Mindful Gift Ideas
Posted by Inexplicable Ways on November 21, 2009
It is a slippery slope when one begins questioning the origins of products. I find myself wondering if the chocolate my child is munching was made with cacao beans harvested by enslaved children. Or if the Mossimo pants that look so comfortable were sewn by abused women. Ok, ok, I know this post is supposed to be about gift-giving! I’m getting there. We all know the holiday consumerism is out of control. Nothing is as antithetical to the spirit of giving than a gift that originated in injustice.
This holiday season, could you incorporate fairly-traded products into your gift-giving? Even if you substitute three department store purchases with fairly traded items, you will be giving back to our global community. Or better yet, give a donation straight to the global community in your gift recipient’s name. Now, let me tempt you with some ideas that I found easily available online.
Cambodian Rice Bag: Fairly traded and made from recycled rice bags. Most bags are under 20.00.
Reusable Lunch Tote: Fairly traded and includes reusable utensils made from recycled buffalo horn.
Ceramic Dragonfly Flute: Handmade in Nicaragua by Potters for Peace.
Fancy Chocolate: You can be sure that this vegan dark chocolate is not only gluten-free; it is also slave-free.
Yummy Coffee: Available locally to those of you in the Greenville area, this coffee is sustainably and ethically grown.
Recycled Tire Tie: Spice up the tired out gift of a boring old tie (pun intended, of course).
Olive Wood Salad Servers: Fairly traded and gorgeous. Free shipping included for under 30.00!
Baby Rattle: Fig Toys stands for Fair, Intelligent, and Green. Check out their beautiful rubberwood selections.
Dancing Girls Mobile: Made by the Teenage Mothers and Girls Association of Kenya from recycled can, wire, and beads.
Babywearing Doll: Handmade in Peru by a non-profit organization called Inca Kids. A handmade gift for under 20.00.
Beautiful Bracelet: The Tara Project in India works to end child labor.
Basketball: 20% of this fair-trade purchase goes back to the Pakistan community.
Hostess Gifts: gifts from SERRV under 10.00. I love the jackfruit cricket. Maybe a stocking stuffer?
Puzzle Box: this elegant gift might be a good choice for your boss, teacher, or pastor.
Mayan Coloring Book: maybe pair this with some of these recycled crayons?
Once you’ve found that perfect gift, consider sustainable packaging options:
- If shipping, pack with popcorn instead of styro-peanuts or plastic bubbles! Include a note that the unsalted popcorn can be tossed in the recipient’s backyard for the birds to enjoy.
- Box up your gifts in seeded packaging. These boxes are made with wildflower seeds and can be planted for a gift that lasts. You can even send seeded holiday cards that can be planted!
- Skip wrapping paper and use fabric scraps, newspaper, old maps, or reuse gift bags. Kitchen towels, organic baby blankets, or fair-trade scarf make excellent wraps.
- Wrap the gift in a reusable sandwich bag or larger gifts in a resuable shopping bag.
- Try wrapping gifts without tape (which is usually petroleum-based). Use twine or yarn and creative folds to keep your gift bound.
- Instead of a bow, use pinecones, holly, or even a CFL bulb.
How do you incorporate green or ethical choices into your holidays?
Jenny said
You always have such great ideas. I love the popcorn one, and I wish companies would do that (or just use paper). At Jennie G’s we used to get big boxes of styro packing peanuts. It drove me nuts because they went everywhere, made a huge mess, and were such a waste. What was even worse is that there were companies that tried to give their products a natural, handmade look but really they were made in factories in China and shipped out in styrofoam
This year we are making some of our gifts, and we bought several things at the SERVV gift fair at the Presbyterian Church in Seneca. And… I have to admit that we shop for things like picture frames at yard sales. Sometimes we find items that are new with tags.
Kathleen said
This year my gift exchange buddies are trying to do handmade gifts and (for the craftless among us, namely ME) looking for alternatives from local artisans and on Etsy. Using the comics pages for wrapping paper, decorating with fun stamps, giving packages of seeds or tea instead of cards. I love your ideas! This is something that I clued into only recently and I have to admit that I think about it a lot now.
withwomanwithchild said
http://www.haitiancreations.com
the women of a small sewing program in haiti design and make lovely purses available through internet or through party-style sales, through heartline ministries.
brttany said
There are a lot of gifts here and a lot of good too. The last item I ordered from CFI took a while to arrive though.
Tea Party said
Good day, I read all your posts, keep them coming.
Allie Preusser said
Have after long searching found the information to the topics of my forum! Can I use some of your information there if I link to your blog?