Christmas gift-giving has changed quite a bit in recent years, with people having less money to spend and consumers much more aware of the impact their purchases have on both the environment and society. Let’s face it, there are tons of holidays to consider, including Christmas, birthdays, Secretary’s Day, anniversaries, and Valentine’s Day. Gift-giving doesn’t end there: when we’re invited to a dinner party, for example, we often feel compelled to bring a long gift.

The collective impact of these special days and events can be enormous. Christmas alone is responsible for 25% more waste being sent to landfills. Halloween is actually responsible for more waste than Christmas. Recognizing the incredible waste that is generated, the urgency to do something becomes clear. When shopping for gifts, look for the greenest option available to you, such as whether it’s made locally, uses recycled materials, the packaging is recyclable, the company uses solar or wind power, etc. If you choose to buy electronics, consider those that are solar powered or rechargeable batteries.

Conscious shoppers tend to accept practical, sustainable, and eco-friendly gifts that may provide some form of convenience or financial benefit. At the same time, it’s good to find ways to ease the guilt felt during special days due to high consumption, wrapping paper, and travel activities. Here’s a short list of eco-friendly and frugal ideas to inspire your gift shopping this year. If some of these seem too small, consider combining a few of these items in an eco-friendly gift basket. Most thrift and thrift stores have loads of beautiful sneakers waiting for the creative shopper.

for the homeowner – A thermostat control that automatically turns off the heat at night, a low-flow showerhead, and caulk pipes or weatherstripping. Dimmer switches, energy efficient lighting (CFL or LED); yellow bulbs are perfect for outdoor lighting because they attract fewer insects. Hot water tank insulation kits and hot water pipe insulation kits are also great ideas. Consider throwing in some electrical outlet and light switch insulation kits as well (small foam inserts that go behind outlet and switch covers found on exterior walls).

for the gardener – A subscription to an organic gardening magazine, or saving a seed variety from extinction on behalf of a friend, or creating a membership in a seed organization. Houses, baths, and bird, bat, and butterfly feeders—or patterns to build them—make wonderful gifts. Alternatively, consider compost bins, worm bins, gift certificates to a nursery, or membership with an environmental group.

give services – Instead of giving away an item that needs to be wrapped, consider buying tickets to a performance, gift certificates to restaurants, or services like lawn care, cleaning, music lessons, exercise or dance classes, tune-up services, or tire rotation. Don’t forget to look at dog walking, babysitting and massage, spas or gyms when looking for gift certificates. All of these ideas will help you support local businesses you believe in while providing something the recipient can really benefit from.

Give food – Homemade preserves such as dehydrated or canned food make excellent gifts. There are many people who find cooking cumbersome and value ready-to-cook frozen meals such as lasagna, pasta, and casseroles. Most people appreciate snacks and desserts. Fill the reusable mason jars with all the dry ingredients for a recipe like cookies or brownies, and include instructions for baking at your convenience. Keep in mind that buying Brazil nuts or cashews is rainforest friendly. Healthy food baskets are another wonderful idea to consider, especially if it contains samples from local producers.

seedlings – Live plants clean the air and provide a wonderful environment. Perhaps you have plants, or know someone, that you could take cuttings or divisions, root, and pot up those new plants to share with your friends. Unique pots and containers can be found at most thrift and thrift stores.

Books – Most of us realize the benefits of literacy and supporting local businesses. You can do both by choosing to buy books as gifts this year by supporting your local bookstore and local authors. However, you can also leave a legacy with your own book. This could be a journal, a collection of poetry, a family tree you’ve researched, or even a family cookbook. Perhaps you could consider including quotes from family members or people you admire and possibly some favorite family photos.

alternative gifts – A reusable coffee filter and whole organic coffee beans make good gifts for coffee lovers. Consider slippers and sweaters, as the recipient is less likely to turn up the thermostat. Choose toys and games with positive environmental or educational values ​​and those that emphasize cooperation, exploration, or creative thinking.

Consider purchasing a set of heavy-duty, square-bottomed, reusable, and washable shopping bags. There are many varieties to choose from, including those created from recycled plastic bottles, coffee sack material, renewable crops like bamboo or hemp, and many other eco-friendly options. How many bags per recipient? Typically, 12 bags will cover most shopping activities for a family of 2-3, while 6-8 bags are appropriate for one person.

Go a step further and buy a set of mesh produce bags – this gift will reduce or eliminate the need for clear bags offered in the produce department of the grocery store. These are washable, see-through, and made from a very fine mesh material, weighing next to nothing, so won’t affect cost when calculated at checkout.

Do you want another option to reduce plastic waste? Consider giving him a set of stainless steel straws. These are dishwasher safe and will eliminate the need for plastic straws.

The tree: Gift or buy a live tree, or sponsor a nonprofit organization that will plant one in your friend’s honor. If you have purchased a live Christmas tree, you can donate it to people with space on your land, the city, schools, or parks when the season is over. Alternatively, plant it in your own garden for privacy, summer shade, or soil and water erosion control. Trees are incredibly beneficial to pollinators and birds, and are very effective at removing carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, ammonia, ozone, and oxides of nitrogen from our air.