A Holiday Gift Resolution: 2 Ideas to Consider

Right now I’m organizing a holiday shopping, fundraising event at my daughters’ middle school. Besides bringing in crafters and artisans, our parent-teacher group (kind of like the PTA but without the red tape) is going to be selling what we call “spirit wear” as an additional fundraiser at the event. One of the ideas that I’d suggested at our last PTG meeting was ordering up stainless water bottles, with our school’s logo printed on them, and selling them as suggested holiday gifts for kids. After some brainstorming we decided that in addition to the stainless steel bottles (which I still need to order, note to self) we would also create and sell reusable shopping bags. We’re going to promote both as green gifts that benefit the school.

While a stainless steel water bottle or a reusable shopping tote may not seem like a sexy gift to give this holiday season, it is for sure a green one. And as our countdown to a green-and-frugal holiday season progresses, here’s something I’m going to suggest you consider–adding at least one green element to your gift-giving or gift-buying this year.

Maybe you can take a page from my holiday wrapping from last year. That was when I packaged all of my gifts in reusable shopping bags. I adorned each bag with a ribbon and a jingle bell to create a festive package where the wrapping itself was part of the gift. I’ve got some of those bags still leftover so I might use them again for wrapping this year.

I’m sure you’ve seen these reusable bags at nearly every store where you do your shopping. Most of these bags retail for about $.99, which is truly a bargain. Some of the prettiest reusable bags I’ve seen are on sale at SuperFresh, part of the A&P family. The bags I gave last year were pretty much utilitarian–black and made from recycled soda bottles. But I kept a few for myself and, man, are they useful.

Another way you can consider going green with your gifts is giving everyone on your gift list a reusable water bottle. For kids, you can fun-up the gift by stuffing it like stocking, by filling it with all kinds of goodies; if you’re Jewish, load it up with Chanukay gelt.

There are plenty of reusable water bottles to choose from–including the aforementioned stainless steel ones. I just got some from an Arkansas company called Cynergreen, and I just love my stainless steel bottle–especially the way it keeps my water cold and tasty. Another company debuting some cool reusable water bottles this year are the folks at Thermos, known for their, well, Thermos containers (remember taking hot soup to school in your Thermos? I do). These are BPA-free and come in fun colors–blue, pink, green and purple. They’re also dishwasher safe and impact resistant. Thermos also makes a stainless steel version of the reusable water bottle. I wouldn’t be surprised if a number of these ended up under a tree–or by a menorah–this year.

So wouldn’t that be an easy change to make this year–adding one or two green elements to your holiday giving? I doubt it will add much to your budget.

Think about how much waste you’ll be able to keep out of the trash by not have wrapping paper to deal with (thanks to the reusable bags)? Or what about all of the plastic water bottles you’ll help to keep out of landfills by giving someone a reusable bottle so he/she doesn’t have to rely on disposable water bottles anymore?

Do you think these ideas are doable? What other ways might you green your gift buying and giving this year? I’d love to hear your ideas.