I’m not a perfect zero waste person. I just do the best I can with what I have. I love to shop at thrift stores and on facebook marketplace. I love to recycle and try to eat out of my pantry as much as I can. But there are still ways we can do better each day. We need to do better each day for our planet. That’s why I’ve come up with these simple zero waste swaps you can do for the holidays.
- Make this the year of thrift store gifts. We play dirty Santa each year. Why not do dirty Santa with thrift store gifts. This way you are reusing something that was going to end up in the landfill and you’re giving it another shot at life. You can give anything from a thrift store. Just make sure you shop with intention and thoughts for who the gift is for!
- Plan a potluck get together. Utilize everyone’s pantry and make things for dinner using what you already have. I can’t stand going back to the store after I’ve already been so just make it easy on everyone. Maybe plan a finger food dinner or simple charcuterie board (while using up what you have)!
- When you have your dinner make it a point to use your plates, cups and silverware instead of buying the disposable version. It’s so easy in this country to just run the dishwasher. Just do it.
- Gift reusable things. If your favorite family member loves straws buy some reusable stainless steel straws and this will help them to see the ease and use of these straws. They clean up great in the dishwasher too. Or you can make things from items you already have. Once I made a post on how to make hats and leg warmers from sweaters! What a great way to repurpose items that your family will love.
- Wrap your gifts in items that can be used around the house. Use a towel that you know someone would love or even a beautiful kitchen towel. Find a beautiful scarf that you loved but it’s time for it to move on to another house to love. Anything that is fabric can be used to wrap your holiday presents. They will let your friend or family know you love them and their gift wrap keeps on giving.
- Gift experiences instead of things. If you’re favorite person loves to go to the movies buy movie gift cards. If they love museums buy them a year at their favorite museum. If you know they’ve been wanting to see that play then take them. I love experience gifts and they are great ways to be sure that the person will use your gift and enjoy it.
What other zero waste gift swaps can you think of? Have you thought about going to the thrift store and not buying new?
Before you go check out my other zero waste posts.
How to adopt a zero waste lifestyle. Zero waste home…is it possible? How to package pretty gifts in an environmentally pretty package
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