Snowman made from white tires.
Sustainable gifts: how to minimize the environmental impact of your Christmas shopping
The month of November is marked by sales campaigns linked to Black Friday, resulting in the encouragement and increase of consumption of the most varied goods. I've lost count of how many times I've found myself selecting products to add to my cart this Black Friday - products that weren't on my list of needs but that I wanted to take advantage of because, after all, they were “cheap.” And when Black Friday ends, the next wave of consumption arrives in December: Christmas, marked by the exchange of gifts, secret friends, and family celebrations.
The last months of the year are marked by consumption, generating greater demand for natural resources, an increase in solid waste, excess packaging, among other direct and indirect impacts on natural resources and the human population. However, to minimize our environmental footprint during this time of celebration, we can adopt some strategies when choosing the items we are going to give ourselves or others. Here are some tips for a celebration with less impact:
Real presence is more important: When you think of someone who has marked your life, do you think of things they have given you or experiences you have had together? Well, a great way to be present, even if you're far away, is to give someone experiences - and you can be creative: tickets to events, courses, a day at the spa, among many other options.
The circular economy, which involves the reuse of products, is a great ally at times like these, and what may be detachment for some becomes a beautiful and sustainable gift for others. There are thrift stores and bazaars with beautiful new or nearly new items to be reused, which reduces waste and gives new life to a product that might otherwise be discarded. Could you take a look before choosing a gift?
Give preference to durable products. Avoid giving disposable, single-use gifts and opt for reusable, durable products that encourage waste reduction.
Opting for products made using the “slow” production method, as in the case of slow fashion, is a conscious choice. This concept involves handmade and personalized production, which generates fewer products and less waste than large-scale production. By opting for exclusive gifts, like the person you are giving them to, you support the work of artisans and have less impact on the environment.
Offering a more sustainable world and less environmental impact with your gift is a way of loving the person you are giving it to.
May your purchases be conscious and your Christmas be filled with good experiences of love for others and the environment. Merry Christmas!
Note from the editor: Season's greetings and Happy Vacations to all!
By Ana Letícia Ferro
SDG 12
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