Sustainable Gifts - November Voice 2022

Sustainable gifts

Nine ideas for buying local

The best part of the holiday season is giving gifts to friends and family. Watching loved ones' faces light up as they open their presents is the pinnacle of the holidays. But as the wrapping paper hits the floor and the boxes are thrown aside, a tinge of guilt hits — what to do about all the waste.

It can be difficult to remain sustainable during the gift giving season. The most sustainable gifts are ones that use little to no new resources or use ecofriendly materials. When we focus less on physical, material items and more on the experience and meaning of a gift, we can create precious memories while minimizing waste.

Check out these sustainable gift ideas that will show your loved ones how much you care about them, local businesses and the environment.

1. Gift cards to get pampered

Everyone loves to get pampered and relax. Get your special someone a gift card for a message, a day at the spa or a visit to the salon. Or try a gift card to a tailor. Landfills are full of discarded clothing. Updating or resizing a wardrobe saves money and reduces waste, and it will make your loved one look good and feel good. We are lucky to have a lot of great local businesses to choose from in Rockford.

2. Tickets to events and concerts

Whether it’s a sporting event, a musical at a local theater, or tickets to their favorite band, your loved one will surely love spending some time with you just as much as the event itself. We have great theaters and events in Rockford that will make for romantic dates or family friendly outings.

3. Plant cuttings

Many houseplants, like pothos, snake plant, or succulents, are relatively easy to propagate. This means taking a cutting from the plant or splitting the plant’s roots to create a new plant from the original. And thrift stores have a variety of fun and interesting pots that will give your gift that extra personal touch.

4. Helping hands

Never underestimate the gift of babysitting, pet sitting or helping older loved ones with yard work. Gift certificates for house cleaning, tailoring, yardwork or car washes are also appreciated.

5. Pickled vegetables or local honey

Learning to pickle vegetables from your own garden is a great way to create sustainable and delicious gifts. If you don’t trust your pickling skills, Rockford has an abundance of local markets and specialty food shops that offer sauces, jams, pickled vegetables and local honey for the perfect, healthy, sustainable, locally-sourced present.

6. Memberships

Gym memberships are great gift ideas. But don’t overlook other options like memberships to local museums, arboretums, aquariums and zoos. These are especially great gift idea for families with kids, and there are so many choices to love in Rockford.

7. Classes

Do you know someone who wants to learn a new skill or develop a talent? Rockford has numerous locally owned businesses that offer classes in photography, yoga, painting and pottery. Online courses are also great, because they are available on just about any topic you can think of.

8. Homemade food

Does your family have a special recipe that you love to share? Make a double or triple batch of your family’s signature soup, bread or cake and share it with your friends and family. Who doesn’t love homemade cookies? Creatively arrange them on that holiday platter you found at the thrift store, and you have a beautiful, inexpensive, delicious gift.

9. Donations

Nonprofits and charities are always in need of donations. Find one that’s important to your loved one and make a donation in their name. Along these same lines, there are organizations that plant trees, offer “adoptions” of endangered animals or donate farm animals, such as goats and chickens, to families in need around the world.

Contrary to what the retail culture would have you believe, gifts don’t have to be new, trendy and wasteful. In fact, gifts can benefit the environment if we choose well. Try out some of these sustainable gift ideas, and enjoy making memories, caring for the planet and supporting local businesses.

Sarene Alsharif, LDN, MPH is the CEO and Co-Founder of Tad More Tailoring and Alterations.

The views expressed are those of Alsharif and do not necessarily represent those of the Rockford Chamber of Commerce.