Advice for Giving a Great Eco-Friendly Gift

Author : Ben Mc Conway

Whether you’re looking to ‘go green’ yourself or shopping for a loved one with a passion for the environment, sustainable gift giving is both important and rewarding.

Often it may seem our choices for eco-friendly products are limited to items labelled as organic, recyclable or eco-friendly. This perception can lead to us feeling a need to search for environmentalist buzzwords or dodgy articles titled ‘top 10 sustainable gifts for her’. The good news is that these limitations are an illusion, and with a little bit of careful shopping a whole new world of options presents itself.

Alongside shopping from reputable retailers, one of the best ways to maximise sustainability is to minimise waste. Avoiding waste can be achieved through many means, so we’ve compiled a few of our favourite tips and tricks below to help you save the planet.

A Gift of Quality:

Many of us have experienced the frustration of treating ourselves to something new, only to find that it doesn’t live up to the quality we hoped for, or worse it’s broken just days after the warranty expired. With fast fashion and flimsy plastic flooding the market and destroying the environment, it can be very easy to buy into the idea that “they just don’t make things like they used to!”

The truth is, if you know where to look, you can find high quality items that are still made with the care and craftsmanship of the past. By taking your time to check reviews, compare options and look at shops off the beaten path, you can narrow down your search and find the quality stuff. Here in New Zealand, it will often be the artisan, hand-made or ethically sourced products that shine through as long lasting and environmentally friendly – these are the kind of things you’ll find at the market or a small local business.

So with that in mind, something like a beautiful champagne bucket fits the bill. A piece like this is not only useful for keeping a champagne cool, but it could also make an appearance in the place of a chilly bin at a summer barbecue, be a unique means of displaying flowers, or even see itself surrounded by presents as it serves as the base for a Christmas tree. On top of the environmental benefits of being multipurpose and thus reducing consumption, the high-quality metal construction of such a piece ensures it will last for years as a piece of décor, rather than end up discarded in the kiwi countryside.

A Gift of Meaning:

It may be cliché to say, but it really is the thought that counts. Gifting someone a meaningful gift is the perfect way to ensure that the item is held onto and cherished, rather than forgotten about and destined for landfill.

This doesn’t mean that your gift needs to be extravagant or planned out for months before the special day. Instead, think more along the lines of a gift that you could imagine the person putting on display, using every day, or even just keeping somewhere special for safe keeping. The beauty of gifts like these doesn’t just lie in the environmentally friendly way in which they avoid becoming waste, but they serve as a long-lasting reminder of just how much you care for the giftee.

So, what does this look like in practice? It looks like a photo frame filled with the smile of a grandchild. It looks like a set of wine glasses, their favourite chardonnay and a night full of fun. Ultimately, it looks like whatever you think will put a lasting smile on their face.

A Gift of Choice

As we’ve discussed in a previous blog, finding the perfect gift isn’t always easy.  Trying to find something they’ll cherish forever can sometimes be extraordinarily difficult, whether you’re pressed for time or spoilt for choice.

Making sure they get a gift they love can be made simple with a gift card. There are sometimes feelings that a gift card isn’t particularly thoughtful, but that is certainly not the case! Accompanied by a heartfelt message, a gift card to a store full of items they’ll love is sure to bring a smile to their face.

By ensuring that your giftee gets exactly what they want, you are once again minimizing any chance of waste. Ultimately it is the reduction of waste through small acts like this that allow us to build towards big changes, and you’ll get to see the smile on the face of a loved one as the cherry on top too!

Listening to Our Own Advice:

At Congratulations we know that the responsibility for sustainability falls on all of our shoulders, not just yours. As such, we have a proud commitment to employing eco-friendly practices, such as our use of sustainable gift wrapping, and the repurposing of soft plastics as packaging materials.

Another important way we do our part is through the careful selection of brands and suppliers we work with. For example, we work closely with Living Light, a New Zealand based company who handcraft a special range of candles just for us. Through use of natural materials, eco-friendly packaging and locally sourcing as many materials as possible, Living Light is a shining example of an environmentally conscious business.

If you want to learn more about our sustainable efforts, check out our FAQ or get in touch.

By following the tips and tricks outlined here, not only are you helping save the environment, but you’re also finding fantastic gifts. So, if you have any advice of your own for buying gifts that mother nature would love, leave them in the comments below!