be donated to shoppers reaching for a plastic bag in the produce department.  Learn more about the plastic free produce movement by visiting Australian Anita Horn's Facebook page.   

Happy Trash Free Holidays!