Practice the Art of Green Giving
(Hampton Roads, Va., Dec. 2, 2022) – If sustainability is on your wish list this holiday season, you are in luck. The people who power the askHRgreen.org public awareness and education campaign have gift ideas that will conserve resources and reduce waste.
There’s a reason for that. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, household waste increases by more than 25 percent between Thanksgiving and New Year’s Day.
“Being a conscientious consumer during the holidays could be the single greatest gift you give to the environment,” said Rebekah Eastep, an askHRgreen.org team leader. “Think about giving thoughtfully by choosing presents that are low- and zero-waste, or that will make living a green lifestyle more attainable.”
For gifts of clothing, accessories and home décor, Eastep suggests looking for items made from recycled materials. For instance, recycled plastic bottles can become fleece jackets, sunglasses and phone cases. Gift certificates to thrift or consignment stores also fit the bill, as do upcycled ornaments, picture frames and coasters.
To please the lawn, garden and plant lovers on your list, consider items that will help the recipients achieve their gardening goals such as a compost bin for the kitchen counter or yard, a rain barrel, solar garden lights and birdfeeders. House plants also make lovely gifts, with the added bonus of improving air quality.
The options for kitchen gifts are wide open, with everything from beeswax bowl covers and wraps to reusable straws, water bottles and cutlery sets (for enjoying waste-free meals on the go). Pack homemade goodies in reusable food containers, and your present is twice as nice. And for practicality, there are chemical-free cleaning products and energy-efficient wool dryer balls for the laundry.
The gift of an “experience” also aims to please, such as tickets to a live performance, movie, museum, restaurant, spa treatment or local attraction. It can be practical, too.
“One of the best gift ideas I’ve seen lately is handmade coupons for a skills exchange,” said Eastep. “Recipients can cash them in for home repairs, babysitting, organizing a closet, yard work or a coffee date.”
Perhaps this is the year, too, to gift teen and young adult family members with a cherished heirloom or keepsake: jewelry, timepieces, a vintage camera, record collection, family recipes, art, heirloom plant seeds—or any special item they can enjoy now. Seeing their expression will bring joy to you, too.
When presenting all these treasures, forego traditional wrapping paper and bows and use what you have on hand. Fabric, maps, thrifted baskets, your child’s artwork and gently used scarves are fun, unexpected alternatives. If you do find yourself with used gift wrap at the end of the season, keep this “naughty or nice” guide handy to see which materials are recyclable, or not.
Naughty – the following holiday items are not recyclable:
Greeting cards with glitter or metallic accents
Gift wrap and gift bags made of foil or plastic
Ribbons and bows
Plastic product packaging
Tissue paper
Nice – these items can be recycled:
Paper greeting cards and envelopes
Paper gift bags
Noncoated plain wrapping paper (without glitter or foil)
Gift boxes
Cardboard shipping boxes
Here’s hoping your holidays are green and bright! For more seasonal tips and info, visit askHRgreen.org.
About askHRgreen.org askHRgreen.org is your go-to resource for all things green in Hampton Roads – from recycling tips and pointers for keeping local waterways clean to water-saving ideas and simple steps to make local living easy on the environment. Launched in 2011, the region-wide public awareness and education campaign is administered through the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission and powered by the following members: The cities of Chesapeake, Franklin, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Poquoson, Portsmouth, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, and Williamsburg; the counties of Gloucester, Isle of Wight, James City, Southampton, Surry and York; the town of Smithfield; and HRSD. Like askHRgreen.org on Facebook, follow on Twitter and Instagram, tune in to YouTube and catch the “Let’s Talk Green” blog, written by a team of local experts.
Media Contacts:
Rebekah Eastep, HRPDC Senior Environmental Education Planner
(757) 420-8300; reastep@hrpdcva.gov
Elizabeth Evans, Red Chalk Studios
(757) 705-7153; elizabeth@redchalkstudios.com